Getting all bundled up in a blanket of warm, soft wools is exactly what I need whilst working from home through what is the fourth – or is it already the fifth – covid wave. Must say I lost count by now! Let’s have a look at the knitwear trends that will keep your warm this season!
The comfort of a jogging set.
For those of you who are looking for the comfort of a jogging set yet want to look classy and sophisticated there is the head-to-toe knitwear look as spotted on the catwalks of Etro, Fendi and Christian Wijnants. Want to wear your love of a brand on your sleeve then try the monogram trend as seen with Balenciaga, Gucci & Pinko. MaxMara and Balmain went for the oversized cardigan and the extra long sleeves for those who enjoy bold, statement knits like I’m wearing in the pictures. Cutouts remain to be on trend for autumn/winter while the old-school vest has made its comeback to the runway.
video: Net A Porter
Now, it’s difficult to talk about knitwear without thinking of Christian Wijnants. Born and raised in Brussels, Wijnants came to Antwerp to study at the fashion department of the Academy of Fine Arts. Inspired by his mother’s knitting machine, he developed a passion for threads and textiles and specialised himself in sophisticated tricot. Tricot is a special technique of warp knitting, in which the yarn zigzags vertically, following a single column of knitting, rather than a single row, as is customary. In 2000, Wijnants’ graduation collection was awarded with the Dries Van Noten Award, a first of many awards he will receive in his career.
As a designer, Wijnants is drawn to knitwear because of its craftsmanship and heritage. Moreover, he likes the infinite shapes and forms one can knit from a single white thread of wools or other materials. After spending some time at Dries Van Noten and Angelo Tarlazzi, he starts his own brand in 2003. Two years later Wijnants returns to Antwerp to pass on his passion to the next generation, teaching Tricot at the Academy until’ 2011. He then goes on to be awarded with the International Woolmark prize in 2013 for his merino wool capsule collection. Each design was created from one white thread of merino wool, which he then shaped and coloured.
For his spring/summer collection for 2022 Wijnants was inspired by Ibiza. The collection centers around the emotions of being on an island holiday, close to nature and the sea and features hand-crocheted tops and dresses in bold colours that are more revealing than we are used to from Wijnants. So no need to say goodbye to knits after winter! Yarn-dyed and more importantly space-dyed knitwear will be an important microtrend for spring/summer 2022.
Now, it’s difficult to talk about knitwear without thinking of Christian Wijnants. Born and raised in Brussels, Wijnants came to Antwerp to study at the fashion department of the Academy of Fine Arts.
