If you're a knitwear designer (or a knitwear enthusiast) you know that research into new yarns and stitches are key components of your work.
Exhibitions and books are important tools, but it has been extremely difficult to see well-researched and original events dedicated only to knitwear.
In Italy they did a book last year and an exhibition (that has been touring here and there), both curated by the same chancer who jumped on the knitwear bandwagon (after seeing a couple of things I wrote about knitwear for a hip British publication years ago - mind you, as Oscar Wilde said "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness", so I shouldn't really be caring, but it sicks me thinking people like him get paid...), thinking it's a cool hipster thing and with the firm belief that cutting and pasting press releases and assorted biographies of Italian knitwear companies for Italian newspapers means being a journalist and a writer.
Luckily there are selected companies that in the last few years have started digitalising and granting free access to their archives, Maglificio Pini is one of them.
Based in Forlì and founded in 1977, Pini produces 50,000 items a year and boasts a dynamic staff of professionals.
Pini closely follows the manufacturing and production, from the yarn to the final stages of each item - including washing, ironing and packaging.
The company produces 3 to 18 gauge knits, with a special focus on garments made with pure cashmere (mainly 18 gauge).
Apart from luxurious yarns such as cashmere and silk, Pini also works with wool, cotton, linen, raffia, paper and metallic yarns and viscose. Organic and naturally dyed yarns were added in more recent times, while the company also specialises in leather and fur details, embroidery, prints and other assorted decorations.
Pini showcased at Pitit Filati in the KnitClub section, an area entirely dedicated to knitting companies and brought some archival pieces that included thick and colourful ski jumpers (of the "so bad that it actually looks good" kind...), light sporty pieces in jersey and more sober designs like stylish dress à la Azzedine Alaïa made with Lineapiù yarns (Luna) and vintage pieces in cashmere and leather.
Users can register for free at this link to request the access to Pini's archive: if you have already registered, you may have discovered how the garments in the archive have strong connections with art movements.
Some garments have a surreal twist about them; others borrow from Pop or Abstract art or evoke the delicate geometries of Manlio Rho's "Composizione 67 Rosa (Ritratto di uno stato d'animo)" (Composition n. 67 - Pink (Portrait of a State of Mind)).
Registered users can be sure they won't be disappointed and will find something - geometrical motifs, three-dimensional effects and ribbed or embedded details - for every taste.
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