ShuttleKnit Ireland

Shuttle Knit is an Irish social enterprise, that crafts high-quality, handmade knitwear. Their knitters are members of the Travelling Community.

Traditionally, Traveller women worked by selling door-to door, at markets and fairs. However, recent legislation has created barriers that prevent Traveller women selling in the ways in which they did in the past, and so they needed to adapt and change.

Shuttle Knit started over 20 years ago, when the adventurous Sr Catriona Geraghty invited Traveller women into her home in Ballyguile council estate in Wicklow for knitting and a chat. Shuttle Knit began as a partnership between the Traveller and settled communities, with the mission to improve quality of life for Traveller Women and their families through social enterprise.

They were then, and remain now, dedicated to “Knitting Communities Together”. They design, hand craft, and sell beautiful Irish knitwear online, at markets throughout Ireland. The staff at Shuttle Knit are highly skilled knitters, seamstresses and designers. They showcase our handcrafted knitwear at markets which brings them into the community in a positive way following on from Traveller traditions.

Each fashionable garment is designed and created with the love and skill of our staff, and it is ethical and sustainable “slow fashion”.

“Quality of the knitwear is top class. Too many colours and designs to choose from. I want one of everything!" - A happy customer

One of Shuttle Knit’s goals is to bring inclusion into the labour market through social enterprise. They provide jobs and training to 11 women who are part of the local Travelling Community in Wicklow. The impact is that their staff have a secure income, a sense of purpose and they learn a skill. They are empowered and become role models in their own community and contribute to the local economy.

ShuttleKnit is the only Traveller enterprise of its kind in Ireland.. As they are a social enterprise, our customers’ support does more good for communities as profits ShuttleKnit receives are reinvested into the local economy and the Traveller Community.