• Bettaknit is a startup that wants to make knitting accessible and responsible.
• Members receive creative boxes with everything they need to make the garment of their choice.
• Knitting also becomes a meeting point for a community of enthusiasts.
• Materials are carefully selected and certified to guarantee their environmental sustainability.

Born from two sisters' love of yarn and sustainability, a startup that wants to make knitting accessible and responsible. Behind every ball of yarn, in fact, lies a supply chain made up of many steps — starting from the field (for cotton) or the animal (for wool and cashmere), passing through dyeing and arriving at the finished yarn. A world that can conceal many pitfalls, both environmentally, with the impact of polluting substances on groundwater and soil, and socially, through the exploitation of workers, and even in terms of health, with the use of toxic elements. From this awareness, combined with a desire to make knitting more accessible to everyone, Bettaknit was born. The startup, founded by Barbara and Elisabetta Fani, is part of LifeGate Way and was also selected by the international accelerator programme Techstars.

Knitting: a hobby that does you good and builds community

Knitting has always existed, but in recent years it has made a major comeback. After all, there are numerous scientific studies that describe needles and hooks as a source of wellbeing. According to the research, knitting activates several areas of the brain that slow cognitive decline, promote relaxation and strengthen self-esteem. Besides, can anything really compare to a handmade garment over a shop-bought one? And so, from the heart of the Prato textile district, an e-commerce platform was born to provide creative kits and digital tutorials for making your own DIY jumper, bag or hat.

Bettaknit wants to reinvent a traditional craft that the Fani sisters have been immersed in since childhood, thanks to their family's textile business. And the ambition is to turn even complete beginners into knitters. How? Through creative boxes that include everything you need — from needles, pins and crochet hooks to balls of yarn, patterns and the clearest possible instructions supported by video tutorials. There is no limit to creativity, nor to the community of knitters who love sharing their handmade creations or taking part in challenges launched via social media. "We wanted to create a space where people could rediscover the pleasure of making things by hand and feel part of something bigger. The community has become the beating heart of Bettaknit," explains Barbara Fani, CEO and co-founder of the company.

Only responsible yarn for Bettaknit

The yarns? All natural, certified and 100 per cent made in Italy. The cotton yarns are all certified Gots (Global Organic Textile Standard) and come from traceable supply chains, from harvesting to labelling. The mohair, certified Rms (Responsible Mohair Standard), is sourced exclusively from farms that do not practise mulesing. This procedure, which is painful for the sheep, involves the surgical removal of skin around the anal and perianal area in order to prevent infections.

Furthermore, with a circular mindset, the startup is committed to reducing its impact and resource consumption by using regenerated yarns such as re-cashmere. This prized fibre is obtained through the mechanical recycling of old jumpers, which are regenerated and spun again together with virgin wool. As a safety guarantee, all yarns are certified Oeko-Tex, a textile control system for the detection of toxic substances. Because, as the Fani sisters know well, respecting yourself and the Planet means every thread counts.