Selvedge Magazine

Editorial in Selvedge MagazineJan/Feb issue; My mag arrived only this morning looking pretty tired, must have come across by sea, and on its arrival finally jammed in the letterbox folded in half with the fold across the 'do not bend' sticker. Must have had a tiff with my Napier postman while it sang - "I'm a long long way from the UK!"

Winter 10

Snippets of winter collection; mohair handknitted detail - going into store soon.... to Alice Euphemia and RPM.

End of Summer

1 March is officially beginning of Autumn; its usually my benchmark to get A/W deliveries out the door and into store. Will be posting Winter images soon; so goodbye Summer 09 collection - I was particularly fond of this one; silk and linen knits; both hand and machine. xx

Bangarra Dance

Costume created for Designer Jenny Irwin for the Bangarra Dance Company ; 'hot wind dress' for 'Clan' performance in 2005. These images were part of the presentation I made during the artists floor talk on 12 February 2010.

Works at the Exhibition

I gave an artists floor talk on 12 February for the The Endless Garment Exhibition at RMIT Gallery. During the lecture, I got asked questions like… "so now your clothes are hanging in a gallery space; do we call it art?” Disappointingly to some, I didn’t care to make the distinction (between art and fashion); I’m not fussed about the word ‘art’ as a reference for a higher culture; or as an improvement on a culture. Art happens everyday, like fashion. Fashion is an interesting communication tool; a creative visual language. It’s a system of symbols much the same as graphics, or even music for that matter. And within that communication system there will be parameters of complexity and layers that averse, repel, delight and inspire to aspire to broad audiences with differing receptivity; it records a moment in time; an historical imprint. One must find their own meaning in it; that’s what’s interesting about fashion exhibitions.




The 3 Jumpers Project: whole garment knitting machine technology.



The 3 jumpers project I saw as an opportunity to create 2 pieces that progressed from form to thread; where thread was used to exploit or benefit the garment rather than used in the absence of stitches; this could only develop during the process of knitting. Once the first swatch was knitted it was easy to determine the forms based on the movement and integrity of the fabric. The technician was pivotal in that decision making process; and in the recommendation of structure to hold its integrity and for me to then decide where to push the disintegration of the fabric; to create movement, and to balance light and density; and then to decide on shape – where to increase and decrease stitches in the garment to determine its manouver over the body.

WORKSHOP

I will be conducting a Workshop on the knitting construction patterns on 12 February at RMIT Gallery 2-4 pm. Reserved for only a small group, so get in quick to get these new and limited edition handmade ebony knitting needles as part of the material kit; the essential TOOLS for the CONSTRUCTION KNITTING PATTERNS. It will be a hands-on workshop to guide you through the making of the pieces in the Construction No 2 pattern. The material kit will also include BESPOKE ALPACA YARN + the knitting pattern.

The New Craft of Machine Knitting

The Endless Garment Exhibition opens at RMIT Gallery on 12 February. A few of my archive pieces will be on exhibit. I feel very honored to be making a special address on the opening night 11 Feb; and being the only Australian designer amongst a line up of some very awesome internationals: Issey Miyake, Sandra Backlund,
Walter Van Beirendonck, Cooperative Designs, Mark Fast, Yoshiki Hishinuma, Saverio Palatella, Freddie Robins, Sibling.... WOW!! Don't miss lecture by Dai Fujiwara Creative Director of Issey Miyake, Wed 17 March, part of the Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program. I will be conducting an artists floor talk on 12 February from 12 - 1 at RMIT Gallery.

Melbourne Magazine

The coveted editorial squeeze in the quarterly Age mag. The copy is a bit misleading in the article, so please note.... The knitting patterns and wools are available on my WEBSHOP. In Melbourne the patterns are also available at Craft Victoria,
Greville St Bookstore
and Metropolis Bookstore.
The fashion collections however; will be available at RPM in Carlton; first Winter deliveries early February.

more early work

polaroids have a beautiful ageing quality....
photos by Chris Kapa
Summer 2002: machine knitted cotton viscose boucle yarn

construction no 2 knitting pattern poster....

Illustrated knitting instructions are on the reverse of poster.

early work...

machine knitted cotton viscose boucle yarn.
photograph by Chris Kapa