DeMontfort University is known for producing talented knitwear designers, and this year was no different. Its graduates boasted some stunning collections, and no one more so than Kelli McGuiness. Kelli's collection was much anticipated after she took home the Knitted Textile Designer of the Year Award at the Clothes Show Live in December and she did not disappoint. The collection is an array of colours and innovative techniques, bringing new aesthetics to knitted textiles.

             
Kelli's graduating collection is inspired by the insides of computers, circuit boards and entangled wires. This has given her a lot of scope in terms of colour palette and the use of unconventional materials and techniques. Plastic yarns play a big part in the collection, being woven in and out of the knits to give them a totally different feel and behaviour. They also give the collection a playful, childlike style but in a very sophisticated way that shows off Kelli's talents and ideas. In complete contrast, she has incorporated fur into the collection, which juxtaposes with the hard, shiny plastics. Layered over one another, they create volume and different silhouettes. The use of layering throughout the collection is perhaps what makes it so fascinating and diverse. It is almost as if, as every layer is taken off, we discover a whole other look and style of knitwear beneath. Along with her stunning collection, Kelli has produced a great portfolio featuring some stunning illustrations of her final designs. In the same fun and playful style, the illustrations are part hand drawn and partly images of her scanned in knits, giving them more depth and showcases what the collection is about. To finish off, Kelli also styled a stunning photo shoot that really compliments the collection with the use of models, poses and styling, all creating that bright, bouncy style that encompasses the 'Wired' collection.
           
It is great to see new knitwear designers graduating and bringing a whole new style of knits into the fashion industry. Knitwear provides so many opportunities to incorporate new materials into fashion design and really push boundaries. We hope to see more from Kelli McGuiness soon!
 
Images: Artsthread.com