ROWAN & LIBERTY WOOL WEEK DESIGN AWARD 2013
Rowan has collaborated with Liberty of London and the Royal College of Art to create a unique hand knit and crochet project to challenge the traditional perception of these crafts and to help celebrate the Campaign for Wool and Wool Week 2013.
In June 2013, Marie Wallin – Rowan Head Designer briefed the project.The first year MA Knitted Textiles and MA Fashion Knitwear students of the Royal College of Art were invited to submit work to answer ‘How can a traditional craft become a source for contemporary and conceptual textile design’?
The aim of this project was to develop a creative and even radical collection of conceptual textile hangings that challenges the common understanding of traditional hand knit and crochet as well as championing the versatility of wool as the supreme textile fibre of choice.
The three winning designs demonstrate this concept perfectly in three completely different ways.
The winning students are:
JUSTIN ALVES KHAN – 1st prize winner, was inspired by the work of his artist father and took the word ‘Freedom’ as a key source of research for his amazing piece of hand knitting, creating a piece of pure fashion knitwear ar t. Justin has used Rowan Big Wool for his design.
MARIA RESSANO GARCIA – 2nd prize winner. Maria’s piece is an eclectic mix of colourful crochet and hand knit, worked in a very organic style, creating a sculptural piece of fashion knitwear that actually can be worn. Largely inspired by traditional folk art, the piece reflects Maria’s Portuguese cultural roots. Maria has used Rowan Big Wool and Rowan Fine Tweed for her design.
YANG ZHAO – 3rd prize winner.Yang’s piece is a dramatic 3D hanging art installation inspired by sea corals and marine life.To mimic the skeletal structure of coral,Yang has cleverly mixed hand knit and crochet with a textural resin which add strength to each of the circular piece.Yang has used Rowan Big Wool, Rowan Felted Tweed and Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds Boucle for her design.
The three prize winning designs will be on display at Liberty duringWoolWeek 2013 from Monday 14th October to Sunday 21st October.The first prize winning design will be prominently displayed in one of the Liberty front windows.
