What is a coatigan?
A coatigan is a longline knitted garment that combines the open front of a cardigan with the weight and length of a light coat. It is longer and heavier than a standard cardigan, and softer and less structured than a woven wool coat. The word is a retail coinage rather than a tailoring term.
Coatigan, cardigan or coat
Cardigans are knitted layering pieces worn over a shirt or top. A coat is a structured outer garment, typically woven rather than knitted. The coatigan sits between the two, and it is defined by what it does rather than by any fixed set of rules.
Because it is knitted, a coatigan has drape and softness a woven coat does not. Because it is longer and heavier than a cardigan, it works as an outer layer rather than an indoor one. Patch pockets and an open front are common across the category, and swing coat shapes turn up often.
A longline cardigan is simply a cardigan with extra length, usually in a lighter knit. The coatigan goes further, carrying enough weight to stand in for a coat. Nobody has ever written a standard for where the hem should fall, which is worth knowing before ordering online: the length is a design decision, not a definition.
What a coatigan is made from
Fibre is the first thing to check, and it varies more inside this category than most shoppers expect. Knit-On has been selling natural fibre knitwear since 2014, and the coatigans in our range span pure cashmere, merino and cashmere blends, pure merino wool, wool blends, wool and cotton blends, mohair, alpaca and pure cotton.
That spread is the reason two coatigans at the same price can feel completely different in the hand. Knit-On house brand knitwear is Australian designed and usually made from superfine 18.5 micron Australian merino wool. Our cashmere is sourced from Mongolia, chosen for its quality, softness and durability. Blends of merino and cashmere balance the softness of cashmere against the durability and practicality of merino, while medium weight wool is used where warmth, durability and a substantial knit matter more than fineness. The two headline fibres are compared in more detail in Merino or cashmere: how to choose.
Knit weight and length
Weight and length are what separate a coatigan from a cardigan. The knit is heavier, often a medium weight wool, and the garment is longer. Both of those add coverage.
Length varies from style to style, so read the measurement on the product page rather than the category name. A longer, heavier coatigan behaves more like a coat. A shorter, lighter one behaves more like a long cardigan, whatever the label calls it.
What changes as the price goes up
Price tracks fibre, and this is the store's own way of explaining the range. Medium weight wool sits at the entry point, where warmth, durability and a substantial knit matter more than fineness. One hundred percent merino is the versatile everyday option. Merino and cashmere blends balance the softness of cashmere against the durability and practicality of merino. Cashmere sits at the top, and it costs more because it is exceptionally soft and warm, a premium natural fibre.
The range currently holds 34 styles in Coatigans and Longline Cardigans, from $99 to $499 AUD. For a cashmere one specifically, Cashmere Cardigans holds 35 styles across the same $99 to $499 AUD span. Staff at both Melbourne stores talk this through in person, at 520 Bourke Street in the CBD and 79 Glen Eira Road in Ripponlea.
Common questions
Is a coatigan warmer than a cardigan?
Generally yes, because a coatigan uses a heavier knit and covers more of the body. The warmth depends on the knit weight and the length rather than on the category name, and fibre content varies widely across the range, so it depends on the individual garment.
What is the difference between a coat and a coatigan?
A coat is typically woven and fully structured, often with a lining. A coatigan is knitted, so it has the softness and drape of a cardigan. It is lighter and less structured than a coat, and it is often worn open rather than fastened.
What does the word coatigan mean?
Coatigan combines coat and cardigan. It is a retail term rather than a traditional tailoring one, and it describes a longline knitted garment with the length and weight of a coat and the soft construction of a cardigan.
What fibre should a coatigan be?
That depends on how it will be worn. Merino is the versatile everyday option. Cashmere is exceptionally soft and warm, and costs more. A merino and cashmere blend balances the two, and medium weight wool suits anyone who wants warmth and a substantial knit more than fineness.