Rebecca, a 24-year-old designer from the UK, discovered her passion for knitting in 2017 as part of a school project. In January 2021, she founded her brand, Dainty Knit, and later moved to South Korea. Today, her unique and vibrant knitwear can be seen on K-pop sensation SHINee and influential American figure Emma Chamberlain.
Rebecca’s handmade knitwear, including dainty mini-dresses and two-pieces, is characterized by bold colors and retro patterns, exuding youthful charm and character. As the sole operator of Dainty Knit, Rebecca handles everything from sourcing materials and managing social media to the actual knitting process, all while working part-time as a teacher in Seoul. While most of her creations are made to order, she offers a limited selection of pre-made pieces on her Depop page, ranging from $50 to $300 for skirts and approximately $150 for dresses. On average, she knits 15 to 20 pieces per month.
Rebecca’s journey in fashion began long before she launched Dainty Knit. With a background in textiles, art, and design, she honed her skills and creativity over the years. Even as a child, she would create outfits for her Bratz dolls using scrap materials, showcasing her innate talent and passion for fashion. It was her fashion tutor who introduced her to knitting during a school project in 2017.
Under her grandmother’s guidance, Rebecca learned the craft of knitting and crochet, receiving additional support from her mother and aunt. She quickly fell in love with the art and devoted herself to mastering it. For the school project, she crafted tiny bikini tops, marking the beginning of her knitting journey.
Rebecca’s hobby of knitting transitioned into a thriving career when she began selling her handmade garments on Depop in 2020 while working as a bartender in Liverpool. In January 2021, she officially launched Dainty Knit, initially selling her designs within England. Later that year, she relocated to South Korea, where she continued expanding her brand while adapting to new cultural influences and limited yarn options.
Within six months of establishing Dainty Knit, Rebecca received her first major breakthrough when Emma Chamberlain’s stylist discovered her Instagram page and reached out to purchase the “Dainty Two-Piece.” This notable collaboration, which involved 15 hours of knitting, propelled Rebecca’s brand further. Another milestone came when StayC’s stylist took notice of her designs, initially making purchases before requesting custom pieces based on Rebecca’s existing work. Building trust and confidentiality within the K-pop fashion scene allowed Rebecca to secure her most significant project to date, creating 24 balaclavas for SHINee’s latest music release alongside their 20 backup dancers. As per the agreement within the K-pop community, Rebecca does not disclose her earnings from this project.
Rebecca’s immersion in Korean culture has influenced her work, inspiring her to incorporate elements of traditional Korean clothing, known as hanbok, into her designs. While she admires these garments, she respects their cultural significance and refrains from appropriating or redesigning them. Instead, she draws inspiration from her hometown of Liverpool, with references to iconic music acts like The Beatles and Cilla Black, as well as fashion trends from the ’60s to the 2000s. The Dainty Knit logo, featuring a red star and a heart symbol, pays homage to Liverpool’s heritage.
Looking ahead, Rebecca acknowledges that the knit design industry in South Korea is still in its nascent stages, primarily existing as a popular hobby rather than a career path. While a few individuals have attempted similar endeavors, Rebecca believes her success is a combination of luck and her distinct designs that stand out in a predominantly homogeneous fashion landscape. According to street fashion photographer Michael Hurt, Rebecca’s knit garments are unique in the context of Korean fashion, offering trendy and stylish pieces through the medium of knitting, which is often associated with older generations. Although the future of the knit design industry in South Korea remains uncertain, Rebecca is content to be part of the supportive knitwear community and will soon be joining the local knit platform, Nakyang Store, as a creator.
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