Yarn is so simple, we almost forget its necessity. Woven, knotted, knit… its many incarnations form the building blocks for all fashion and textiles.
Designers Michel Bergamo and Cristina Zamagni of Boboutic describe yarn as “an endless line,” wholly rejecting the use of scissors. To cut a string of yarn as a shortcut of convenience is to sever its integrity as a material – both metaphorically and literally. In their singular approach to knitwear, infinite possibilities are found.
Boboutic is known for the sheer loftiness of their knits – squeezing a sleeve is akin to sinking your fingers into the fleece of the world’s softest goat. The plush is so mesmerizing, we are often at a loss to describe it (although our favorite descriptors lay somewhere between “marshmallow” and “cloud”). This effect is achieved through the designers’ unusual and architectural approach to knit. They describe the practice as “an ideal medium,” utilizing the versatility and flexibility of yarn to build and sculpt their garments as if they were clay.
In exploring the inviting hand of Boboutic, we were drawn to the work of Japanese fiber artist, Naoko Serino – an internationally recognized fiber artist who has been described as one of Japan’s textile pioneers. Much like Michel and Cristina’s unending yarn, Naoko builds up layers of interlocking jute and wool to carve gravity defying sculptural installations.
