Who Is Alanui? The Milan Knitwear Label Behind the Icon Cardigan
Who Is Alanui? The Milan Knitwear Label Behind the Icon Cardigan
Alanui is an Italian luxury knitwear label, founded in Milan in 2016 by brother and sister Nicolo and Carlotta Oddi and best known for one piece: a huge, fringed, belted jacquard cardigan that has become a collector's item. Every garment is made in Italy, in cashmere, virgin wool and silk blends, and Coveti now carries the Alanui Fall Winter 2026 edit across knitwear, coats and trousers.
Key facts
- Founded in Milan in 2016 by siblings Carlotta and Nicolo Oddi
- Alanui is Hawaiian for “great path”
- Best known for the Icon cardigan: oversized, fringed, belted, in double jacquard
- Founder owned again since March 2025; every piece made in Italy
What does Alanui mean?
Alanui is a Hawaiian word for “great path”, a name chosen for the road trips that shape the brand. Every collection travels somewhere between the deserts of the American West and the islands of Hawaii, and the motifs follow: bandanas, wild horses, palm trees, surf and sunsets, all knitted into the cloth itself.
Who founded Alanui?
Carlotta Oddi and her brother Nicolo Oddi launched Alanui in Milan in 2016. Carlotta is the creative director and Nicolo runs the business as chief executive. The brand began with a single garment. Carlotta has said it came about by chance, after she found a 1970s cardigan at a flea market in Pasadena, California, and the siblings set out to make a luxury version of it in Italy.
The Icon cardigan
That first piece is still the house signature. It is oversized and buttonless, with a deep shawl collar, a fringed edge and a two-tone tie belt, and it is knitted in double jacquard so the pattern runs through the knit instead of being printed on top. Alanui calls the shape the Icon fit. In the current collection it appears as the Bandana Jacquard Cardigan in Black Multicolour, the Icon Jacquard Cardigan in Canvas and Coffee and the Wild Wild Cardigan in Coffee Multicolour, among many others. Our Alanui cardigan guide explains every version.
Who owns Alanui?
Alanui is owned by its founders. New Guards Group, the Milan company behind several streetwear and luxury labels, took a stake in Alanui in 2017. In March 2025 Carlotta and Nicolo Oddi bought that stake back, and the label now runs independently, from operations to distribution.
Where is Alanui made?
Every Alanui piece is made in Italy. The brand lists the knitting and assembly time on many garments: a Bandana Jacquard cardigan takes four and a half hours to knit and another six to assemble, and a jacquard coat can take six and a half hours on the machine before it is finished by hand. That time is one reason the prices sit where they do, which we unpack in is Alanui worth it.
Alanui today: ten years on
Fall Winter 2026 marks ten years of Alanui. The collection marks the date with the The Decade Cardigan in Camel and Tabacco, a map of the brand's first decade, adds a menswear capsule shown with Giorgio Armani, and continues the playful Alanui x Looney Tunes collaboration with Warner Bros. There is also Alanui Finest, a quieter line of cashmere and silk essentials such as the Finest Cardigan in Coffee. See the full Fall Winter 2026 edit.
What to buy first
- Bandana Jacquard Cardigan in Black Multicolour: the classic, in black cashmere with an ivory bandana pattern.
- Icon Jacquard Cardi-Bomber in Charcoal and Russet Red: the Icon jacquard cut short as a cardi-bomber, easier to wear with wide trousers.
- Sweet Winter Sweater in Onda Multicolour: a jacquard jumper, the entry point to the label.
- Finest Cardigan in Canvas: the pared-back Finest version in cashmere and cotton.
Alanui at a glance
| Founded | 2016, in Milan, by siblings Carlotta and Nicolo Oddi |
| Name | Hawaiian for “great path” |
| Known for | The Icon cardigan: oversized, buttonless, fringed and belted, knitted in double jacquard |
| Leadership | Carlotta Oddi, creative director, and Nicolo Oddi, chief executive |
| Ownership | Founder owned. New Guards Group held a stake from 2017 until the siblings bought it back in March 2025 |
| Made in | Italy, every piece |
| Materials | Cashmere, virgin wool, silk and linen blends, with denim and corduroy for trousers |
| Sizes | Letters XS to XL. XS is a UK 6, S a UK 8, M a UK 10, L a UK 12 and XL a UK 14 |
Frequently asked questions
Who is Alanui?
Alanui is an Italian luxury knitwear label founded in Milan in 2016 by siblings Carlotta and Nicolo Oddi. It is best known for its oversized, fringed jacquard cardigan, and every piece is made in Italy.
What does Alanui mean?
Alanui is a Hawaiian word meaning “great path”. The name reflects the road trips across the American West and Hawaii that inspire each collection.
Who owns Alanui?
Alanui is owned by its founders, Carlotta and Nicolo Oddi. New Guards Group held a stake from 2017, and the siblings bought it back in March 2025.
Is Alanui an Italian brand?
Yes. Alanui is based in Milan and makes every piece in Italy.
What is Alanui known for?
The Icon cardigan: an oversized, buttonless cardigan with a shawl collar, a fringed edge and a two-tone belt, knitted in double jacquard with motifs such as bandanas and Hawaiian landscapes.
Where can I buy Alanui?
Coveti stocks the Alanui Fall Winter 2026 collection, authenticity verified and shipped worldwide from its UAE and Australia hubs.
Read next: The Alanui cardigan guide, Alanui size guide, Brands like Alanui.
By Gemma Deeks, Coveti Fashion Editor. Updated 20 October 2026.
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