Final collection for Azsu alpacas

Woven samples

Research boards

Merino wool

Merino.com, "No finer feeling"

Merino Fibre

"There is wool, there is fine wool, and there is Merino. Nothing else feels like it, or looks like it, or wears like it. And no man-made fibre can compete with the attributes nature has given Merino in such abundance. The way it keeps you warm in winter, but cool in summer. The way it yields to the softest touch, but stubbornly resists creasing. The way it shrugs off stains and keeps its colour when washed. And unlike any synthetic material, Merino fibre is an entirely renewable natural resource. As long as there is water and sunshine and grass, and sheep to eat it, there will always be Merino. And as long as there is Merino the designers and retailers of the world’s most beautiful clothing will accept no substitute." Merino.com

Merino Research

1. Finest and softest wool of all sheep
2. Used for highend performance wear,
   
3. Finer fibres and softer scales

Knitwear Inspiration

Sandra Backlund has always been a great influence on my 3d work, however her spring summer 2011 reflects my theme of arcitecture as well as an element of natural processes!

Knitwear Inspiration

Ruth Cross is a knitwear designer, whom has influenced my ideas of what contemporary knitwear can be!

Sustainability and ethical textiles

Today I watched a documentary on a demin jean factory which opperates in China. The programme both shocked me and brought to my attention change needs to happen in our ever developing textile industry. The programme followed a 17 year old girl, who left her family and way of life and moved to the city, where she worked as a thread cutter. Both her, living conditions and working conditions where shocking!

I feel as a designer I can implient small scale changes which will help the long term effects of ethical textiles as well as textiles that are sutainable. After watching the documentary I attended a seminar to discuss what we had seen. A few areas of conversation interested me and I intend to look into them further at a later date;

Anaya Hindmarch- Im not a plastic bag

• Frabric reusable bags to replace plastic carrier bags from supermarkets ect.
• The company tried to "do their bit" by advertising a fabric reusable bag as fashionable.
• Bleached cotton fabric bag sold at £5 from Sainsbury's
• Promoted through celebrities
• Soon caught on to be a fashion fad
• However the fabric bags where being shippped from China, and therefore had a big Carbon Foot Print.
• Positive side however raised awearness to a mass audience and made sustainable textiles fashionable!