Because we want to be a part of the change

We began our knitwear studio, called Hatch and Make, in August 2021 in a shed on a farm on Wurundjeri Country in the Yarra Valley, Australia.

We are all long term fashion industry bods and committed to material change in the industry.

So we banded together to grow an organistion that would learn and develop best practice in design and circular economy with a focus on knitwear and naturally grown fibres like wool and cotton.

We work with established brands, helping them develop and make their knitwear collections.

And, in 2024 we moved into our new studio and workroom in Lilydale and launched our own small collection of premium knitwear basics, called Brood.

Designed and made, by us, in the Yarra Valley, Australia.

This is our approach

  • Great design

    Pure and functional, soft and cosy, great fit, classic styles and beautiful colours.

  • Made by us

    We design and make everything in house in the Yarra Valley. That's it.

  • For life

    For the long term; repairable, hand-me-downable, and at the very end (if you can bare to part) compostable.

We are

  • Nigel Whelan

  • Kirri-Mae Sampson

  • Dave Giles-Kaye

This is what makes us tick

  • Made responsibly

    Made with ethically grown wool and sustainable cotton, very little waste and pollution and exemplary employment practices.

  • Materials selection

    Natural materials only. From the super soft merino wool and cotton to the sustainable Tencel sewing thread and our super-special knitted wool Brood labels.

  • Sustainable impact

    Made to be part of the Circular Economy. No waste, long product life and compostable when done and dusted.

Our location

We live and work on the land of the Wurundjeri People and recognise the strong and proud Aboriginal history of what we now call Australia. With a history dating back tens of thousands of years and appreciated as the oldest living culture in the world, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.