If I lived anywhere near London at all, I would have to take some time in the next few months to visit the Fashion and Textile Museum, which is running an exhibit called “Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood” through January 15.
The exhibit features knitwear from throughout the 20th century, ranging from 1920s Chanel to knits inspired by punk and pop culture.
Just looking at the pictures on the exhibit website makes me swoon a little bit. The shapes, textures and colors in these designs are just amazing.
The exhibit was the subject of a piece on the Guardian’s fashion blog, in which the author said visiting the museum made her want to get her out knitting needles. I understand the feeling.
In all the exhibit has more than 150 pieces from the collection of Mark and Cleo Butterfield, including some rare pieces like Chanel cardigans, 1930s swimwear and pieces from Missoni and other famous knitwear names.
The blogger writes, “Whether machine-produced for the general market or hand-knitted during wartime rationing, the garments on display give a sense of the emotional investment that went into their creation.”
I think that sums up a bit of how and why we knit, regardless of what we’re knitting or for whom. It’s a passionate, emotional investment of our time and energy. We want to put good thoughts and feelings into our work that can somehow be felt by people looking at or wearing them.
But she also notes that in fashion, knitwear is often looked down on. It’s the hope that exhibits like this (and an earlier one featuring the stunning work of Kaffe Fassett) and the work of knitters like us will make more people realize that knitting really is a work of art.
[Photo via the Fashion and Textile Museum.]
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