Hi, I’m Hope Macaulay – a fashion designer from the beautiful North Coast of Northern Ireland.
I launched my namesake contemporary luxury fashion brand in 2018, shortly after graduating with a degree in Fashion and Textile Design. Since then, I’ve been deeply involved in every part of the creative and business journey - from designing my knitwear collections and painting our prints to sharing behind-the-scenes moments on social media.

To learn more about the story behind the brand, visit our About the Brand page. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok to see what we’re up to and meet the team!

We create our chunky knitwear pieces all over Northern Ireland, by our talented team of 20 local hand knitters! We strongly believe in high quality, made-to-order, handmade garments, shopping small and supporting local women in our community. To meet our wonderful knitters, check out our Responsibility page!

Most of our garments are handmade to order in small quantities. Please see product description for exact time estimation. Made-to-order means we only create a garment when it has been ordered by one of our customers. This reduces waste and means that it is specially made for you!

Yes, we sell our official wool and patterns at Hope's Wool. Happy Creating!

In today's climate, we believe it is very important that we all care of our clothes, so we put together a special guide below on how to take care of your Hope Macaulay pieces! Our knitwear pieces are expertly handmade in super soft and luxurious wool and yarn. The more chunky, the more it requires special care to maintain their look. 

If your knitwear piece is from our wool collection, the good news is that wool needs less washing than other fibres such as cotton or synthetics, as it is naturally odour resistant. 

As with any handmade knitwear cardigan or coat, we recommend avoiding machine washing. For the best care, please use a professional dry cleaner and spot-clean when needed.

We recommend professional dry cleaners and to use the technique called spot cleaning immediately if you have any small stains on your knitwear piece. Please do not wash in the washing machine! To spot clean, damp a cloth with cold or warm water and pat the area. Gently squeeze the water without rubbing. Lay it on a flat surface to dry.

If your knitwear piece is from our wool collection, the good news is that wool needs less washing than other fibres such as cotton or synthetics, as it is naturally odour resistant. 

Also giving your knit a little shake is a great technique to get rid of any dust and keep your knit looking fresh.

Store your Hope Macaulay pieces beautifully and securely with our signature Knitwear Storage Bags. Made from soft, breathable cotton, these reusable fabric bags are designed to protect your handcrafted knitwear - keeping it tidy, dust-free and safe for seasons to come. Whether you're organising your wardrobe or packing for travel, these cotton storage bags are the perfect way to care for your precious knits with love. Order yours here.

Folding your knitwear piece into our storage bag and into a drawer or box is always the safest storage option. Although, if you would like to hang your knitwear piece up for a short period of time, we recommend using non-slip hangers that have rounded edges to avoid slipping and snagging.

Please take into consideration when you receive your super colossal knitwear piece that pilling may occur when worn. This is totally natural and due to the super thick, luxurious nature of the un-spun wool/yarn. The thicker the knitwear piece, the more likely it is to pill. 

Pilling is loose fibre, shedding or little balls that form when the knitwear piece is worn. This may happen more on the inside of the garment due to the friction against our clothes.

We recommend using our Hope Macaulay Knitwear Comb to brush through your knitwear piece, which you can order here. We swear by it! We find that this is the best way to keep our knitwear pieces looking great for years to come.

We use Hope’s Wool, available to order at hopeswool.com. Due to huge demand, we are so excited to bring you exclusive Hope Macaulay knitwear patterns and premium soft yarns for your handmade projects. We have special limited edition drops of new bold colours and soft fibres, hand-picked by Hope with a focus on sustainable and ethically sourced materials, such as recycled yarns and 100% merino wool.

Due to the handmade and made-to-order nature of the garments, each piece may vary ever so slightly – but don't worry, it may not even be noticeable! Any variations or unevenness in the design are characteristics of their handmade nature should be considered an asset. This is what we love about them!