Tried, true, and available in infinite varieties, knitwear always feels special. It carries the spirit of past while channeling a highly sophisticated and chic, contemporary aesthetic. Dudzinska, brand that polish fashion designer Anna Dudzinska created after she graduated from Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design, is well known for its collections of exciting and distinctive knitwear designs, all handmade in Poland.
Many times described as knitwear avantgarde, the brand is on the forefront of creating covetable coats, cardingas,
sweaters and accessories in the softest wool, that were featured on the NOT JUST A LABEL cover page, distincted by different media such as WGSN, Trendland.net, Trendhunter.com, Design Scene, Fashionising, Glamour NL, ELLE Poland, Harper’s Bazaar and presented at the exhibition in Galerie Joseph in Paris.
Anna who is in the process of creating new collection of Dudzinska signature knitwear took time to talk with us about inspiration, difference between knitwear and ordinary cut & sew design and seasonal trends in knitwear.
Collection UNKNOWN, autumn – winter 2012/2013
Share with us a bit about your background. Where did you grow up, study, where do you live now?
I was born in Gdansk and have been living here until present days. I studied psychology first and then made a decision to continue my education in fashion design. I was working in clothing company in the north of Poland and studied twice a month in the south of Poland. That was extremely difficult, but it was worth it.
Tell us more about fashion industry in Poland.
This is quite a new subject in my country. Here fashion industry is growing up successfully but still we’re miles away from Western countries. The market is quite difficult, we don’t have wholesale buyers and most of designers rely only on retail sale. We need some time to develop fashion industry in a professional way.
What inspires you in design and in life in general?
There are lots of things which inspire me every day. It can be a simple thing such a picture in the magazine, the color from the textile. Just look around and you will find many fascinating things. I’m a huge fan of scandinavian design, modern architecture, but the best inspirations in my work come straight from the nature.
Why did you decide to focus mainly on the knitwear?
It was after my graduation collection. While I was creating it I realised I had lots of geometrical silhouettes and I wasn’t satisfied with the result at all. Something was definitely missing. I decided to break it by adding soft and fleshy materials. I asked my mom to knit few additional things to the collection. And that hit the mark.
Does knitwear differ between seasons? How?
It is difficult task as most of customers perceive knitwear as a winter garment, therefore there’s quite significant difference between seasons. Spring-summer is reserved mostly for light cardigans and crochet blouses or dresses whereas autumn-winter is dominated by chunky sweaters, woolen coats and accessories such as scarves, beanies, snoods etc.
ORIO woolen coat
How does knitwear design differ from the ordinary cut & sew fashion design?
It’s more complicated and time-consuming. If you make a mistake during knitting you cannot correct the particular part of the garment without unstitiching it. In addition you have to know all the dimensions perfectly before knitting since you cannot correct them later. That’s quite problematic.
“Just look around and you will find many fascinating things. I’m a huge fan of scandinavian design, modern architecture, but the best inspirations in my work come straight from the nature,” says Anna. Photo: Tumblr by Anna Dudzinska.
Harasa black woolen coat from Anna’s latest collection.
Who is Dudzinska woman?
She’s interested in fashion, she isn’t afraid of experiments and eagerly invests in original and unique clothes made by fashion designers and small brands. She supports slow life and avoids buying from chainstores.
What is your process of making collection?
I don’t have any scheme of making the collection but mostly I collect inspirations and fabrics first, then draw some shapes which will dominate in the collection. Then I create full silhouettes and choose the best ones.
What is your favourite piece in the collection?
It’s BRONTO woolen coat. This chunky coat has very simple stitch, but the combination of two threads make this model spectacular.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m currently creating new collection and working on the new project at the same time, but I can’t disclose details yet :)
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Introducing: Dudzinska Modern Knitwear
Collection FASH.LAB, spring – summer 2013
Tried, true, and available in infinite varieties, knitwear always feels special. It carries the spirit of past while channeling a highly sophisticated and chic, contemporary aesthetic. Dudzinska, brand that polish fashion designer Anna Dudzinska created after she graduated from Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design, is well known for its collections of exciting and distinctive knitwear designs, all handmade in Poland.
Many times described as knitwear avantgarde, the brand is on the forefront of creating covetable coats, cardingas,
sweaters and accessories in the softest wool, that were featured on the NOT JUST A LABEL cover page, distincted by different media such as WGSN, Trendland.net, Trendhunter.com, Design Scene, Fashionising, Glamour NL, ELLE Poland, Harper’s Bazaar and presented at the exhibition in Galerie Joseph in Paris.
Anna who is in the process of creating new collection of Dudzinska signature knitwear took time to talk with us about inspiration, difference between knitwear and ordinary cut & sew design and seasonal trends in knitwear.
Collection UNKNOWN, autumn – winter 2012/2013
Share with us a bit about your background. Where did you grow up, study, where do you live now?
I was born in Gdansk and have been living here until present days. I studied psychology first and then made a decision to continue my education in fashion design. I was working in clothing company in the north of Poland and studied twice a month in the south of Poland. That was extremely difficult, but it was worth it.
Tell us more about fashion industry in Poland.
This is quite a new subject in my country. Here fashion industry is growing up successfully but still we’re miles away from Western countries. The market is quite difficult, we don’t have wholesale buyers and most of designers rely only on retail sale. We need some time to develop fashion industry in a professional way.
What inspires you in design and in life in general?
There are lots of things which inspire me every day. It can be a simple thing such a picture in the magazine, the color from the textile. Just look around and you will find many fascinating things. I’m a huge fan of scandinavian design, modern architecture, but the best inspirations in my work come straight from the nature.
Why did you decide to focus mainly on the knitwear?
It was after my graduation collection. While I was creating it I realised I had lots of geometrical silhouettes and I wasn’t satisfied with the result at all. Something was definitely missing. I decided to break it by adding soft and fleshy materials. I asked my mom to knit few additional things to the collection. And that hit the mark.
Does knitwear differ between seasons? How?
It is difficult task as most of customers perceive knitwear as a winter garment, therefore there’s quite significant difference between seasons. Spring-summer is reserved mostly for light cardigans and crochet blouses or dresses whereas autumn-winter is dominated by chunky sweaters, woolen coats and accessories such as scarves, beanies, snoods etc.
ORIO woolen coat
How does knitwear design differ from the ordinary cut & sew fashion design?
It’s more complicated and time-consuming. If you make a mistake during knitting you cannot correct the particular part of the garment without unstitiching it. In addition you have to know all the dimensions perfectly before knitting since you cannot correct them later. That’s quite problematic.
“Just look around and you will find many fascinating things. I’m a huge fan of scandinavian design, modern architecture, but the best inspirations in my work come straight from the nature,” says Anna. Photo: Tumblr by Anna Dudzinska.
Harasa black woolen coat from Anna’s latest collection.
Who is Dudzinska woman?
She’s interested in fashion, she isn’t afraid of experiments and eagerly invests in original and unique clothes made by fashion designers and small brands. She supports slow life and avoids buying from chainstores.
What is your process of making collection?
I don’t have any scheme of making the collection but mostly I collect inspirations and fabrics first, then draw some shapes which will dominate in the collection. Then I create full silhouettes and choose the best ones.
What is your favourite piece in the collection?
It’s BRONTO woolen coat. This chunky coat has very simple stitch, but the combination of two threads make this model spectacular.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m currently creating new collection and working on the new project at the same time, but I can’t disclose details yet :)
All photos by Dudzinska.
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