Sunday, May 24, 2009

Feature: Knitwear Fashion

Knitwear Fashion
Written by: Sanela Sinanović
Sanela Sinanović is a beautiful and brilliant experienced fashion writer based in Kranj, Slovenia.

Featured designs by Tinka Černugelj.




Introduction
If you want to impress in the first moment it is difficult to believe that the cords is the right choice. Knitwear is much more than just a warm sweater. The unusual approaches and techniques of the cords become a new dimension. Knitwear can be used as glamour clothing. Everyday, designers come up with new techniques and ways in using knitwear to dazzle and awe with material significance. Dive into softness, radiance, innovation and glamour of knitted fashion.

What is Knitwear?
Knitwear is the third largest group of textiles; the first largest group is cotton and the second largest group of textiles is viscose and artificial materials. When I compared them with other fabrics I found out that they are much more flexible, and are already historically used to make socks and other pieces of clothing that adjust to the body. Generally speaking, elasticity of knitted fabrics gives them beautiful wrinkles, when compared with thicker fabrics. Knitwear is warm and comfortable and is great for clothing that is worn next to the skin, especially underwear. They are often braided wool, which remains hot, even if it is wet. Wool is a very suitable material for knitwear also because of its exceptional flexibility and the formation of wonderful knots. Moreover, flexibility and warmth in the knitted fabrics are opposed. Knitted lace, which has the most holes, are also the most flexible, and the least insulating. There is one bad feature of knitwear, and that is shrinking.

Maintenance Tricks
With proper maintenance, knitwear can last for many years.

1. The first rule is that you do not wash them too often.
2. Wash them only when they are really dirty.
3. Knitwear is best to wash with your hands in cold water.
4. And a trick on how to prevent loss of color: put a little salt in the water.
5. When it is wet, wring gently while wrapped in a towel to get rid of excess water.
6. Take sensitive knitwear, such as Merino, to the cleaners?
7. More great material, such as mohair, angora, and the like, can be administered for 20 minutes in the refrigerator (wet or dry - this is important) to freshen it.
8. Ironing is not recommended for knitwear. If, however, there are obvious wrinkles, use an iron slightly in the very low level.
9. The best storage for knitwear is to fold and stack them on a shelf, where there is at least a little ventilation and adequate protection against moth. Lavender and cedar will keep moths away.

History of Knitwear
The real turning point in the history of knitted fabrics came with Coco Chanel in 1916, when she created suits made with Jersey. Jean Pátou followed her with the line of sportswear for women. He is considered the inventor of knitted swimwear and tennis wings. Knitted jackets, which give priority to comfort, later became a popular fashion trend. The fifties were dominated by a slightly conservative ‘popcorn’ knitwear. The crazy sixties were manifested by Missoni’s zigzag pattern. This time is, however, also coincides with the penetration of Sonia Rykiel and her vibrantno striped and "preppy" sweaters. In the eighties the knitwear crossed from sportswear to high fashion. The most noticeable design being Romeo Gigli’s Haute-Bohemian Cocoon Coat and Ralph Lauren’s Floor-length Cashmere Turtleneck.

For more information on Sanela visit: Sanela Sinanović

For more info on Tinka Černugelj - www.Pletenine.com

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1 comment:

  1. Very interesting read. Thanks for the great info on knitwear, very helpful.

    ReplyDelete