Whaler Knits
Fall River, Massachusetts 🇺🇸
Whalerknits: Heritage Coastal Knitwear, Built in Fall River, MA
Established in 1975, Whalerknits is an American heritage knitwear brand headquartered at 502 Bedford Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. Operating out of the historic Fall River Knitting Mills facility, the label produces timeless maritime- and collegiate-inspired sweaters, cotton throw blankets, beanies, and knit home goods engineered specifically for New England coastal weather.
Whalerknits operates under the umbrella of the Merrow family, whose roots in American textile machinery date back to 1838 with the invention of the original overlock stitch (merrowing). The brand stands as one of the last fully vertically integrated knitwear mills in the United States, keeping every stage of sweater making domestically intact.
Core Pillars & Manufacturing Principles
100% Vertical Fall River Production: Design, yarn knitting, fabric cutting, overlock seaming, hand-finishing, and shipping are executed under one roof at their Bedford Street mill in Fall River, MA.
Sewn on In-House Merrow Machines: Garments are stitched using authentic overlock machinery built by the Merrow family machine shop, utilizing proprietary heavy-duty edge seams specifically engineered for heavy knitwear.
Natural Fiber Construction: Focuses on heavyweight 100% cotton, high-density knits, and premium wool yarns tailored for durability, breathability, and coastal salt-air exposure.
Mended for Life Guarantee: Emphasizing generational longevity, Whalerknits backs its sweaters and blankets with a lifetime mending service directly at the mill where they were original crafted.
By pairing classic coastal New England design with authentic local textile machinery and vertical mill operations, Whalerknits preserves an essential piece of American apparel manufacturing.
