Spoil yourself: Akaknits

**** Unfortunately, the store has since been closed again ****

There was a strange mechanical sound when I entered the store. I followed it to the back of the room – where I met Annika Nyberg. She was skillfully operating a knitting machine, a type I had last seen at a friend’s house when I was a child. Annika showed me around her workshop introducing me to her latest pieces along the way: beautiful sweaters, scarves and beanies she had made from pure cashmere in extraordinary colors bearing her own label: Akaknits.

Truly, the heart of Akaknits’ showroom is a tall rack keeping all the yarn spools in dozens of different hues. She buys them in Scotland, at one of the world’s finest quality spinners of cashmere, Annika told me proudly. Technically, they only supply large, well-known clothing compagnies but she managed to get a foot in the door and now receives special batches from them. Annika had always loved to work with textiles but the idea to establish her own brand only came up a few years ago.

Together with her daughter Amanda, who studied fashion design in London, she founded Akaknits in September 2013. And opened a spacious store in a quieter neighborhood of Santa Catalina, looking out onto beautiful Placa de la Verge del Miracle. While Amanda loves to come up with new designs Annika takes care of the production. There is always a nice selection of their classic models in store – next to their simple elegant styles I particularly like the Aran jumpers, traditionally worn by Irish fishermen. You can also have a sweater or cape custom-made – just choose your favorite color. Sure, cashmere is an expensive fabric but you can wear it forever.

A few weeks ago, Gaia Bathtime moved in with Akaknits, so here’s where you get Trudi Murray’s precious soaps, moisturisers and massage oils. The perfect addition to Akaknits’ cashmere à la carte.