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At Noyac Knits, every detail is intentional — and nothing makes that clearer than our buttons. We source our buttons from LouLou Buttons, a legendary fixture in New York City's Garment District, tucked into 9th Avenue where the fashion world has been coming for decades to find the perfect finishing touch.
LouLou Buttons isn't just a supplier — it's a destination. With millions of buttons in stock at any given time, it's the kind of place where you walk in looking for one thing and lose an hour marveling at what's possible. What makes LouLou truly special is that they don't just sell buttons: they make them, right in the heart of New York City. You can find them at 71 West 38th Street, New York, NY — in the heart of the Garment District.
We work with LouLou to source buttons that are carefully selected or made for Noyac Knits — not just functional closures, but design elements that complete the look.
Color is at the heart of everything we do at Noyac Knits. Our colorways are carefully developed to feel cohesive and considered, from the yarn to the grosgrain ribbon trim — and the buttons are no exception. LouLou creates specially dyed resin buttons that are color-matched and coordinated to complement our yarns and ribbons. The result is a finished garment where every element feels like it belongs together, because it was designed that way from the start.
We especially love our pink resin buttons, which we use on our Sissy, Grace, Kate, and Pamela ribbon sweaters. The pink buttons add a playful contrast to the cobalt blue and black merino wool of our Sissy and Kate sweaters, while they add a sweet, coordinated finish to our Grace and Pamela sweaters.
Specially dyed pink resin buttons featured on our Sissy sweaters add a playful contrast to cobalt blue merino knit.
For pieces where we want a more elevated rather than a playful or whimsical feel, we turn to LouLou's selection of natural shell and mother of pearl buttons. These buttons have a luminous, organic quality that pairs beautifully with our premium knit pieces. No two are exactly alike — which is exactly the point. For example, our Isabelle cardigan is knit a beautiful beige merino wool and features ribbon trim in stripes of lavender, purple, teal and tan. Fresh water mussel shell buttons from Japan in iridescent shades of tan, grey and purple complement the color scheme making the Isabelle colorway an elegant neutral that dresses up business casual outfits.
Natural Fresh Water Mussel Shell Buttons in Iridescent Purple featured on Noyac Knits Beige Merino Isabelle Cardigan
One of the most extraordinary things about LouLou is their archive of vintage buttons — pieces with genuine history behind them. Among our favorites: the Liberty Bell and colonial flag buttons, produced to commemorate America's Bicentennial in 1976. These aren't reproductions. They're the real thing, and incorporating them into a garment is a small act of preservation — a way of keeping a piece of American history close. We chose to make a limited number of women's cardigans in ultrafine merino wool featuring these buttons, as well as a men's v-neck cardigan. And the colors used? Red, white and blue, of course!
Finding buttons like these is part of what makes working with LouLou such a joy. Every visit turns up something unexpected.
Vintage enamel and metal shank buttons from America's Bicentennial featuring colonial flags and the Liberty Bell from LouLou Buttons
Women's cobalt blue cardigan in ultrafine merino wool featuring vintage Liberty Bell buttons.
Most people assume LouLou is a first name — a charming, French-sounding moniker for a beloved shop. But the word has a far more interesting origin.
In Persian, loulou (لولو) refers to a boogeyman — a playful, imaginary monster from traditional folklore. The phrase "don't let loulou get you" is a classic warning parents use with children, invoking this mythical creature to encourage good behavior. It's affectionate and a little mischievous — much like the shop itself.
The word's journey into Persian is itself a fascinating piece of cultural history. Linguists trace it back to the French phrase le loup — meaning the wolf — brought back to Persia by travelers returning from Europe during the Qajar dynasty (roughly 1789–1925), a period of significant cultural exchange between Persia and the West. Over time, le loup was adapted and transformed into loulou, taking on a life of its own in Persian folklore as a shapeless, shadowy creature of the imagination.
So while many assume LouLou is simply a name, it carries within it centuries of storytelling, cross-cultural exchange, and a little bit of delightful menace. We think that's a perfect fit for a button shop that's been quietly enchanting the fashion world for decades.
We could source buttons from a catalog. We don't. Every button on a Noyac Knits piece was chosen deliberately — for its color, its texture, its history, and its ability to make the garment feel complete. LouLou makes that possible.
Next time you fasten a button on one of our cardigans, you'll know exactly where it came from — and the story it carries with it.
Roz, the man behind LouLou, is a legend himself in the fashion industry. We love Roz so much we made a short video we hope you enjoy featuring him and his philosophy about buttons.
Where does Noyac Knits source its buttons?
We source our buttons exclusively from LouLou Buttons, a legendary button maker and retailer located at 71 West 38th Street in New York City's Garment District. LouLou both stocks millions of buttons and makes custom buttons in-house.
Where is LouLou Buttons located?
LouLou Buttons is located at 71 West 38th Street, New York, NY, in the heart of the Garment District. It has been a destination for fashion designers and makers for decades.
What are resin buttons?
Resin buttons are made from a durable synthetic polymer that can be molded into virtually any shape and dyed to precise colors. LouLou creates custom resin buttons specially dyed to coordinate with Noyac Knits' yarn and ribbon colorways.
Are mother of pearl buttons natural?
Yes — mother of pearl buttons are made from the inner lining of mollusk shells, giving each button a unique iridescent quality. No two are exactly alike. We also use fresh water mussel shell buttons sourced from Japan for select styles like our Isabelle cardigan.
What is LouLou Buttons known for?
LouLou Buttons is known for its extraordinary selection of millions of buttons, its in-house button-making capabilities, and its archive of rare vintage buttons. It is one of the last remaining specialty button shops in New York City's Garment District.
What does the name LouLou mean?
In Persian, loulou means a boogeyman or imaginary monster from folklore — not a first name, as many assume. The word evolved from the French le loup (the wolf), brought to Persia by travelers during the Qajar dynasty and adapted into Persian culture over time.
