OUR STORY
A Creative Heritage That Spans Generations
The story of Kauni began long before the brand was founded in Denmark in 1996. Its roots go back to 1951, when Kauni’s artistic parents met at a small yarn factory in Estonia, bonded by their shared love of craftsmanship and art. They passed this passion on to their long-awaited daughter, Kauni, the heart and soul of the brand.
From early childhood, Kauni expressed her creativity by sketching patterns that she, together with her mother, would turn into personalised clothes. She brought her ideas to life on knitting needles, crafting wool pullovers by hand.
The story of Kauni began long before the brand was founded in Denmark in 1996. Its roots go back to 1951, when Kauni’s artistic parents met at a small yarn factory in Estonia, bonded by their shared love of craftsmanship and art. They passed this passion on to their long-awaited daughter, Kauni, the heart and soul of the brand.
From early childhood, Kauni expressed her creativity by sketching patterns that she, together with her mother, would turn into personalised clothes. She brought her ideas to life on knitting needles, crafting wool pullovers by hand.
In high school, she designed and machine-knitted her first wool sweater using her great-aunt Minna’s pre-war Estonian knitting machine. When her father gifted her a modern knitting machine, Kauni finally had the tools to realise her vision fully. This passion led her to study arts and crafts at Tallinn University and later to Denmark.
Today, Kauni is known across the Nordics and Europe for high-quality wool knitwear. Though the wool knitwear brand was founded in Denmark, all Kauni knitwear is made in Estonia, mostly on hand-operated knitting machines in Pärnu by skilled knitters and seamstresses. Every garment reflects the warmth, care, and quality of traditional craftsmanship.
In high school, she designed and machine-knitted her first wool sweater using her great-aunt Minna’s pre-war Estonian knitting machine. When her father gifted her a modern knitting machine, Kauni finally had the tools to realise her vision fully. This passion led her to study arts and crafts at Tallinn University and later to Denmark.
Today, Kauni is known across the Nordics and Europe for high-quality wool knitwear. Though the wool knitwear brand was founded in Denmark, all Kauni knitwear is made in Estonia, mostly on hand-operated knitting machines in Pärnu by skilled knitters and seamstresses. Every garment reflects the warmth, care, and quality of traditional craftsmanship.
The Soul of Kauni
Designer Kauni Sillat has dedicated her life to craft, children and community. Having grown up as an only child, she dreamed of a life full of children — a dream that blossomed into raising five children and founding a community-based education movement.
Inspired by the Danish freeschool model, she established the Pärnu Free School in 1997 and Titutriinu Childcare in 2009. Her vision: joyful, creative, and safe spaces for children to learn and grow.
Kauni’s children grew up surrounded by wool, nature, and creativity — values woven into every Kauni garment. That deep connection to natural materials, heritage, and design full of love and soul continues to inspire our knitwear today.
