A recent analysis has highlighted a potential 'knitwear gender gap' in the composition of jumpers for men and women. This follows a viral TikTok video that drew attention to differences in materials used by Abercrombie & Fitch for similarly priced menswear and womenswear jumpers.
The video, created by fashion content creator Rachael Brownfield, noted that a 100% merino wool men's jumper was sold for $95 (£71), while a women's jumper at the same price contained only 30% wool. This sparked a debate, with the video accumulating two million views and nearly 10,000 comments.
Inspired by the video, data platform Style Analytics investigated the issue. Their findings suggest that men's jumpers priced under $100 are up to five times more likely to be made of 100% natural fibres, such as wool, cotton, or cashmere, compared to women's jumpers. The analysis, based on full-price knitwear offerings on the US sites of six major US brands, also indicated that women's jumpers in this price bracket are twice as likely to contain polyester.
According to Style Analytics' founder Molly Rooyakkers, this 'knitwear gender gap' only appears to close for items costing $100 or more. Fashion educator Roni Brunn suggests that trend cycles and sizing play a role in the increased use of synthetics like elastane, nylon, and polyester in women's knitwear, as these materials are inexpensive and add desired properties like stretch and fluidity.
Brands may also be cutting costs by using petroleum-derived fabrics, which are cheaper to produce than natural fibres. Shoppers are advised to carefully check care labels and marketing terms, as products described as "wool blend" can have as little as 15% wool content.