Over the past few years of building Sh*t That I Knit, I've noticed that today's consumers view buying as more than just a transaction, and choose to purchase from brands whose ideologies resonate with their own. They look for brands with ethical business practices, and support businesses with eco-friendly missions and positive social impacts. Gone are the days of walking into a department store and making a big purchase without some research. This progress and shift in buying power puts the onus on brands to be transparent. I built Sh*t That I Knit under this premise. When I started our Instagram in 2014, I hadn't even officially launched any products yet. I focused on creating the brand first, and the product second. I spent the first year of STIK creating a community of people who were passionate about hand-knit accessories.

As the company scaled, I made the decision to outsource production to a female artisan group in Lima, Peru. Visiting our team in Peru cemented in my mind how important it is to hire these women--allowing them to stay close to their families, knit from home, take care of their children, and bring in a real income.