28 DEPARTURES STYLE A
28 DEPARTURES STYLE A STITCH IN TIME KNIT WIT One of the oldest of handcrafting techniques has been repurposed by these brands – with a distinctly contemporary edge. ALANUI Created by siblings with a penchant for vintage pieces, the Milan-based company was founded with a single piece – the timeless unisex cardigan. The brand now offers in a range of seasonal styles and patterns, all handmade with Italian cashmere using a process that takes at least 10 hours. alanui.it INIS MEÁIN Just 200 people live on the island – where Irish is still the most common language – which gives its name to the company. Founded by a Celtic scholar more than 40 years ago with an eye towards keeping the isle’s traditional craft alive, the pieces retain their fisherman’s heritage, accentuated by modern sensibilities. inismeain.ie THE KNITTER Infused with the whimsy of New Zealand founder Nicole Leybourne, sweaters here are handmade from Kiwi mohair yarns as well as alpaca and sheep wool from Peru, where many of the creations are also crafted. The brand puts a priority on ethical labour and community sustainability. theknitter.co MATI VENTRILLON Building on a long tradition of knitting in the Shetland Islands of northern Scotland, Venezuela-born Ventrillon has revitalised the ancient Scottish art and motifs in such a way that couture houses, in recent years, have appropriated her designs for the runway. Some of her best pieces are bespoke. mativentrillon.co.uk Right: Inis Meáin’s quintessential Aran sweater; above: a mohair cardigan by The Knitter XXXXhe café and market Louvre Michaelense. Below: Lagoa de Sete Cidades, twin lakes inside a dorm Alauni’s youthful knitwear collection ALL IMAGES COURTESY THE COMPANIES AND DESIGNERS
4 5 6 ALL IN HAND 1 Crocodile leather is the base of the Cecile P from Giòsa, the Milan-based firm that specialises in the reptilian leather and boasts a studio full of specialised artisans, giosamilano.com 2 The Pins Classic clutch – adorned with actual safety pins – is a highlight among the diverse offerings from Sarah’s Bag, a Lebanese firm that takes special pride in combining age-old techniques with novel materials, sarahsbag.com 3 The Yemaja handbag is named after an African goddess, and its combination of local materials (ostrich skin and blesbok leather, with springbok horn closure) and 1 Whether it’s a night at the opera or an afternoon with friends, these bags cultivate good feelings, both inside and out. artistry perfectly encapsulates the Okapi ethos, okapi.com 4 Miami-based NST Studio works on a made-to-order basis, so each piece – like this Toile de Jouy Knot bag – is one of a kind, nst-studio. com 5 Wood is the driving force of Israeli firm Tesler + Mendelovitch, and its wooden textiles – like this African wood clutch, made from walnut – are resilient yet delicate, tesler-mendelovitch.com 6 Cupid Americano is one among a number of straw bucket bags from Heimat Atlantica, a French company that strives to preserve artisan traditions in Spain and Portugal, heimatatlantica.com 2 3 DEPARTURES 29
