Knickerbocker
Rated: Fair
Price: $$
Location: USA
Quick verdict
Knickerbocker is an independent heritage menswear brand that transitioned from fully Made in USA production (2013–2018) to primarily Portuguese family-owned factories, with only watch caps still made in the US. The sustainability approach is philosophical. Emphasising longevity, natural fibres, and relationship-driven manufacturing over certifications and data. Manufacturing partners hold multiple certifications (GOTS, OEKO-TEX, GRS), though Knickerbocker itself holds none.
Key info
- Headquarters
- New York City, USA
- Founded
- 2013
- Product categories
- Menswear, Accessories
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- No brand-level certifications. Manufacturing partners hold BCI, EcoVero, GOTS, GRS, OCS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and REACH certifications. No B Corp.
Knickerbocker sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Primarily natural fibres (cotton, wool, alpaca). Fabrics sourced from Japan and Europe. Manufacturing partners hold GOTS, GRS, OCS, and OEKO-TEX certifications. However, no brand-level material certifications or sustainability claims.
Production in family-owned Portuguese factories under EU labour standards. Andrew Livingston personally visits factories. Watch caps still made in the USA. Long-standing relationships with manufacturers. Peru production for alpaca sweaters.
No carbon footprint measurement, emissions data, or climate targets. Sustainability approach relies on durability and natural materials rather than measurable environmental programmes.
No formal circularity, take-back, repair, or recycling programme. Durability is the sole anti-waste strategy. 5-day return window with 2% restocking fee is restrictive.
Transparent about the NYC-to-Portugal manufacturing transition. No sustainability report or formal targets. Small family operation provides inherent transparency but no documentation.
What they do well
- Certified manufacturing partners: Portuguese factories hold BCI, EcoVero, GOTS, GRS, OCS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and REACH certifications, providing third-party verified production standards.
- Natural fibre focus: Primarily cotton, wool, and alpaca with fabrics sourced from Japan and Europe, avoiding synthetic-heavy compositions common in comparable menswear.
- Relationship-driven manufacturing: Family-owned factories in Northern Portugal with long-standing personal relationships. Andrew Livingston personally visits manufacturers regularly.
- Cultural community building: Founded the Canal Street Film Festival (now in its 4th year) and maintains an in-store bookstore, contributing to NYC's creative ecosystem beyond retail.
Room for improvement
- No brand-level certifications: While manufacturing partners hold certifications, Knickerbocker as a brand holds none. No B Corp, Fair Trade, or direct sustainability certifications.
- No environmental data or targets: No carbon footprint measurement, no climate targets, no sustainability report. The brand explicitly states 'all new clothing takes up resources' but offers no quantified environmental strategy.
- Misleading Made in USA perception: Many older retailer descriptions still inaccurately describe Knickerbocker as 'American-made,' though only watch caps are still produced in the US since the 2018 factory closure.
About Knickerbocker
Knickerbocker was founded in September 2013 by Andrew Livingston, Daniel McRorie, and Kyle Mosholder, who used Kickstarter funds to acquire the Watman Headwear Corp. factory in Ridgewood, Queens. Livingston, a former professional teen snowboarder from San Diego, served as creative director, drawing design inspiration from workwear, military, outdoor wear, and mid-century Americana.
The brand was fully Made in USA from 2013 to 2018, operating its own factory in Queens. The NYC factory was shut down in summer 2018 and production moved primarily to family-owned factories in Northern Portugal. Today, only watch caps are still made in the US, with additional production in Peru (alpaca sweaters) and Japan. The brand is transparent about this transition on their website, though many older retailer descriptions still inaccurately describe Knickerbocker as American-made.
The sustainability philosophy is explicitly anti-data: the brand states that 'fashion is not an environmentally sustainable industry. All new clothing takes up resources.' The emphasis falls on longevity, durability, natural fibres, and small-scale production with trusted manufacturing partners. Portuguese factories hold multiple certifications including GOTS, OEKO-TEX, and GRS. Packaging uses reusable tote bags through a partnership with noissue rather than disposable paper bags.
Notable collaborations include capsule collections with Kodak and The New York Times. The Canal Street Film Festival, now in its 4th year at Anthology Film Archives, reflects Livingston's commitment to creative community building. The brand operates stores in SoHo Manhattan (357 Canal Street), Melbourne, and Porto. Run as a small family operation by Andrew and Maxine Livingston with likely fewer than 15 total employees.
Product highlights
Watch Cap
Classic knitted watch cap; the only product still made in the USA from Knickerbocker's original domestic production
~$55–$70
The last Made in USA product in the range—a direct link to the brand's origins in the Ridgewood, Queens factory
Rugby Shirt
Heritage-inspired rugby shirt in heavy cotton jersey; made in Portugal by family-owned factories
~$150
Core product that exemplifies the brand's workwear-meets-Americana design philosophy in certified Portuguese production
Kodak Collaboration Tee
Limited-edition t-shirt from the ongoing Kodak capsule collection; celebrating Kodak's printing heritage
~$70–$85
Most recognised collaboration. Multiple seasons of capsule collections with one of America's most iconic brands
Chore Coat
Heavyweight cotton work jacket inspired by mid-century workwear; made in Portugal with Japanese or European fabric
~$295–$395
The brand's premium outerwear piece. Designed to last years, embodying the durability-over-disposability philosophy
