What’s going on with women’s knitwear at M & S?

[Albusmum]

What’s going with M & S women’s knitwear? Filtered my search on the website and there are no cotton jumpers or indeed wool. Cashmere and merino available but everything else is poly blends or supposedly wool rich with 6% wool! Menswear has a much greater range in natural fabrics. I loved the cotton cardigans they used to offer in a range of colours as I could buy smaller for a more fitted look but they have none at all. They also washed and tumble dried brilliantly without shrinking. (I know Mumsnet doesn’t usually approve of cardigans, but I love them).
Can anyone suggest affordable alternatives for jumpers and cardigans (up to around £50)?

I think you might find this article helpful... https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/oct/23/how-to-look-after-knitwear-expert-tips
I do not wash wool after every wearing because it does not need it... I tend to hang it out on the line the next morning and let it air naturally unless I have spilt something on it. Each of my woolen jumpers is washed and dried during the Summer and for heavier, ie Aran jumpers I use wool ropes that my mother used to prevent the water stretching them.

rapanui for cotton and community clothing for wool

OP, I too am irritated by M and S, which is my go-to for “basic” wool cardigans. Last year I bought a couple; this year, they don’t seem to have any. Between the ravages of the moths and the roses, I need to find a couple of replacements, and like you, I’m wondering where to look.

Agree. Recycled plastic feels like plastic and gets clammy. Ugh. Very difficult to get anything in pure fibres unless willing to pay a fortune. Just made me decide to darn my ancient Shetland jumper - sleeve unravelling - rather than look for a new one.

Er this is £36 (TLDR) https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-merino-crew-neck-jumper/p/clp61224914?color=MIDNIGHTNAVY#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r1c1

I looked earlier for the v necked merino jumpers they usually do - all now crew neck. I found v neck merino at Next actually.

Last year I bought two beautifully cut chunky merino sweaters from the M&S Autograph range, but haven’t seen anything good this year yet.

Cotton Traders have a few cotton cable knit items within your budget. Thought given their name, they might have had loads, but it seems to be the usual synthetic mixes.

Search at Cotton Traders

Yes, I did this last year when i wanted an oversize type jumper but mens are too big for me if i want a more fitted style.

womens knitwear has been largely plastic and hideous at m&s for a while and yes the men’s is much better and they’re in the same sort of realm price wise. Which effectively means women are subsidising men because they’ve decided we will accept crappier clothing / beef up the margins. Glad to see the annoyance at whatever that horrible air yarn is, it makes my skin feel weird just thinking about it.

whats quince like? I’ve seen adverts, had anyone experience of the quality / fit?

can i just be the rabble rouser and say Uniqlo are cheap and crappy? I don't like the designs, most of the wool is 'shiny', and the cuts of their trousers and dresses is abysmal. There, someone needed to balance out the over promotion on here.

same with snag tights, they seem to have shares in MN.

Merino is wool? Search for pure wool jumper. Or pure cotton jumper. There are no pure cotton M&S brand jumpers - but there's plenty of choice. It's fairly early in the season so there may well be more knitwear to come.

Uniqlo great for basics with natural fibres. Or &Other Stories or Cos for reasonable quality wool.

I love merino wool and I know m & s do these but it’s a fine knit which can easily develop holes. I have a navy v neck that has been repaired by me a few times. I want something thicker and more hard wearing. Merino is nice in the autumn but not deep winter. Also the menswear offerings v neck isn’t a very deep v. Women’s are only crew neck.

I walked through M&S to the food hall at the weekend. The smell of plasticy nylon was overwhelming as I went past the woolies!

I was in M&S today for the first time in ages and although they have improved the look of the store so it feels more modern and upmarket I agree about the nasty fibres. On the plus side, there was a Jaeger coat which was 81% wool and the rest was silk and alpaca. It felt beautiful to touch and cost £299 which would be great if you had the budget for it and liked the style.

I was spying up the satin blue skirt recently, I don’t actually mind that it’s polyester, it means it will hold its shape and not pill like natural fibres are prone to.
I’m on the whole not hugely opposed to man mad materials, I don’t buy lots anyway but find them to be a lot cooler than others in warmer weather and they do seem to wash and wear a lot better. Obviously there are massive downsides too, I’m not blind to it. I tend to not wash my clothes after every wear.
just saying that fabric doesn’t necessarily put me off buying something.
However the skirt is 100% polyester yet says it can’t be washed, only gently dry cleaned?! Crazy!

Because they use child labour and modern day slavery. Much more than Primark ever did. You might as well buy from the much maligned Shein.

And it bobbles terribly too. Bought DD a cloud yarn sweater which she wore on a 3 hour drive to visit friends. By the time she arrived the seat belt had caused dozens of bobbles across the front and it looked like a rag.

You have hit on my special interest area. I am a natural fibre fanatic. Like most high st brands, M&S only really cares about profit and so they churn out plastic clothing as it costs less.

i went into my local branch in west London and there was not one natural fibre jumper. I asked why and was told it was policy at that store- shoppers wouldn’t pay the premium for wool/cashmere!

I now buy all of my knitwear second hand by scouring Vinted and eBay. I have scored incredible, high-end ones for between a few quid and £25 (amazing Ralph Lauren pure silk and cashmere jumper with gold embroidery).

it’s more time consuming but the hunt is part of the fun! Plus it’s better for my wallet and the planet.

ps you can totally wash cashmere and wool in the washing machine. Set it on 0 degrees, gentle or hand wash cycle and use special wool detergent.

Seasalt have some cotton cardigans for around £50, there is 20% off at the moment