“It’s a dream come true to have my fashion in Harvey Nichols London, it’s one of my favorite stores and it’s an honour to show my work here” said Christian Wijnants, winner of the 2012/13 International Woolmark Prize (IWP), in front of leading British journalists and editors (among which were Grazia’s editor-in-chief Jane Bruton and Vogue’s executive fashion editor Serena Hood) who came to discover the Belgium designer’s winning capsule at a VIP unveiling at the iconic London’s store, September 4.
Winning the IWP last February was an international boost in Wijnants’ profile, and he is now part of the world’s designers to look out for, as delightedly confirmed by Harvey Nichols’s fashion director Paula Reed. “I’m amazed by how excited people are about new things, new designers” she added, “and Christian is definitely part of this excitement”.
“Wool doesn’t have to be a plain jumper; it can also be a gorgeous dress” affirms Chloe MacDonnell, Associate Editor at Metro International. And indeed the designer came up with stunning designs that embrace the wide capacities of wool, always with the intention of making women feel protected and cozy in his sculptural knee-length hand-knitted coats and dresses.
“Each and every piece has been individually dyed and this process takes up to a week and a half,” Wijnants said. “Wool is an incredible fabric and it is a privilege to work with it every day – it is my favorite fabric. I have been using it for more than 10 years and will keep on doing so.”
Wijnants is scheduled to show during Spring-Summer 2014 collection in Paris and we have no doubt it will be yet another success.