Behind the scenes at our factories
At the heart of Kite are our amazing production partners who help bring our designs to life season after season.
We’re proud to work closely with six brilliant factories, all of which we’ve collaborated with for over a decade. Our relationships run deep based on a shared passion for quality and sustainable practices.
Every six months, we visit our manufacturers in Turkey and India to work on the upcoming collection. It’s this hands-on approach that ensures our garments meet the highest standards.
Join Jo, our founder, as she gives you a behind-the-scenes peek into what it’s like to visit our factories, with Roger, our Managing Director, and Libby, our Assistant Product Developer.
First Stop: Izmir, Turkey
"We always get a buzz when the plane touches down in Turkey. We’ve visited many times, but the excitement never fades.
As soon as we arrive, we dive straight into work, greeted by familiar faces. The team we work with here have become friends over the years, and it’s always a warm welcome.
Each visit is a chance to reconnect, explore new ideas, fine-tune designs and collaborate on bringing our styles to life."
Next: Istanbul
“After a busy few days in Izmir, it’s time to head to Istanbul where our denim and hosiery factories are based.
The expertise of these makers is always so impressive, and we take the time to talk about new developments like environmentally friendly wash methods, the latest yarn inventions and how to improve our styles."
On to India
"Following an overnight flight, we land for a five-day visit. After some rest and our first much-anticipated Indian meal, we’re ready to go!
In India, we work closely with our partners to create beautiful, ethically produced knitwear and woven pieces.
Knitwear is one of our passions and it's always great to work on the computer patterns and then watch the knitting machines bring our ideas to life.
Then at our wovens factory we love to spend time with the team making sure the sewing patterns are just right for achieving a great fit.
We find face-to-face time is the best way to perfect the little details."
This trip was particularly special because it was Libby’s first visit to the factories. Here’s what she had to say:
Visiting our factories has given me a real appreciation for the time and detail that goes into every single garment. It was fantastic to finally meet the people we collaborate with so closely in person.
Final thoughts
"We treasure the relationships we’ve built with our factory teams. These visits twice a year aren’t just about checking on production; they’re about staying connected with the people who make it all happen.
And for those who ask, ‘How was your holiday?’ – well, we can’t help but laugh! These trips are full-on work, but we wouldn’t have it any other way."