The lost art of knitting is not something you would necessarily associate with a recent fashion graduate. Amy Twigger, however, set up her own micro-label based around just that after being taught to knit by her grandmother at an early age and working with a knitwear design company as part of her university degree. It’s called Keep and Share and it creates alternative luxury knitwear pieces that are designed to satisfy over time. Amy wants her range to outlast six-month fashion fads and become old friends with their owners. She encourages each piece to be defined by the wearer and worn in different ways- her shrugs and scarves are designed to be worn both around the neck and the shoulders for example- in the belief that slower consumption of more valued clothing creates less waste, and is ultimately more sustainable.

Her inspiration is taken from a range of sources. As Amy explains: “I was very inspired by an image of Ivor Novello looking dashing in a patterned cravatte. This led me to design a patterned scarf that could be worn in a similar way, so it seemed appropriate to name that scarf, and the other pieces made from the same fabric, after him. For the Autumn/Winter 2005 collection, one of the first things that inspired me was an old picture from my grandmother's family photo album. The wild-haired woman in the photograph really caught my imagination - and led me to name the pieces from the collection after six fabulously named women from my family tree.

Each collection is inspired by a unique concoction of images of people and places, songs, thoughts and musings that I've collected. In addition, I do have some constant influences - I have an interest in using uncut cloth and geometric shapes, and so I'm always interested in traditional costume of different cultures”.

To say that Amy’s fashion philosophy is ‘from the heart’ is an overused cliché but perfectly appropriate for someone who creates special one-off pieces for those who commission them. “I'm making a couple of bridal pieces for weddings this summer, which is great. I've also made a super-luxurious cashmere hooded baby blanket for my niece, and a very chic dog coat for my best greyhound friend. She was turning heads in it all last winter!”

This ‘made with love’ ethos is obvious on her website; each handmade piece is lovingly named and described, and browsers of the site are encouraged to send in the photos and stories behind their own favourite pieces of clothing. “Everyone has something that they can always rely on, that brings them lots of joy to wear, and I wanted to create a forum for sharing and celebrating those pieces”.

Amy plans to stay true to her Keep and Share philosophy, and hopes to extend her range to fine gauge seamless knitwear as well as her signature chunky hand-made stuff. For more info go to www.keepandshare.co.uk

Hayley Myers
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