Suvi Kankkonen talks about IWTO winning design

29 May '07

2 min read

Suvi Ann-Marie Kankkonen, winner in Fashion & Design category of IWTO World Wool Award, told Fibre2fashion about her experience during the competition and the process that led to the innovative design.

Talking about the winning design Suvi explained, “Pocorococo is a collection of knitted fabrics for womenswear inspired by 18th century rococo style and urban 'neorococo'. I wanted to make a collection of luxurious style but I aspired to combine something rugged and modern in to it. I wanted my fabrics to look old, a bit dusty but still beautiful and delicate.”

She explained that in developing this project experiment and research played an important part. This led to the creation of modern and exciting fabrics collection, with different kind of finishing methods and textures. Techniques like felting, resist felting, printing, brushing and embroidery were used. Wool was the perfect choice of material as it is able to change its character and transform with those techniques. Wool can be delicate, soft, fuzzy, sophisticated...or rugged! There are many samples where I exploited the difference of two materials: Wool felts, while cotton stays unchanged.

She added, “I wanted to emphasize that the collection should combine aspects of fashion and trends, the fabrics should be nice and comfortable to wear and it should look like one collection. Colours are delicate pastels, rococo colours. I got the idea of 'modern rococo' once when I saw a stained, dirty, rusty wall. I found beauty in that rugged surface. Peeled paint and lovely pastels formed nice patterns. It reminded me of rococo.”

Regarding her future plans, Kankkonen told us, “I hope I can work in textile business! I really enjoy working with colours, materials and new ideas. I have about 3 years left in my studies and I hope to find a place for internship.”

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