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Growing up I always had nostalgic memories of that quiet wooden cottage on the hillside where my grandparents lived. The living room had a big bay window overlooking the valley with tall deodar trees peeping through the mist. My grandmother, in a cozy sofa chair, wrapped in her thick woollen shawl, knitting basket by her side, her hands moving gently, her needles clicking softly in rhythm. My mother, having grown up in those hills, picked up knitting quite naturally. Having knitted from the age of 3, it was second nature to her. For me, it was an acquired passion, I was always fascinated by this craft and found my way to it a bit later in life.
The lockdown during Covid brought with it time and stillness to indulge in new hobbies and knitting soon became mine. With my birthday right around the corner, I, for my first project, enthusiastically chose to knit the JW Anderson x Harry Styles cardigan, as a gift to myself! It was a brave choice for a beginner but the bold colours and patchwork called my name. It took 2 weeks of non-stop knitting, trying out a variety of stitches, hands cramping up, boredom setting in and then slipping away quickly, frustration at minor mistakes, and the satisfaction of the beauty that the final garment turned out to be.
I was beyond proud and wore it all day on my birthday. My friends and family loved it when I posted it on my Instagram! Then, I got a notification saying that Jonathan Anderson, himself, had liked and commented on my post! That small appreciation truly instilled the seed of my deep and abiding passion for hand-knitting.
What fascinated me the most about hand knitting was how deceptively simple it seemed. The craft has easy-to-learn basics, but there are endless creative possibilities that they can be turned into. When designing my graduate collection, my tutor encouraged me to have hand-knitting at its core. Spending an average of 50-75 hours creating each garment, was a lot of hard work and learning. There were countless nights spent untangling wool, redoing parts that didn’t look right, and experimenting with stitches that added texture, weight, or even whimsy to the design. It was exhausting, yes, but also incredibly fulfilling.
When the jury reviewed my collection in its colourful and bold entirety, I was overwhelmed by their love and appreciation for the collection. Even beyond the academic setup, industry insiders, too, responded to the garments with joy and curiosity. It was every bit worth the effort, time, and attention that went into crafting each piece.
When the time came to launch my brand, I knew I wanted to further explore hand-knitting as more than a nostalgic craft - transform it into a modernised design language. I began working closely with my mother and my grandmother, taking from their decades of experience. Along with my team of knitters, I delved deeper into the nuances of the age-old craft.
As I let my imagination loose, I accosted the complexities involved in our work. What kinds of patterns sit well in what kind of wool? How much do different kinds of wool stretch or hold their form? What compositions of yarns go well together? And numerous other nitty-gritty elements. Elaborate, animated discussions were had on the feasibility of designs, timelines, and colour combinations. Days spent ripping entire pieces and re-knitting were offset by small moments of joy when an experiment turned out right and a beautiful thing came out of it.
We mixed yarns, changed designs, tried out unusual colour combinations and textures, and even came up with new stitches altogether! Pushing the boundaries, we gave shape to our ideas, and knitting, for us, became a playground.
Going forward, we endeavour to revive, sustain and up-skill this craft. We are constantly looking for new materials, new collaborators, and new ideas that push what knitting can be. Whether it’s blending natural yarns with recycled materials or creating new silhouettes altogether, we’re excited about what we are yet to discover!
