Article: Original Since 2019: The First 3D Appliqué Cardigans and the Story Behind Them
Original Since 2019: The First 3D Appliqué Cardigans and the Story Behind Them
How 3D Appliqué Knitwear Was Born
Back in 2019, 3D appliqué knitwear didn’t exist in the handmade space. No cardigans with raised strawberries, no playful crochet mushrooms, bears, and fruits stitched onto sweaters. That’s when our family — my mom, my aunties, and I, decided to create something completely new: handmade cardigans featuring 3D crochet motifs.
Our process started in the simplest way possible: a WhatsApp chat across two continents.
Here’s a real moment from January 2021:
Mom: “Hilal, I just got an idea 😂
The motifs can be sewn with white yarn — that way it will look like they’re placed on white dots.”Me: “Ahh, that makes so much sense!”
These were the conversations that shaped our first-ever 3D appliqué strawberry cardigans deciding button colors, motif placement, and new stitch techniques one message at a time.
From Kitchen Table to Fashion Media
In 2021, our 3D appliqué designs gained attention from fashion editors and customers alike. Our work was featured in InStyle and Vogue, validating what we believed all along: there was a place in the market for playful, handmade knitwear that felt truly unique.
The Trend Goes Global
Today, you can find 3D appliqué cardigans almost everywhere:
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Amazon
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Alibaba
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Etsy
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TikTok Shop
We’ve spotted countless versions that look similar to our first pieces. Instead of frustration, we see this as proof that the idea resonated with the world. We started a movement — and we still lead it.
Why Originality Still Matters
Being first is meaningful, but what really matters is staying true to what made the original so special. At Society Mano, we continue to focus on:
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Fair Wages & Social Impact: Every piece is handmade by women artisans paid fairly and treated with respect.
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Sustainability: Small-batch production, high-quality yarns, and zero-waste practices.
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Transparency: Clear processes, open communication, and ethical production aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1, 5, 8, 10, 12).
This is what sets the original 3D appliqué cardigan apart from mass-produced copies.
The Society Mano Difference
Today, Society Mano is the next chapter of our story. Our sweaters and cardigans still feature the iconic 3D appliqué designs — strawberries, mushrooms, bears — but now we work with over 500 women artisans and a mission to empower communities globally.
How to Shop the Originals
If you’ve ever loved a cardigan with little strawberries, clouds, or mushrooms, you’ve been part of this story.
✨ Shop our originals: www.societymano.com
✨ Follow along on Instagram: @societymano
✨ Support artisan-made fashion: Share this post and help spread the word about originality in knitwear.
