Knitwear worth keeping forever — and the grandmother who inspired it all
One of the things I’m discovering through the 90-Day Wool Habit is that a good wardrobe isn’t necessarily about having lots of clothes. It’s about having things you love wearing, and finding different ways to wear them. As the weather turns colder, knitwear is becoming an increasingly important part of my experiment. A cardigan or cosy jumper can completely change the look of my navy wool dress, while making it practical for everyday life.
Which brings me to Porridge Knitwear, a London-based British brand with a rather lovely story behind it. Founded by Holly in 2025, Porridge creates wool, cashmere and alpaca knitwear designed to become wardrobe favourites. And the inspiration came from someone very special: Holly’s grandmother, Anne.
Meet Porridge Knitwear
Holly grew up appreciating beautiful knitwear, particularly the pieces her Granny Anne would pass down to her. Anne loved classic polo necks and cardigans, always choosing quality wool and cashmere. When she passed those pieces on to Holly, they didn’t simply become sentimental keepsakes. They became part of Holly’s everyday wardrobe. She would continue wearing them for another ten years, and they still looked as good as new. That experience became the inspiration for Porridge Knitwear. Rather than designing clothes to be replaced each season, Holly wanted to create the kind of knitwear people would treasure, wear regularly and perhaps eventually pass on themselves.
As she explains:
“Porridge was never about chasing trends. It started with my grandmother’s knitwear — pieces that lasted decades and were treasured.”
What a lovely foundation for a clothing brand.
One dress, lots of layers
Layering is becoming one of the most interesting parts of the 90-Day Wool Habit. My dress is a simple navy herringbone shift, which makes it surprisingly easy to wear with different knitwear. A cardigan can make it feel relaxed and comfortable for an ordinary day, while a jumper changes the silhouette completely, making the dress look almost like a skirt. And when the temperature drops, adding another wool layer makes perfect sense. It’s also a reminder that versatility doesn’t necessarily mean buying something specifically to create a new outfit. Often, it’s about discovering how the pieces we already have can work together in different combinations. That’s something Porridge knitwear has built into its collection from the beginning. The pieces are designed to complement one another, but they’re equally suited to becoming hardworking favourites in an existing wardrobe.
Natural fibres and lasting quality
Porridge knitwear works with wool, cashmere and alpaca, choosing natural fibres for its knitwear collections. Holly works with a specialist manufacturer selected for its approach to fibre handling and garment construction. The emphasis is on creating pieces that feel beautiful to wear but are also designed for repeated use. And that distinction matters.
It’s easy to admire a beautiful jumper when it’s brand new. The real test is how often we reach for it, how well we look after it and whether we still enjoy wearing it years later. Of course, even the best knitwear needs a little care. Wool and other animal fibres benefit from thoughtful washing, appropriate storage and regular airing between wears.These are exactly the sorts of everyday habits I’m hoping to explore throughout the 90 days. Because buying something well made is only part of the story. Looking after it is what helps us enjoy it for longer.
Buy less, wear more
One of the things I particularly like about Porridge is that its philosophy isn’t about giving up the pleasure of clothes. It’s about building a wardrobe of pieces you genuinely want to wear.
Holly describes her ambition as creating:
“A capsule wardrobe of pieces you actually want to wear day in day out.”
And that really resonates with me.
The 90-Day Wool Habit might be an extreme example, but the principle is quite simple. What if we made more use of the things we already own? What if we bought something because we loved it and could imagine wearing it in lots of different ways, rather than because it happened to be fashionable that season? And what if we thought about how a garment might fit into our lives five or ten years from now?
The answer probably isn’t to stop enjoying fashion. It’s to find more enjoyment in the clothes we choose to keep.
One thing you might not know about Porridge Knitwear…
The brand is only a little over a year old, but its inspiration goes back decades. Some of Holly’s most treasured knitwear had already been worn by her grandmother before being passed down and worn for another ten years. And there’s a particularly lovely detail in the collection itself.
One of Porridge’s signature pieces is called the Anne Polo Neck, sharing its name with the grandmother whose wardrobe inspired the entire business. It’s a fitting tribute to the woman who helped Holly discover the value of good knitwear. And perhaps the perfect reminder that the best clothes don’t just last. They gather memories along the way.
Follow the 90-Day Wool Habit
For 90 days, I’m wearing the same British wool dress to explore wool’s versatility, care, longevity and value.
Along the way, I’m introducing the makers and independent brands helping me discover just how many different ways one dress can be worn.
Follow the 90-Day Wool Habit and meet more of the Collective.
