Catherine Carnevale has a gift for making things feel both elevated and easy. As the co-founder of ELEVEN SIX, she blends timeless knitwear design with the craftsmanship of artisan communities in Peru where she creates pieces that are as beautiful as they are meaningful.

From her studio in Upstate New York, she’s building a brand rooted in connection, slow fashion, and modern style that lasts.

We caught up with Catherine to talk about her path, her process, and the FRĒDAs she’s living in right now.

Let's start by telling us a little about yourself. What is your background, what you do and what has led you to what you are doing now?

I was born and raised in England, the eldest of three daughters. From a young age, I was by my mother’s side as she sewed and knitted our clothes, and it quickly became second nature for me to create my own. I was told I was playing with fabric, yarn and pins in my infant years. My passion for making clothes and creating textiles began with designing outfits for my dolls, my sisters, and myself—I always had a project on-the-go!

This early love for fashion and making fabrics led me to study Fashion Textiles at Central Saint Martins in London, followed by a degree in Knitwear Design at the University of Brighton. During my studies, I interned in New York, where I became attuned to the opportunities the city offered for knitwear designers. After graduating, I moved to New York in 2002 to pursue a career and seek sponsorship. Over the next 13 years, I designed knitwear for Calvin Klein, Anne Klein, and Club Monaco.

In 2014, a trip to Peru became the catalyst for the next chapter of my knitwear journey. Moved by the experience, I was inspired to launch ELEVEN SIX—a women’s knitwear brand rooted in ethical production and modern design. Blending contemporary style with traditional Andean knitting techniques, ELEVEN SIX offers an effortless yet elevated approach to knit dressing. As a mother, wife, and entrepreneur, I design with the modern woman in mind—creating a versatile wardrobe that seamlessly supports a lifestyle of work, travel, and play and can be appreciated and worn cross-generationally.

The year after founding the brand, we bought a house in Upstate New York and began dividing our time between there and Brooklyn. A couple of years later, with the arrival of our second child, we made the decision to relocate Upstate full-time. For the past 8 years I have run the brand from Kingston, NY, out of a beautifully restored historic factory that fosters a vibrant entrepreneurial and creative community. We live nearby, with our two children, surrounded by nature.

 

We read a bit about an epiphany moment you had in Peru that led you to create Eleven Six, tell us more about it. 

I took a hiking trip through Peru’s Sacred Valley with my husband—a place I had visited a few years earlier with close friends and felt compelled to return to. I wanted to share this breathtaking landscape with him, as it had captured my heart the first time. At the time, I was three months pregnant with our first child. As we gazed out over the epic mountain ranges, I was overcome with a powerful sense of transformation, knowing I was to become a Mother and felt an undeniable pull toward making a meaningful life change.

I was deeply inspired by the craftsmanship of the local artisans, their rich textile heritage, and the exquisite alpaca and cotton yarns native to Peru. After 13 years working in the corporate fashion industry as a knitwear designer and director, I felt a strong desire to step away and create something more intentional—something that honored the artistry and values I could see before me.

It was during this trip that the name ELEVEN SIX came to me. It blends two significant dates: my birthday, June 11 (written in the European style), and our son Oliver’s due date, November 6 (in the U.S. format). I’ve always been drawn to numbers—their timelessness and symbolism—and these held a deep personal meaning.

Shortly after returning from Peru, we officially registered the brand and began building the dream from the ground up. We launched our first collection in Fall 2015, and haven’t looked back since. Now, eleven years into the journey, ELEVEN SIX continues to reflect the values that inspired it: craftsmanship, authenticity, and a deep connection to heritage.

Your pieces are so unique (we’re huge fans), where, what or who do you get your design inspiration from? 

Thank you for your kind words. I find inspiration all around me—art is a constant source, especially when it comes to color direction. Film and travel also play a big role in sparking new ideas. I love sourcing vintage references, which often inform textures, details, and proportions in our work.

The style of our brand is rooted in a fusion of '70s and '90s aesthetics. We’re drawn to full, monochromatic knitwear looks and are especially inspired by the iconic '70s DNA of Sonia Rykiel—the queen of knitwear.

What I love most about knitwear is the ability to develop the fabric itself before designing the silhouette. It’s like creating a recipe: I start by crafting the technique, or stitch, and then design the piece around it. Sometimes I’ll see a pattern or texture that has nothing to do with knitwear, and it sparks an idea for a stitch or construction. That’s the “knit-wit” in me!

Our family factories in Spain, El Salvador and Italy are like family to us and we hear you have a similar relationship with your manufacturers in Peru. Tell us about them. 

Yes, it truly feels like an extended family. I work with three second-generation manufacturers in Peru, who in turn collaborate with small, family-run artisan groups to produce our pieces in small batches, each based on their specialty craftsmanship.

One of these manufacturers has been with me since the very beginning—our paths crossed during the same trip where the vision for ELEVEN SIX was born. I began researching production partners almost immediately, and our connection felt natural and aligned. The other partners joined in the early years, and we’ve built deep relationships over time. Because we’re all small, communication is direct, flexible, and incredibly collaborative. Together, we’ve navigated everything from design challenges to global disruptions like the pandemic—always finding a way forward as a team.

The artisans and their extraordinary craftsmanship are the true heartbeat of the brand. When I travel to Peru for development trips, I visit as many of the workshops as possible. With the help of a translator, we work closely together—they take my knitwear concepts and bring them to life with skill, care, and artistry. It’s a creative partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared passion.

 

What have been some of the most rewarding parts of building Eleven Six? 

Beyond supporting artisan communities in Peru and striving to produce our collections as sustainably as possible, what’s most rewarding to me is seeing how our knitwear makes women feel. There’s nothing more meaningful than helping someone find a piece that truly resonates with them—whether it’s through a personal email exchange or an in-person connection. It’s incredibly touching when we receive kind notes or heartfelt feedback about how a piece made someone feel beautiful, confident, or special. Those moments are a powerful reminder of why I do what I do!

We’re all about building community. How do you foster community with Eleven Six?

An integral part of our brand is the connection we foster with inspiring women. Through our ELEVEN SIX WOMEN story series, we highlight women who inspire us—whether through their work, their presence, or the way they show up in the world. These stories not only create collaboration across communities but also reflect the diversity of women who wear our clothing.

Each year, we also partner with a female artist to create a special collaboration sweater, typically featured in our Fall collection. Many of these artists are local to our Upstate NY community, though I’ve also discovered incredible talent through Instagram and worked with international artists as well.

Beyond regularly communicating with our community through our newsletter, we take pride in adding a personal touch to every order. Each customer receives a handwritten note as a gesture of appreciation. However, nothing compares to the experience of meeting both new and returning customers face-to-face to cultivate authentic, meaningful connections. That’s why I’m so excited for our upcoming pop-up event at the FREDA Mercer Street Store, and I love collaborating with like-minded brands in these ways. We also have a by-appointment store in Kingston where we connect with customers and are able to further foster community.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? 

In my teens, I played table tennis competitively, so every now and then, I like to grab a paddle at a party and have a cheeky rally with a bit of spin! ;)

What is your mantra? 

I don’t have a specific mantra, but I make it a daily practice to maintain a healthy perspective and live with gratitude. Recently, I came across something powerful that really resonated with me: the idea of practicing being G.A.L.D.O—Generous, Authentic, Loving, Direct, and Open. I am leaning into this...

We believe getting dressed makes you feel good, what things in your closet make you feel good?

I agree! It may be a bit cliché, but I tend to wear ELEVEN SIX head-to-toe most days, accessorizing with pieces from other brands. My feel-good brands include jewelry by LILA RICE (it's my daily armor!), CARLA COLOR sunglasses (I wear them constantly—they just make me happy!), and my NAMAI one-of-a-kind, patched and quilted jacket that my husband gifted me. It’s truly an art piece in itself!

Recently, FREDA SALVADOR has become a new shoe obsession. It all started when I attended an event at the Mercer store during NYFW in February and fell head-over-heels for the Lennox tall boot in brown croc, which, of course, had to come home with me! Now, I’m loving the Sera Fisherman Sandal in Dove with gold studs—chic, bold, and incredibly comfortable—and I’m smitten with the Alexia Sandal in black for perfect strappy summer styling. These shoes are feel-good all around, and I sense my collection has only just begun!

RAPID FIRE

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE UPSTATE…

Store?  RAVENWOOD: it’s a seasonal pop-up destination showcasing the work of local artists and makers, with a café and bar set in a dreamy barn surrounded by the countryside.

Vintage Shop? Narnia in Woodstock 

Street? Mohonk Road: it winds up and over Mohonk Mountain, leading to one of my favorite hiking preserves. It’s also the route to NYC, so I often leave and return via this road, which feels like an epic departure and arrival, with breathtaking views of the Catskill Mountains.

Park? Minnewaska State Park is a standout. It offers incredible hikes, and in the summer, I love swimming in the lake.

Coffee Shop? Ha! It’s at home! My husband co-owns Gasoline Alley Coffee in NYC, so I have my personal barista right here upstate. But if I’m in Kingston, Village Coffee is my go-to for an excellent flat white!

Restaurant? Eliza or Casa Susanna (sorry I can’t pick!)

Sunday Morning? Coffee made by my husband, a yoga class at Inness, and then some relaxed time with the family, usually outdoors in nature.

Activity? Hiking or skiing—I'm always drawn to being in nature as much as possible!