CHARLOTTE LOVELL KNITWEAR

Charlotte Lovell Knitwear has looked at natural forms and cave systems for her inspiration within the collection PRESERVED GROWTH. From caves and their organic shaping, their jagged lines, and the occurrence of natural sources like water and growth within the underground systems. The colour palette was drawn from primary research within the caves at Cheddar Gorge, the plants growing underneath the lights provided the greens, the lights themselves reflecting on the rocks and cave walls providing the burnt oranges. The greys and blacks coming from the darkness and shadow within the cave systems, depicting the unknowingness of what is ahead. The slick fabrics drawn from the pools of water inside the caves, reflecting against the lights and harsh edges of the surrounding environment. The knitwear itself, features a range of techniques including, racking on the Dubied to create sharp edgy lines through the knits, using plating to create different colour combinations and compositions. Felting was used as a strong technique to manually put colour into some of the garments, to add a growing texture. The use of intarsia on the domestic knitting machine and use of the Shima Seiki knitting machines provided the ability to create tactile colourings within the first two garments of the collection, depicting the range of colours within the research behind the collection as well as the shapes and lines within the caves. Charlotte's choice of silhouettes were inspired by the tall long shapes within the cave systems and her interest in taking on a more feminine androgynous feel within menswear, which has then been styled with Dr Marten's to achieve a more edgier look throughout the whole collection.