With winter here, I'm on a bit of a knit kick. Here are some gorgeous knits from Brazilian designer Helen Rödel's Spring-Summer 2013 collection.
I'm a big fan of hers because she designs these very expressive and colorful pieces in small numbers and because she creates them with help from a team of six artisan knitters in her home town of Porto Alegre, where she was born and still lives.
Rödel, who produces one small collection a year, loves creating 'artisanal' fashion on her own terms and using environmentally and socially sustainable methods.
She says, "I've chosen to work with slow and manual techniques in which the numbers are pretty different from industrial production," reflecting the artist in her.
Rödel seeks to push the boundaries of the traditional techniques of knitting and crochet that she learned from her mother. You can hear her describe her design philosophy and approach on Vimeo.
I love Rödel's use of bright colors, patterns and overall sensibility. She's doing a great job of creating beautiful fashion in a way that is in line with her values and on her own terms. She's an inspiration to independent designers who want to make their own way in the world of fashion.
Here's a photo of the artist at work.
You can see more from Helen Rödel at Not Just a Label.
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