Inspirations and Influences

Visiting the third year degree show was a highly inspiring experience in terms of how I intend on moving forward as a second year student with the skills and processes I have previously gained. The exhibition gave me insight into what is possible in an array of diverse and exciting areas within textiles.

  As I am intending on specialising in knit, I was particularly interested in seeing what kind of work I could be producing in my final year. The work exhibited was exciting and enlightened me to the fact that knit has a lot to offer in terms of final products and career opportunities. 

Degree student's final piece

Throughout the summer I have been researching contemporary practitioners that relate to the way I work and the way I would like to work in the future. The images above and below are knitted pieces by Annie Lee Larson under the label 'ALL Knitwear' created by herself. 

'The slow-growing, idiosyncratic collection of handmade sweaters and hats is an ongoing study of color and pattern realized in a series of simple shapes'.

Annie Larson in particular has been an influential practitioner for the project that I am currently working on because of her unique style. Combining colours and patterns in a tastefully without looking too outrageous. Her collections have a certain retro feel, like being transported back to the 80's with geometric shapes and clashing colours. She has managed to make knitwear current and modern, with a young and hip target group who love to stand out from the crowd.

Another practitioner that interested me in terms of pattern and design was a label called 'Dusen Dusen', founded by Ellen van Dusen from Washington DC. Her eye catching prints lured me instantly when I came across her label on instagram. This distinctive label is 'a line of universally flattering basics driven by the prints she creates from scratch each season'. Similar to ALL Knitwear, Dusen Dusen experiments with repetition of simple patterns, creating fashionable designs for all types of clothing.