This is Camilla’s story, the winning designer of “Feel the Contest 2019”. She tells us about her latest show and her passion for yarns and knitwear.
• Tell us about your project and the runway show that took place on September 2, what inspired you?
The collection is inspired by the relationship that a woman has with herself and nature.
In the sacred rituals addressed to the spirits/gods, the woman had as her purpose to present thanksgiving and celebration of mother nature with her creative gifts.
The beauty of nature is taken up in all indigenous tribes but also in the Greek world with various goddesses such as Aphrodite and Demeter.
During the evening of Friday, September 2, I wanted to recreate a magical atmosphere through a choreography I created with dancers who introduced a ritual through movement by which they evoked goddesses/ women who paraded wearing garments entirely made of knitts with colourful jewelry and crochet patterns.
For the creation of the collection, I used only yarns recycled from the production waste of the Matteo Pieracci knitwear factory, and I involved many women including myself for the hand work.
I like the idea of creating clothes that are exciting but at the same time wearable and that give the woman her own personality.
• Where did your passion for knitting come from and what are your reference brands?
My passion for knitting started at Polimoda in 2019 when I won the FEEL THE YARN competition. I like the idea of creating a garment from its essence, or the yarn: you can create any type of texture and colour by mixing together many types of yarn and immagination. I like to challenge myself before the manual machine by experimenting with all the ideas and the various methods of creation. For me it is a sort of artistic form like a brush that draws on canvas. I do not have a specific reference brand because my idea was to not be influenced from the outside but always to have my own identity to create my brand in the future that will have to be unique.
• How do you select yarns for your creations? What influences you the most? (e.g., wool, cotton, linen, or colours, softness…)
Usually in my collections I choose yarns that from the beginning transmit to me a certain feeling that is inherent to the theme of the collection to give a final effect which is unique. I am struck by strange and particular yarns that stimulate a new and creative idea that conveys research.
• What did it mean for you to win the competition in 2019, especially for the celebration of the tenth anniversary?
When I designed the garments for the FEEL THE YARN competition, the idea came from the contrast between nature and technology.
Winning the competition, only in the second year of study, meant having found the way and the right path to get what I had to say to people. It is very important for me to express myself in an artistic way. Coming from the world of dance where through the body and movement you can create an emotion in those who look at you and then be able to find another form of “art” that allows you to do this, is simply unique.
Unfortunately, we live in a society that has assimilated us where the idea of the different has been lost, but as far as I am concerned this is fundamental to what I am.
