knitxcore.: INSPIRED: Sibling A/W 2013

Saturday, January 12, 2013

INSPIRED: Sibling A/W 2013



While "internetting" today, I noticed the Sibling Autumn/Winter 2013 collection was being harshly criticized; not only by the fashion community and the press, but also by knitters, knitwear designers and yarn companies via Facebook.

I get it, this stuff is weird but can't it be more than that? Fashion is art, right?

There was an interesting sound byte at Dazed Digital about the designer's inspiration, combining NY punk and British suburbia with a domestic flair, that seemed to make sense.

If you really look at the pieces and strip away the giant mittens and crazy headpieces, some sick stuff is going down.

Look for:
-A leopard fair-isle sweater
-The giant red shoulder snood
-The oversize pocket scarves

See? All really cool things that a hand knitter could make at home; things that wouldn't look nearly as insane if paired with jeans or a warm coat.

Sure, there are boys in fur pants and enormous hats, but there is some good stuff happening too.

Is anybody with me? Am I out of my mind?



8 comments:

Andi said...

I get some of the criticism from the fashion community. This is just a variation on a theme that, in my opinion, has been done to death.

But whenever some knitters start talking about how ridiculous and unwearable runway fashion is, my eye twitches a little. That's not the point! So many knitters who want their own work to be seen as art completely don't understand that runway fashion is just that! It's about extremes and then elements from runway looks get scaled down or made more subtle to be used on ready to wear. It makes me so angry that so many knitters just don't get it and don't seem interested in getting it. They have too big of a mental disconnect between what they do and what fashion designers do.

Amber said...

I 100% agree with you that fashion is art and I personally appreciate anything that comes down the runway. Not only is this show entertaining and somewhat comical, the fiber artistry is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

Lisa said...

I liked all the things you pointed out - and also the jumper with the swallow on it (cute!). I totally need to make a pocket scarf now ...

Sian said...

i agree too. i read an artile about this collection in the paper yesterday - they did that really lame thing where they were them in the 'streets' and what did the average person think? it's ridiulous. there was a really nice coat i liked which was orangy... did you see that one?

flossieKNITS said...

What Andi said.
I think if you're going to criticize it, it's from the standpoint that this kind of stuff has been done to death. If I'm looking for oversized sculptural detailing in knitwear, there are other designers I can go to that have done it (in my opinion) better than Sibling.

I actually do social media for a few companies and I try to post a lot of runway fashions to one page in particular, and the criticism and harsh words I get are almost unbelievable. Not only do knitters and crocheters tear down the work as unwearable, unthinkable, and downright awful, but they tear down the models as well, for being too skinny, for needing sandwiches, etc, and the whole experience drives me up a wall. I'd rather the outcome of posting these fashions be that people think about the work and how they can translate it in their own knitting, but 9 times out of 10, they just can't get beyond it. So now if I see something I know is going to get lambasted, I honestly just ride that wave. There's no way around it.
You also, ALWAYS, have to remember where the audience is coming from, what kind of things they knit on the regular, and how far removed most people are from runway knitwear. Most people can see regular runway looks and understand the art behind it, but for knitters/crocheters, the response invariably is: "Why would anyone waste their time/yarn on THAT?" because they see things from a handmade perspective, they know the time/money that goes in to making something, and so the art vs wearability factor weighs heavier on their viewing/understanding of it.

Knit Scrap Labs said...

Some of that stuff is absolutely great! Especially love the black/white geometric stripe sweater/accessories. The style of the show was pretty hilarious, I guess people just don't have a sense of humor. As for the models being too skinny or whatever, you can't see them in all that giant knitted stuff so who knows?

Knit Scrap Labs said...

Some of that stuff is absolutely great! Especially love the black/white geometric stripe sweater/accessories. The style of the show was pretty hilarious, I guess people just don't have a sense of humor. As for the models being too skinny or whatever, you can't see them in all that giant knitted stuff so who knows?

Knit Scrap Labs said...

Some of that stuff is absolutely great! Especially love the black/white geometric stripe sweater/accessories. The style of the show was pretty hilarious, I guess people just don't have a sense of humor. As for the models being too skinny or whatever, you can't see them in all that giant knitted stuff so who knows?