The IFM Masters in knitwear design graduate class opened the last edition of Paris Fashion Week on March 3rd, 2021. The graduation shows of the French Fashion Institute or Institut Francais de la Mode (IFM) have become part of the official calendar of Paris Fashion Week. 59 students from studies including accessory design, fashion design, fashion image and knitwear design took part in the graduate show.
The knitwear was extraordinary. I’d really like to know what materials they’ve worked with. I was very impressed,” Brigitte Macron told ASBO following today’s show at the Institute Français de la Mode, where the graduating class of the Master of Arts in Fashion and Knitwear presented their final projects.
James Giltner
James Giltner
James Giltner
Anna Karathanassis
Anna Karathanassis
Half Greek, half Japanese, and born in Belgium, Anna Karathanassis’ work is about identity and how we are perceived by society; “I have Greek and Japanese parents but I grew up between Belgium and Luxembourg. Not only does my appearance reflect this mix but also my soul, my way of thinking, and being in the world. People perceive and categorize me based on their own origins and cultures. In Japan, I’m seen as European whereas in Europe I am automatically considered Asian.” Through her knitted work, Anna wants to explore this contradiction. With an internship at Alaïa waiting for her in April, the designer wants to get a knitwear designer position before developing her own knitwear brand.
Jimin Kim
Jimin Kim
Jimin Kim
Albane De Saint
“Shouldn’t we all work on things that make us feel good?” Albane De Saint-Laurent asked herself when she started developing her final collection. Free from the pressure of creating pieces that carry a deeper meaning she decided to get inspired by what excites her the most: The story of the iconic female persona of the Renaissance, Catherine de’ Medici, who was tired of her role as a queen and did the Tour de France on her bike. Albane created a brand named “Docteur Licorne” as the imaginary sponsor of a Renaissance lady at her biking race. The Docteur Licorne logo is applied all over the pieces which are made out of sporty, lycra yarns paired up with velvet. “ When I started my project, I really couldn’t afford the yarn I wanted so I tried to use a lot of materials I already had, what some people in my class were not using, and the yarns we had at school,” she explains. With her fictional muse falling off her bike quite often, the designer used all her “messed-up” samples and mistakes as part of the pieces, giving a “worn” sense to a collection that is made to be used.
Albane De Saint
Sara Kickmayer
Sara Kickmayer
Sara Kickmayer
Johanna Imbach
Johanna Imbach
“I‘m Johanna Imbach, and I am a French girl.” This is how the knitwear major introduces herself before going into explaining the inspirations behind her sculptural collection. With artist Bridget Riley and 3D anaglyph technology as the starting point of her research, the designer reworked the principles of the method to create innovative yarns and volumes. “My three-dimensional approach is above all a sculptural process which allows me to create graphic and kinetic looks whereby the body and the garment become one, proposing a new anatomy,” she says. Instead of cutting or draping her knits, she sculpts and thermoforms them, presenting the knitted pieces “almost as holograms”. With experimentation as the core of the practice at IFM, Johanna navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic and saw herself developing into a professional knitwear designer during the course of her studies.
Lucie Favreau
Lucie Favreau
Lucie Favreau
On one hand you see the older generations who have difficulties adapting to the fast-paced society, on the other hand, the younger ones are seeking attention in the virtual environment. I see my work as a generational clash.” German knitter Antonia Schreiter sees her work standing in between the analog and the digital. By developing woven knits and embroideries out of deadstock, Schreiter aimed to dress the feeling of spontaneity. Determined to overcome the hardships of the present, she wants to gain experience in the industry as a knitwear designer in order to reach her goal of establishing her own label.
Shari Lesmes
Shari Lesmes
Shari Lesmes
Clara Joy Fubini’s work is an exploration of identity and culture. Fascinated by the extravagance of dog shows the collection narrates the story of an eccentric elderly lady and her dog, travelling the British Isles, competing in dog shows. When Boris Johnson announced the lock-down they found themselves alone and isolated, slipping into madness. Fubini’s yarns are inspired by interior design images from the ’60s in orange, white, and silver tones. “I used a yarn called TPU which melts when heated. It gives a rubber texture to the knit which can then be cut without fraying. It has a subtle see-through effect which gives a little twist to the garment.” After completing an internship at a fashion house she aims to find a job in Paris or Milan
