Welcome to Ktena
Australian Made & Owned Since 1982
Ktena Knitting Mills is a proudly Australian story, one of family, craftsmanship and warmth.
For over four decades, we’ve designed and manufactured premium merino wool thermal underwear in our Melbourne factory. Each garment is made not for trends but for trust, comfort and endurance – a true reflection of Australian quality. We are one of the last vertically integrated knitting mills remaining in Australia. Every stage of production, from knitting the fabric on our own machines to sewing, finishing and packing, takes place under one roof in Oakleigh, Victoria.
This unique structure gives us complete control over quality, ethics and innovation, ensuring every Ktena garment meets the standards our customers have trusted for generations.
Our Beginnings
Ktena’s story began in the early 1980s, when founders Stan and Maria Tseprailidis, skilled textile artisans, opened a small knitting workshop in Fitzroy, Melbourne.
Their vision was simple: to make the warmest, most comfortable and most affordable thermal underwear – right here in Australia.
The name Ktena soon became known for reliability and value. Word spread through Melbourne, country towns and interstate. Before long, office workers, truck drivers, factory staff, farmers and skiers alike were wearing Ktena thermals under their gear.
By the 1990s, our reputation for quality and service had grown across Australia and into export markets around the world. Yet even as demand expanded, every stitch remained proudly Australian-made.
A Family Legacy
Today, Ktena Knitting Mills remains family-owned and operated, guided by the same values of integrity, quality, and care that defined its beginnings.
Managing Director – Con Tseprailidis
Having grown up inside the factory, Con learned early how to calibrate knitting machines, inspect seams, and recognise the unmistakable feel of pure Australian Merino Wool.
He now leads Ktena’s operations and long-term vision, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation and sustainability.
Technical Director – Denise Tseprailidis
With a background in engineering and textile design, Denise oversees research and development projects that push the boundaries of comfort, durability and shrink-resistance, ensuring every fabric and garment performs to world-class standards.
The Team
Behind every Ktena garment is a dedicated team of knitting machine mechanics, machinists, cutters, designers and finishers, many of whom have been with us for more than 30 years.
Their craftsmanship, pride and experience are woven into every stitch.
Together, this close-knit team continues to champion Australian manufacturing – keeping alive a tradition that few others still practice.
Inside the Factory
Step inside our Oakleigh factory and you’ll hear the soft rhythm of knitting machines producing rolls of Merino Wool fabric that will soon become long johns, vests and tops worn across Australia and around the world.
Every stage is handled with care: Technicians monitor yarn tension and shrinkage, designers refine patterns for fit and comfort, and machinists stitch each seam to perfection. Before leaving the floor, every garment undergoes meticulous inspection.
This attention to detail has defined Ktena for over forty years – a complete process, all under one roof.
Our Standards & Certifications
As a Woolmark-certified manufacturer, we meet the world’s most trusted standards for fibre content and performance. The Woolmark logo signifies that every Ktena garment has passed rigorous independent testing for shrinkage, colour fastness and durability.
All of our garments are 100% Woolmark certified.
It is your assurance that you are buying a product made from 100% Pure Merino Wool, responsibly sourced, expertly crafted and honestly labelled.
We are proudly Ethical Clothing Australia accredited – guaranteeing that everyone involved in making our garments is paid fairly and works in safe, lawful conditions. This accreditation reflects our long-standing commitment to ethical, local production.
Ktena is committed to supporting an ethical wool industry and the ECA accreditation that provides consumers and buyers with a simple way to identify and support ethically made Australian TCF products.
We are also Australian Made and Owned certified – a symbol of genuine authenticity and national pride. Every Ktena product supports local jobs, skills and communities.
All of our garments are 100% Australian made and owned certified.
The famous Australian Made, Australian Grown (AMAG) logo is the true mark of Aussie authenticity. It’s Australia’s most trusted, recognised and widely used country of origin symbol, and is underpinned by a third-party accreditation system, which ensures products that carry the logo are certified as ‘genuinely Australian’.
Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Ktena Knitting Mills founded by Stan & Maria Tseprailidis in Fitzroy, Melbourne |
| 1983 | Launch of the first Merino thermal underwear range made entirely in-house |
| 1991 | Woolmark accreditation achieved; full vertical production expansion with new Merino ranges introduced |
| 2000–2008 | Australian Made accreditation achieved; entry into USA, Taiwan, Korea, and China export markets; major upgrades to knitting and finishing technology; Ktena garments chosen for the Sydney Olympic Opening Ceremony; appointed major supplier to Australian duty-free stores |
| 2012 | Introduction of advanced shrink-control and fabric finishing systems |
| 2018 | Relocation to new Oakleigh factory |
| 2021 | Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation achieved; sustainability initiatives implemented, including waste reduction and energy-efficient systems |
| 2023 | New single-jersey knitting machinery installed; expanded community donation programs; introduction of MS Lite lightweight Merino T-shirts |
| 2024 | Commencement of twin-layer technology ranges |
Our Knitting Factory
