Henius Knitwear: Pearls, shimmer and female forms – raw femininity in knitting
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Henius Knitwear
With her distinct design profile of colour, glitter and tactile detail, Mette Henius has created a knitwear universe of her own. At the heart of Henius Knitwear is what she calls raw femininity – a design language shaped not only by her love of texture and shimmer, but also by years spent defending the right to remain visibly feminine in a fast-paced corporate world.
Today, that sensibility shapes the business as a whole. From her shop in the centre of Rønne on Bornholm, Mette Henius offers a true treat for knitwear enthusiasts, with yarns, accessories, workshops and a pattern collection that presently includes 80 designs and many more in the making.
“I like combining something raw with something feminine,” she says. “There should always be something that feels beautiful and a little striking, whether that’s colour, pearls, sequins or shimmer. I want to create designs that stand out, but also pieces that women can style in different ways and that feel good wearing. You can knit all the designs without the glitter and pearls as well, with any yarn that works.”
Her distinct thoughts on design and femininity have quickly made Henius a well-known name in the world of knitting. Featured in both podcasts and TV shows, customers from all over the world find their way to her designs through the web shop, the boutique, and social media accounts.
From international career to boutique on Bornholm
Taught by her mother, Henius learned to knit as a child and made her first design while still at school. The wish to build a life around creativity stayed with her, but for years she chose the security of salaried work in a senior international role, with long days, weekend work and more than 225 travel days a year.
At 53, she decided to start again. She left corporate life, spent months refining the concept, moved to Bornholm and opened Henius Knitwear in a small space in March 2020. “I had been thinking about it for years,” she says. “And I thought: if I’m going to put that many hours into my life every day, I want to do it in my own business.”
In the years since opening, the business has grown steadily, and she now launches around 10 to 12 designs a year. She has also become known through teaching and talks as well as podcast and television appearances (the show Nu strikker jeg is available on TV2 Play).
Designs shaped by experience
In her designs, Henius draws inspiration from the female form, the garments that she herself would want to wear, and the restrictions she once encountered in her professional life. “There were times when I was told not to wear something feminine to work because then I wouldn’t be taken seriously,” she says. “That provoked me enormously.”
That tension became productive. Her answer was to create knitwear that celebrates feminine designs and decorations. Pearls, sequins and shimmer recur, but so does close attention to fit, proportion and practicality. Many of her garments are intended to move easily between settings – under a blazer during the day, without it in the evening. “I want women to be able to style my designs in many different ways,” she says. “They should work for everyday life, but also for dinners, parties or wherever else you are going.”
That same thoughtfulness carries into the technical side of her work. She avoids abbreviations to make patterns easier to follow, and before launching a new pattern, each design is knitted by 30 test knitters to ensure that individual differences in knitting techniques are accounted for.
Knitting calm
Alongside the designs themselves, service has become a defining part of the business. Customers can buy in person or online, and Henius often advises them directly on colours and yarn combinations. Sometimes that means walking them through the boutique virtually before opening hours, helping them compare shades in the right light. It is a slower way of working, but one that suits her approach; for her, knitting is not only about making clothes, but about concentration, calm and mental space. “When I sit and knit, it gives me peace,” she says. “Your brain works a little, and then it relaxes. You go into a kind of bubble, and your thoughts can simply flow with the stitches.”
That sense of calm is something she has seen in others too, including people dealing with stress. It is also central to the way she thinks about work itself. Her days are still long, but now the hours belong to something she has built herself. “I probably work just as much as before,” she says. “But it’s my own business. I can decide, I can change things quickly, and even if I earn less some months, I’m happier. It’s my baby, and that means everything.”
Knitwear designer and founder of Henius Knitwear, Mette Henius.
www.heniusknitwear.com
Facebook: heniusknitwear
Instagram: @heniusknitwear
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