 virtually.
Life may undergo years; life may only last three days. Death is not terrible; the terrible thing is you do not really live. Growth rings are where spring and autumn memories are sealed. Even with thorn pinned wings, the heart will fly among flowers. If the length of life is day long, let us in every daylong life, experience the cycle of birth and death; let souls and lives in dormancy, go through the fire Nirvana and transformation. This is our only way to extend life.
Just make a vow to Isabella, she will bring the wish to heaven, to make a dream come true.
It has been 7 years since Bunka Fashion College was invited first edition of Feel the yarn. I am very grateful to everyone involved with this project. Every year, the yarns from partner companies make me surprised because of its characteristic and quality. Inspired by such gorgeous yarns, our students develop possibilities of knit into knitted fabric and silhouette by using automatic machine.
I tried to express the emotional variety of human being by using voluminous colors and shapes. I found inspiration from everything: literature, art, street style, movies and music inspired me to develop and produce both the fabric and the garment design. I discovered the versatility of combining tape yarns, super kid mohair and polyester yarns.  Feelings that make us want to explore the world and build relationships with others. Emotions affect people’s creativity and that is the most important element of this creation process.
This year’s theme, Knitting Time, let me imagine the break time in the place surrounded by gorgeous curtains. Like a soft layered cocoon, I used tubular jacquard in smooth cashmere to represent the feeling like wrapped in something soft. Taking images from the curtain that combines deep red heavy fabric and lace fabric, I represented it by draping in knit. Hazy foil print on lace comes from antique metal decoration of arabesque pattern. It would be great if you can perceive “gorgeous calm time” I would like to represent, by touching finest cashmere.
The cooperation with the Italian yarn companies from Tuscany enriches the involved students professional experiences. I appreciate the opportunity that the students can present their work at the ”Pitti Filati”-fair in order to receive positive or critical reactions.
As dawn breaks, the glistening night frost still covers foliage. A fresh breeze gently parts sheer curtains, allowing the warmth of early morning sunlight to rest on her eyelids and announce the arrival of a new day. As twilight approaches, the blush tints of afternoon create a shadow effect as they transmute into the smoky hues of dusk. She raises her eyes to the sky above. Twinkling stars are emerging in anticipation of the night to come. The two garments in my knitwear collection reflect the eternal cycle of sunrise and nightfall.
Each day brings invigorating energy. I step out into the world, eager to discover it anew. Cocooned against the wind, I make my way through a rugged landscape. This is a place where I can enjoy the silence. Daylight fades and I return to the heart of urban life. As the sky darkens, it highlights the rich colours of the town. I hear music and join the dancers celebrating on the streets. This is a place where I can share joy. My enveloping knitwear designs embrace life lived day-to-day in the open air.
“We just started to work with the wonderful yarns. The materials are very inspiring!"
My inspiration for the two outfits is a sort of time capsule: we’ll find in the Paris apartment of the famous socialite Marthe de Florian, left by its inheritor in 1942 on the run from World War II. No one ever entered this tiny parallel universe full of memories from the Belle Époque until 2013. The flat was perfectly preserved but covered with dust. The dust makes the abstract perception of time visible as it formed various surfaces and shapes. These traces of time and the romantic yet melancholic atmosphere took me on a time travel resulting in the two knitted outfits.
Wood and metal going hand in hand down the path of life and time. Growing old together, losing their strength and shine, leaving a life of work with a tender goodbye. My goal is to transfer the visual appearance of traditional materials, characterized by their irregular colour and surface as well as the development of a distinctive patina and signs of wear, with exciting modern yarns to delicate knitted surfaces. With embellishments of raw materials the knitted structure contrasts with the solidity of outdoor constructions, not only changing the visual appearance, but developing surprising hand feels.
The "Feel the Yarn Competition" is an excellent opportunity for our students to present their works on highest international level. It is an outstanding competition without any alternative worldwide in knitwear. Our students behold the Feel the Yarn initiative for highest regard because of the workshops and contacts to the highest level of italian yarn producers and companies. For us it is a great honor to be invited and to give our students the opportunity to get in touch on highest professional level with all kind of the international fashion business. For all our former contestants the "Feel the Yarn Competition" was a major career move.
The idea of sportswear, comfort and wearability of garments is essential to me. The contrast between different knitting styles creates a fresh innovative feeling. Through plastic foil and silicone, I achieve an unusual knit fabric which is water resistant and has an attractive matt shine. I have chosen 3 energetic colors (pink, orange, yellow) balanced with a calming blue. The garments are a synthesis of multiple layers. A playful combination of wide and narrow patterns. Rubber is implemented to shape the volume. With the use of a special “nylon” yarn, I achieved a transparent optic effect and I introduced some tapes that reflects at night.
My collection is inspired by a plant called “Welwitschia”. A plant that grows out of only one pair of leaves and its appearance reflects, in my point of view, smoothness, cocooning as well as intimacy.
The collection is a clash between romantic colors and large shapes. Romantic inspirations were alienated, simplified and pixelated to create a current look. Lace is reinterpreted in graphic, modern forms. Cocooning is shown in the overlapping panels to characterize an enveloping body. I want to create tension with the help of large shapes and material strength.
We are delighted to be taking part in "feel the yarn 2016" the competition is invaluable in terms of experience for the graduating students, they gain knowledge and first hand insight of the industry, and are able to build a network of professional contacts at the fair, helping them to be as ready as possible as they start their careers.
Inspired by the balance of the longevity of traditional luxury and the continuous development of contemporary design, this collection captures a moment where both combine. Soft, relaxed and oversized silhouettes and fits are made opulent with the seamless integration of luxury yarns to create comfortable yet equally luxurious garments. Inspiration from rich colours and metallic influences create indulgent garments. These garments were influenced by a combination of multiple textures and qualities, to add depth and an exciting touch and feel to the garments.
A photograph provides a still, an inclination of a moment in the ever-moving world. The photography of Julia Margaret Cameron illustrates this more so than most. By using the once modern glass plate photography, Cameron created both portraits and Renaissance inspired costume shoots both reflecting a single moment in time. I was inspired by the Renaissance style costume used in the images that envelop and swathe the body, combined with the genuine textures created within the images from the glass plates, giving the image depth through texture.
We are happy and proud to participate FEEL THE YARN 2016 project for the first time. This is a great opportunity for the students to learn more about yarns and knitting in general and especially about the Italian yarns and the long history of the Italian textile production. Working with the professionals; companies and organizers encourage the students' design thinking to the next level. Students and tutors will be able to view, have discussions and share information about the issues of textile and fashion in a global scale.
Bubbles are like little carefree spirits floating playfully across the air.
Combined with the girly, pink bubblegum, thay make a fun world where rules don’t matter and life is made to be enjoyed. I got inspired by the round shapes, delicious pink colors and the beautiful transparency of the bubbles. I explore the roundness in different techniques: some made by hand and some with the help of a knitting machine.
Strong and hard, yet peaceful and serene. Calm, powerful, sculpted and harmonic.
Grains of wood guide techniques mixing machine knitting, hand knitting and crochet. A play with volume, silhouette and the change of colour, which enhance the three-dimensional effect.
The ombré effect is an ode to the beautiful and rich red hues reflected from hard surfaces in nature.
We are delighted to be involved in “Feel The Yarn” for the first time. It is an exciting opportunity for both students and staff to meet and learn from others who are as excited about knitwear and textiles as we are. Working with industry professionals helps to prepare students for the real world and understand more fully how their ideas can be applied to knitwear and textile design. We look forward to being part of this process and contributing to the development of this prestigious competition.
Decadent indulgence: inspired by royalty, luxury, magnificent decoration and lavish surroundings. I wanted to create knitwear designs that reflected the power of luxury using the texture and colour of exquisite detail, furniture and textiles to emulate and reflect a moment