Design Notes
The jumper you always reach for. The tee that fits just right. We go back to that - again and again. Design, not decoration. Instinct over trend. Informed by history. Grounded in heritage.
But never lost in nostalgia - this is made for now. Impeccable materials. Expert hands.
Built on feeling. Worn on repeat.
It’s like using the best ingredients for a recipe: it just tastes so much better.
Founder Rachel launched Navygrey in 2019 with a small collection of five knitwear styles.
Since then, our collection has grown - branching out from knitwear to include tees, Bretons,sweats, accessories and homewares. But the founding principle across every piece we design remains the same: it’s got to feel good.
That starts with the fabric. It’s the most important part of our design process. We begin by making sure the fibre quality is the most luxurious in terms of where it comes from, who made it and what it feels like. Then we adapt our designs to get the very best out of every fibre.
And that’s what brings the good feeling. It’s like using the best ingredients for a recipe: it just tastes so much better.
A certain functionality and usefulness is key - every piece has got to work for life.
The original Navygrey knit, The Relaxed, was a 7-gauge, mid-weight jumper. The first cardigan in 2019 was a version made in the same wool. Then we thought it would be great to have a slightly lighter weight wool for when the weather changes - which we named the WEEKEND. That’s how we evolve; according to what is useful to have in our wardrobes and it's those pieces that have become part of our DNA and bestsellers year after year.
'We listen to our customers and respond. Over time, their feedback has become an important part of the Navygrey design process.'
The Palette
When it comes to colour, Navy and Grey have always been our starting point.
Before launching, I’d ask people what they thought of the name.
They’d say, "That’s my wardrobe.” That’s when I knew it made sense. It felt fresh, but familiar - and that’s what we’re about.
“They’re colours you don’t have to think about,” says Rachel. “They just work. That’s always been important - our clothes are made to be lived in, worn again and again.”
From there, we’ve explored deeper greys, shifted through shades of blue, and gradually introduced fresh hues of red, white and seasonal pops.
Colour that feels right - easy to wear, easy to love.
It's all in the details
It’s all in the cut. The shape. The subtle details.
It’s why our pieces are quietly championed by those who know good design when they see it - and why our customers keep coming back, year after year.
“It might be the width across the chest on a tee,” says Head of Design Jenny. “Or the size of a button. Or a cuff that’s just wide enough to give a knit a little more movement.”
Small decisions, made deliberately - because when you get those things right, the piece lasts. It feels relevant now, and still will years from now.
As Rachel says, “That’s why you can pull on a jumper that belonged to your dad, mum or your grandparent - and it still feels good.”
And why, five years on, we're still wearing that original Relaxed jumper that started it all.
