I love knitting (although I can't do it). My earliest memory of the craft was at my tiny primary school, where our grandmothers used to come in each Friday afternoon, to teach us how to knit 'peggy squares'. As a collective effort over that winter, we knitted the hugest blanket, all different shades and wools, about 8m square. It was cut up into smaller blankets, sent to Rwanda and we even had a celebratory finishing party, which I made the front cover of the local paper squishing a massive meringue into my mouth. I look, well, pretty much the same as I did then, and I'd quite like to find a pair of those knee socks I was sporting. Anyway, I think that's why I am so into these jackets from Lou and Ash. I had a chat to the lovely Ava Sanders who is responsible for these beauties when I was in Auckland for fashion week.
Tell me about Lou and Ash...
I wanted a name for the business that was meaningful in some way and that's my family. So I thought about abbreviating my two daughter's middle names from Louise and Ashleigh to Lou and Ash. It appealed to me and kept the girls close to my heart.
I wanted a name for the business that was meaningful in some way and that's my family. So I thought about abbreviating my two daughter's middle names from Louise and Ashleigh to Lou and Ash. It appealed to me and kept the girls close to my heart.
Who knits the pieces?
Many really lovely ladies. They also have full and busy lives so production line is a bit complicated and there is one special lady who I work closely with when looking at designs and then working out the technical pattern details.
Many really lovely ladies. They also have full and busy lives so production line is a bit complicated and there is one special lady who I work closely with when looking at designs and then working out the technical pattern details.
What has been inspiring you lately?
I love going to the movies or chilling out at home watching a movie with my husband. He is in the film business so we are always interested in this visual medium. Apart from films he has done I really felt inspired watching 'Across the Universe' and 'The Fountain' . They were visual extravaganzas. I really enjoyed the recent movie about Coco Chanel and how she designed her own things regardless of what society held as the norm. I love reading anything and everything and regularly hang out in libraries and book stores.
I love going to the movies or chilling out at home watching a movie with my husband. He is in the film business so we are always interested in this visual medium. Apart from films he has done I really felt inspired watching 'Across the Universe' and 'The Fountain' . They were visual extravaganzas. I really enjoyed the recent movie about Coco Chanel and how she designed her own things regardless of what society held as the norm. I love reading anything and everything and regularly hang out in libraries and book stores.
I love that you are creating quite 'fashion' pieces from such a traditional craft...
It is important for me to keep the art of knitting in society as there are so many benefits at so many levels. I adore the fabulous colours and textures available and then attempting to design what would work in fashion now - you look at fashion generally and then attempt to create your own trend. Emma at Public Library loves my knits and was great with her encouragement and feedback and well as Cheryl Burtonshaw who is a designer in Dunedin.
You can see more delicious Lou and Ash knitwear over here! Images courtesy of FashionToast and Lou and Ash.
It is important for me to keep the art of knitting in society as there are so many benefits at so many levels. I adore the fabulous colours and textures available and then attempting to design what would work in fashion now - you look at fashion generally and then attempt to create your own trend. Emma at Public Library loves my knits and was great with her encouragement and feedback and well as Cheryl Burtonshaw who is a designer in Dunedin.
You can see more delicious Lou and Ash knitwear over here! Images courtesy of FashionToast and Lou and Ash.
