Sandra Backlund: Sculptural Knits SS09
The most astonishing collection we saw at London Fashion Week back in September was "Pool Position" by Swedish designer Sandra Backlund. Since then we've been eagerly awaiting some images of these radically sculptural knits to share with you. Now these photographs by John Scarisbrick have arrived we are reminded of the fantastical structures that stopped us in our tracks a few months ago.
Backlund creates all her pieces herself, more in the manner of a sculptor than a fashion designer. Describing her process she says, "I build my garments by hand from a couple of basic bricks which I multiply and attach to each other in different ways to discover the shape that I want." Backlund goes on to say, "My work is very personal to me. I improvise and allow myself to loose control and see what happens if I do not think so much about practical things. The human body is always the starting point."
While these wool and alpaca garments may not be practical day wear and we might feel the need to channel Björk or Roisin Murphy's sartorial confidence to walk around in them, we love the ambition and scope that Backlund brings to the humble art of knitting. The combination of taking pleasure in the process of craft and the outcome of dramatically contemporary forms is very exciting. Backlund's work is a great example of how '"slow fashion" can can preserve traditional techniques while embracing new aesthetics.
