If you read our blog last week, you’ll have noticed that Campaign For Wool has kicked off it’s “Wool School” initiative for the second year running. Partnering up with students from the famous Central St Martins, we delivered our creative brief of designing a limited edition jumper to be sold in store from October. We caught up with our three finalists Celestina Vinci, Danni Fairchild and Kate Annis as they talk us through their interpretation of the brief and how they tailored their designs to fit the Lyle and Scott aesthetic.

Q: Could you talk us through your inspiration behind your knitwear design
Danni-After looking over the brief and coming to the briefing day at Lyle and Scott I decided to look further into the photographs and imagery, that I had been shown from the Lyle and Scott archives by Lynn, that had interested me most. The photos which had caught my eye the most was of the 1960s and 1970s golf tournament photographs; as Lyle & Scott are famous fro being a golfing brand, I wanted to follow this. I looked into “vintage golf photographs” and “1060s golf” imagery and came across images of auction lot vintage golfing equipment and old golf course maps. With the vintage golf ball sale lots I was most interested in the variety of ‘dotted’ dimples in the golf balls, the layout of the golf balls and the circular ‘dot’ stickers used for labelling.
Q: What was it about your theme that particularly interested you?
Celestina- What interested me about my theme was the technical and colour aspect. I wanted to combine some rigid structure from the architecture with bright colours from the old advertising books and turn it into a fresh and new design. I wanted it to be a marriage of old meets new.
Danni- It was definitely the golf theme that interested me the most – I really love old sports images and old school sports team line up photographs, which I have a collection of, so I felt that I could kind of tie the brief in with that theme. I am always interested in collection odd items from scrap markets and collecting from auctions and city markets so I like to apply that to all my projects’ inspiration.
Q: How do you feel your design fits in with the Lyle and Scott brand.
Kate- I think my design fits in the with the Lyle and Scott brand in that it reflects heritage golf wear in the check front and the argyle style pattern on the sleeves and back but with the bright, pop colours often found in Lyle and Scott collections. The check used on the front is also my knitted interpretation of the Lyle and Scott check.
Celestina-If feel that my design fits with the Lyle and Scott brand as similarly to them I have used lots of bright colours. Also there are checks which Lyle and Scott use in their designs, in the patterns for my design I was trying to incorporate checks and tartans. I feel that it is works well with the brand aesthetic.
Q: Where do you look for influence when you’re designing?
Celestina- It really depends very often it is quite random. I feel that I get drawn to something and start to incorporate it in my work. I like to look at old images of fashion, the city, anything ; I look at photography a lot. But mainly it is a collection of things I gather throughout a project, the theme tends to develop as I am going along collecting and then I just carry on with the ideas and sources I have found. Trying to develop them as I go.
Kate- I think I look for inspiration everywhere when I am designing. I try to find it in the least obvious places at first to help me think outside the box and to try to be unique. But I think books, magazines, the internet and exhibitions are all really helpful.
Q: Which designers or brands do you admire?
Danni- I am a really big fan of designers who design the highest quality, sleek modern classics using the beautiful long last yarns – brands such as ACNE, J.Crew, A.P.C or Oliver Spencer. And for some more special items I like brands such as Rag & Bone. I am also a big fan of British fashion – made in the UK using UK materials, what Campaign for Wool is encouraging, of corse Lyle & Scott amongst others.
Celestina- I really like Erdem, Raf Simmons, Leutton and Postle, Sandra Backlund, Paul Smith. My main inspiration comes from the two artists Lucy McRae and Bart Hess. I often look at what they are doing and who they are collaborating with.
Q: What do you think are the future trends in menswear?
Kate- I think that we are seeing more and more bright colours in menswear and I think this trend will continue, especially bright colours teamed with basic shape garments.
Danni- I think that the future brands in menswear will be moving away from the loud printed jersey that are often seen and will move towards the sleek, modern, versatile classic knits that have been beautifully made. I think people will be buying knitwear to keep and to look stand out from its quality. A look which is contemporary yet classic.
Q: What area of fashion are you looking to get into post study?
Celestina-After my studies I would like to work for small fashion house, womenswear or menswear, that way I can learn a lot more and be part of a team. I would also like to collaborate with other design areas.
Kate- I would really like to get into ready-to-wear knitwear. I think to have the freedom to design with more technical knit structures and luxury yarns would be amazing. I really enjoy the process of experimentation and technical knitting so to be able to do something where I could continue to explore that and keep learning would be great.
Danni- Trend Forecasting, Knitwear Sampling and Freelance Design.
Keep up to date with what’s happening with Campaign for Wool campaign by following them on twitter @Campaignforwool.
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