Alice Palmer - Post Fashion Fringe 2010

It's been almost a month since I finished work with Alice and her collection for Fashion Fringe, we've both been so busy time sure has flown, but managed a brief catch up with what she's been upto since FW.

- The summer was a rush working with you over the summer, on so many levels! How has business been post-fashion fringe?

"Things haven't slowed down at all! Since the fashion show I have been to Paris where I had a showroom with Zip Zone. This was really successful and I picked up new stockists from The Far East and Australia.

The amount of press has been unbelievable and I have had garment requests from stylists who work for Kylie Minogue and Cheryl Cole."

- Highlights/regrets from the competition?

"I have no regrets at all from taking part in Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden - it has all been so worthwhile and all of the mentoring sessions were extremely helpful towards my business." 

(I was actually lucky enough to stand in and listen to one of these sessions, I could easily sit and listen to Collin McDowell all day!)  

"The biggest highlight has to be our trip to Paris during the summer, where we visited John Galliano's studio and the Dior studio. The ateliers were so organised and white, with all the machinists wearing white coats - it appeared somewhat like a laboratory. The patterns were so complex and to see the latest haute couture collection was so awe inspiring."

- And your next Steps?

"I am looking into starting a small menswear line. Also, I am planning a trip to Tokyo in March to try and break into the Japanese market."

I, for one, can't wait to see what Alice Palmer comes up with for next year.

Will keep you in the know, my nutty knitters.

Winter Winds?

I've been drifting in and out of daydreamland, or just the general land of distraction, and looking back over the summer I realised I've done more than I thought. From 'Pitti Immagine Filati' conference and yarn show in Florence, to Fashion Fringe with Alice Palmer, to launching knithead-nation, to London Fashion Week. The creation of knithead-nation has allowed me to create a personal resource tool for fashion knitwear - examining the detail, the drape and the devilishly delicious.

So stitch me this and row me that, FWs are over and summer left us weeks ago. The temperature suddenly dropped this week and I'm feeling the chill more often now, so get your chunky on.

Pitti Immagine Filati, Florence. Exhibition pass, London. Fashion Fringe/Backtage pass, London.

Vintage Archive

There's this Bill Gibbs skirt and top set in the Kingston University:Vintage Archive that I found, rummaging last week. 70s knitwear designer, this look seems so surreal even for that era. Examining this very tired acrylic/wool knit, and looking back at FWs, fashion knitwear has pushed further and further forward and developed over the past few decades, let alone century.

And some vintage lace from the KU:VA trim boxes, for those who appreciate the beauty of age.



Little Bo Peep Has Lost Her Sheep ..Down Savile Row?

Sheep, glorious sheep!

Savile Row, acknowledged for it's elite craftsmanship and artistry of Great British bespoke tailoring, the Haute Couture of men's style and the spiritual home of the well-dressed gentleman, had an extra kick for the day as Exmoor Horns and Bowmonts from Wiltshire and Devon could be found grazing along Savile Row for the day for 'The Campaign for Wool' and it's special Field Day event for Wool Week.

"The Campaign for Wool is a five year campaign designed to demonstrate wool's natural, sustainable qualities and supreme versatility. Wool is an ingredient essential to the manufacture of fine wool apparel and behind every garment you will find Merino wool, a natural fibre offering an array of natural benefits, softness and comfort"

From sheepy shop windows to sleepy sheep dogs, I indulged in this one-off surreal central outing and did a few laps of the pop-up country stop.

Cooperative Designs S/S 11

Warning:
Play with caution.
And make sure your Nan is sitting away from the screen.
Her hand-knitting may combust through jealousy.

These creations are so colourful, geometrical, comfortable, wittyknittyful. It's all just a bit mad really, exactly why Knithead-nation approves. This not-so-domestic craft is being revamped all the time and Cooperative Designs are still in the running, showing off with their optical tricks on knit. Photoshoot backdrop is a bit manic though, I would of liked to see these pieces without the extra chaos to appreciate the knit for what it is. Oh well, personal opinion? If its complicated present it simply.

N.K.N - Comme de Say Hoowut?

Make any sense? For Comme de Garcon, Rei Kawakubo had sleeves coming out of your trousers, buckles under your bustline and your eyeballs upside down. And I liked it. Creative drape, tick. Functionality, question mark.

Knitvision: Trend S/S 11

Post shows/post FW's/post delightful mayhem, I've been collecting my thoughts and collating little knit-notes on trend.

Well, Embellish Me This sees a combination of hard and soft textures; overlaying beading and sequins, (Swarovski elements with Mark Fast,) both sewn and loosely draped over separates, as well as some experimental craft with feathers and fringing. From folklust to carnival style, many a leading name have adorned their knitted elements with this extra embellished texture.

 

  

Missoni, Milan

  

  

Christopher Kane, London

 

Gucci, Milan

 

 

  

Giles, London

 

 Left, Issey Miyake. Right, Sonia Rykiel, both shown in Paris

  

 

Mark Fast, London

 Ashish, London

   

LFW Daily

 

Mark Fast, London

 

Undercover, Paris

Gucci, Milan



  

Pringle of Scotland, London

All Is Fair, In Crochet and More probably speaks for itself! With S/S 11 seeing dashes of crochet and lace, fashion knitwear still holds onto traditional craftwork and maintaining a fun, fresh and slightly kooky look.

Alberta Ferretti, Milan

Anna Sui, New York

 

Left, Marni. Right, Gucci. Both shown in Milan

 

 Rag & Bone, New York

Christian Dior, Paris

 

Issey Miyake, Paris



My Cardi/Jumper & Me looks at the staple garment, that everyone grabs when the inevitable S/S breeze blow a little below chilly. These looks will filter down through the industry as the simple-but-sweet style, there are already street fashion elements evident judging by this cool collective.

3.1 Phillip Lim, New York

 

A Detacher, New York

 

Alberta Ferretti, Milan

  

Dsquared, New York

The Acid Dye will look at shocking hot brights to pump up and pimp out the colour in your S/S 11 wardrobe. You can wear these knit pieces with other playful colours, clashy or non, or neautralise your look with a more mellow palette and making your knitted garment, so rightly, the statement piece.

Christopher Kane, London

 

 

Giles, London

Tsumori Chisato, Paris

Undercover, Paris

Stripe Out is another self-explanatory category. With stripes being a natural knit-trend, leading names have kept within the stripe line but to a casual and relaxed silhouette.

   

Aquilino.Rimondi, Milan

 

Jean Paul Gaultier, Paris

  

Junya Watanabe, Paris

 

Sonia Rykiel, Paris

 

Tsumori Chisato, Paris

Just Lounge Around shows jersey and lighter weight yarns at it's most relaxed. Using lighter and natural colour palettes to go perfectly with your no-fuss days, around the house or gliding about in the garden, maybe? I'm comfortable, and I like it.

 

A Detacher, New York

 

Acne, London

Alberta Ferretti, Milan 

 

 

 Alexander Wang, New York

 

Rag & Bone, New York. Blumarine, Milan.

Sonia Rykiel, Paris

As you might of picked up from my Bebaroque post during LFW, tights are always a winner with me. So when indulging in a little JPG action, I couldn't help but notice all the lovely ladies wearing lacy lush. Accessorise This will be all about a little lacy leg flash. Approved!

 

 

 

 



 Jean Paul Gaultier, Paris

And I couldn't help but think of a chunky knit texture when flicking through John Galliano's S/S 11 collection. Obviously not suitable for the season, besides I think it was ruched chiffon's anyway, but a possibility for A/W? There's a nice chunky Head's Up trend outlook from knithead-nation!



John Galliano, Paris



LFW Daily