NL
St. John's
NONIA
Founded
1920
NONIA sells hand-knit wool sweaters and caps from St. John's, knit by about 140 knitters across Newfoundland and Labrador.
NONIA is the Newfoundland Outport Nursing and Industrial Association, founded in 1920 to pay for nurses in coastal communities that had none. More than 1,300 of those communities had no basic health care at the time.
Committees sent wool and materials out to women in the outports, who knitted garments that were sold to cover the nurses' salaries. NONIA incorporated as a non-profit in 1924, and the knitting continued after the health care work ended.
About 140 knitters work for NONIA today, in their own homes around the province. The wool goes out, the finished sweaters and caps come back, and the store in St. John's sells them.
The Madrock Pullover is an original NONIA design, a fisherman knit with raglan sleeves and a crew neck in 100% wool.
Made in
Newfoundland and Labrador
Designed in
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Materials and process
The sweaters and most caps are 100% wool. Some children's hats, including the Kitten Helmet and Kitten Bonnets, are 100% acrylic and machine washable. NONIA does not state where its wool is spun.
Ownership
NONIA is a non-profit social enterprise, incorporated in 1924 and founded in 1920 by the Outport Nursing Committee under Lady Constance Harris. It keeps its retail store in St. John's and works with about 140 knitters across Newfoundland and Labrador.
What they make
