We believe in a minimal yet thoughtful approach to design; removing the un-necessary and leaving only the high quality essentials for an intentional life.
OUR ETHOS
From Peru to You
The Story of Bare
In 2012, the first Bare Knitwear collection was created from a small studio on the West Coast of Canada. As the brand expanded, the search began for honest, small-scale production, sustainable fibres, and artisan craftsmanship. This lead to the exploration of the rugged landscapes of the Peruvian Andes, known for their high quality fibres and talented artisans.
After weeks spent working with local producers in remote regions, the production finally found its home in Ayacucho, Peru, a tiny Peruvian town tucked in the south-central Andes. One evening, in a hostel room high in the Andes, the first collection order was written, forging a new path for the brand.
Today, each Bare Knitwear piece is still brought to life by hand. Through a collaborative development process, merging the ancient heritage of Peruvian techniques with modern design, the brand continues to work with small producers throughout Peru for the sourcing of their signature alpaca, wool and pima cotton collections.
The proudest achievement of all is the personal relationships the brand has forged with their partners, who employ and empower local women artisans in Peru. Overtime, Bare has witnessed the difference quality employment can bring to a community, not only providing a sustainable income for women but also the opportunity for true autonomy over their futures.
ethically crafted
Made In Peru
Our design and manufacturing process is collaborative.
This approach empowers the artisan, preserves traditional craftsmanship and creates authentic knitwear. Each peice is carefully crafted by a team of seven artisans in a small Lima workshop.
OUR PRODUCTION
Fibres & Sourcing
Our design process always starts with the materials. When choosing our fibres, we look beyond whether the fibre is natural or organic, and take into account how each performs, their lifespan and environmental impact. We value working with natural fibres native to Peru, such as baby alpaca, merino wool, and Peruvian Pima cotton. Natural fibres yield a softer environmental footprint than synthetics and are hypoallergenic, biodegradable and naturally antibacterial. Each year, we work towards reducing our use of synthetics in our blends.
Production Partners
We value the relationships with our suppliers in Peru. Through annual, in-person visits, we have developed an understanding of our supply chain, enabling us to make mutually respectful, informed decisions that support the growth of Bare Knitwear and our partners. We work with three different workshops in Peru, each selected for their specialties and their ethical practices. We are committed to providing economic stability for each of our suppliers through sustainable growth while prioritizing collaboration with small scale workshops.
Natural Materials:Un-dyed
We work with reputable suppliers with fair trade practices. The wool we work with has a free of mulesing certification and our suppliers hold the RAS (Responsible Alpaca Standard) and RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) certificate granted by the Textile Exchange. Since Alpaca and Andean sheep have beautiful coats in a variety of natural hues ranging from bright white to black, when possible we choose to work with un-dyed, natural materials. When dyes are used we select low-impact, OEKO-TEX certified dyes that are heavy metal and azo-free.
Kelsey Adair
The Founder
Founder and designer, Kelsey Adair started Bare Knitwear in 2014. The brand’s effortless appeal and understated elegance are reflective of Kelsey’s upbringing on Canada’s West Coast. A strong connection to nature and her ‘less is more’ philosophy transcends into Bare's timeless aesthetic, natural palette, and easy silhouettes.
Kelsey developed a comprehensive understanding of small business while working with Canadian designers in the fifteen years prior to starting her label. During this time her passion for ethical production and a desire to combine luxurious textiles and modern design with artisanal craftsmanship also grew.
A life changing trip to Peru in the summer of 2014 altered the direction of Bare forever. She began working with artisan groups in the Peruvian Andes which taught her the intricacies of traditional craftsmanship, the beauty of sustainable fibres and the role Bare could play in empowering artisan communities through knitwear.
Kelsey views the design and manufacturing process as collaborative and finds inspiration for Bare’s heirloom knits through exploration of time-honoured manufacturing techniques. Dedicated to preserving the authentic feel of handmade knitwear, Kelsey attributes her discerning eye for textiles to the time spent working alongside world class artisans in Peru. She is proud to connect the two worlds and believes that every collection tells a story of how the present can honour the past while still reflecting the times.
Kelsey Adair, Founder
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"Our design process is rooted by a less is more philosophy. Timeless yet relevant, we refrain from following the latest trend to ensure each garment we put into the world becomes an heirloom to treasure for years to come."
