Need(le) Hug by designer Linor Brener, was born from a simple question: how can an industrially produced object still carry the softness, warmth and intimacy of something handmade? True to its name, the collection seeks to translate the comfort of a hug into playful textile forms. Need(le) Hug was developed as Linor’s graduate project at Shenkar College of Engineering in Tel Aviv, Israel (Design and Art, Textile Design Department).

The work emerged during a challenging year in Israel, when Linor found herself surrounded by the knitted dolls she had made throughout her life. Their presence offered a deep sense of reassurance. This moment sparked the exploration of how emotional value could be embedded within industrial knitting, transforming efficient production into a medium for comfort and connection.

Need(le) Hug comprises three categories of products – Pillows, Creatures and Springs – each designed to encourage interaction. Pillows take on calming, adaptable forms that mould to the body. Creatures, expressive dolls with unique personalities, invite immediate affection and playful bonding. Springs encourage movement and versatility, functioning as both toys and design objects.

Yarns and nostalgia

Material choice was central to the project. Linor selected thick cotton yarns, typically associated with hand knitting, to preserve a soft and natural texture. Combined with 3D knitting technology, this approach allows each piece to be created as a seamless whole, from yarn directly to finished object. The process reduces waste, shortens production steps and maintains the tactile quality of craft, while achieving the scalability of industrial methods.

“The choice of thick cotton yarns was not only technical but also emotional,” Linor explains. “I selected them to create a nostalgic effect, strengthening both the feeling and the memory connected to the objects.”

“In 3D knitting one of the common methods used today is Stoll’s Knit & Wear, using automatic reductions,” Linor Brener explains. “I was always fascinated by it - how a garment can come out completely from the machine - but we didn’t learn this at Shenkar, where the focus was on one-dimensional knitting and fully-fashioned techniques that require sewing,” she says.

Linor continues: “Out of this, I invented my own method, inspired by crochet, where I manually program it in the software. All base shapes are rectangles, and the form develops through the fabric’s structure and number of rows, not reductions. This allows very complex shapes to be created in a simple way,”

Linor’s design philosophy is rooted in weaving emotion into production. With a background in crochet and expertise in flatbed knitting machines, she set her own rules – circular, three-dimensional and seamless knitting that prioritises touch and presence.

“Successful design must connect with people both in the making and in the experience of use,” she says. “For me, it is about balancing practicality with emotion.”

The project has already received international recognition, underscoring its resonance in both design and textile innovation circles.

Recognition timeline

- 2024 – Sun Exhibition, Terminal Design Gallery, Bat Yam, Israel

- 2024 – Shenkar Graduate Exhibition, Israel – Awarded Project of Excellence

- 2024 - Finalist – Dorothy Waxman International Textile Design Prize, New York Textile Month 2024.

- 2025 – Talente, Munich, Germany

- 2025 – Fresh Paint, Tel Aviv, Israel

Linor Brener’s distinctive use of bold colour, humour and playfulness reflects her vision of design as a source of joy, lightness and comfort.

Need(le) Hug demonstrates how contemporary industrial knitting can retain the emotional resonance of handcraft, while introducing new sustainable approaches for the textile industry. By fusing advanced technology with the essence of human touch, Brener has created a collection that is as innovative as it is comforting.

Instagram: Need.le.hug_studio

www.needleshug.com