When Wool Is Cool

My gran used to knit me an endless supply of cardigans, none of which ever fitted me. She used to knit really tightly so once you managed to squeeze yourself into the cardigan, your hands would promptly turn blue due to the onset of deep vein thrombosis. That kinda put me of knitwear for a long while. I still wince a bit when I pass a rail of cheap knitwear in shops.

We are all familiar with what happens when Giles Deacon gets a hold of a pair of knitting needles aren't we? Big, silly jumper/scarf things which makes the wearer look like the wool monster has eaten them. However, knitting can be manipulated into an artform, and we are not talking about knitting 'scenes' on jumpers (a favourite past-time of my Aunt Margaret).

Swedish Designer Sandra Backlund really understands how to take an old craft and move it forward making us see that tradition doesn't mean old fashioned. Her exaggerated forms are more like sculpture than clothing, yet the beauty of Backlund's work is that even her most diverse usage of wool results in something that is still very wearable. I could quite happily prance around in one of her dresses. Cascading layers of wool fall over shoulders, bodies adorned with plump, woollen orbs, bandages of soft fluff wrap around the wearer. What's not to love?!

A while back I lusted after a pom pom scarf - well it was in part due to Backlund making me see the humble pom pom in a different light.

She won the top prize at the Hyeres Festival of Fashion and Photography for her Ink Blot Test collection and quite rightly so. It is a notable collection with headpieces, huge cardigans (so not like my Gran's!) and exquisite dresses and tops.

Many of you will also be familiar with her work for  Louis Vuitton  - the wool embellishments which adorned much of the A/W collection.

If only my Gran were still alive - I'd give her some of these pictures and some broom handles and tell her to get knitting!

Queen Michelle

Comments

[Karita]

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[Rebecka]

Just have to say: It´s Sandra Backlund. I guess Buckland could be an english version of her surname. I think she´s amazing.

[susie_bubble]

Yes... it is Backlund.... Sandra is a lovely girl... met her at Hyeres and in Miami.... and she has a great vintage dress collection! Her newest collection is even more amazing than her Hyeres one!

http://stylebubble.typepad.com/style_bubble/2007/11/back-for-more-1.html
http://stylebubble.typepad.com/style_bubble/2007/11/back-for-more-b.html

[Queen Michelle]

Oops - hurried post = bad spelling!

[Dee]

But Michelle, the models still look like they've been eaten by the wool monster. Albeit, an elegant one.