KNITWEAR LAB at LONDON FASHION WEEK FW22′ with knitwear pieces for AGR – Saul Nash – Ahluwalia

KNITWEAR LAB is proud to have contributed to the extraordinary work of some of London’s most exciting up-and-coming fashion designers, such as Saul Nash, Ahluwalia and AGR. For the Fall/Winter 2022 season these London-based brands created a variety of curious new knitwear: innovative knitted sportswear by Saul Nash, vibrant eye-catching pieces by AGR and elegant knitted designs representing Ahluwalia’s cross-continental heritage. With technical knowledge and input by KNITWEAR LAB, the designers were able to translate their concepts through advanced knitting techniques. These FW 22 collections were showcased at London Fashion Week and in addition, this season’s creations made Ahluwalia and Saul Nash the finalists of International Woolmark Prize 2022, which Saul Nash eventually won.

Emerging designer Saul Nash has created a collection that looks to performance and storytelling as a way to challenge universal preconceived ideas surrounding sportswear. Saul’s FW22 collection exposed the benefits of merino wool in activewear, allowing him to develop materials which have enhanced the quality of his designs without compromising their technical DNA. His designs are composed of innovative knitted fabrics, such as a compression wool hybrid jersey mesh knit or a double-faced jersey with integrated mesh holes, which allowed Saul Nash to bring his vision to life. This highly technical knitted sportswear collection also brought the designer the International Woolmark Prize 2022.

Renown British designer Priya Ahluwalia also presented her FW22 collection “From Nollywood to Bollywood” at London Fashion Week, featuring a series of knitted pieces developed together with KNITWEAR LAB. The collection explores the deep connection its creative director, Priya Ahluwalia, has to Bollywood and Nollywood, influenced by the heavy imagery and dramatic plots of traditional Indian and Nigerian storytelling, taking from Ahluwalia’s cross-continental heritage. Knitting techniques involve multicoloured net and twill jacquards, as well as intarsia stripes and single jersey knits, used in the designs that range from colourful viscose dresses, skirts, shorts and trousers to heavy-weight merino wool tops and cardigans.

Finally, the FW22 season marked the continuous collaboration between KNITWEAR LAB and high-end London-based brand AGR. For this collection the founder of AGR, Alicia Robinson, explored the notion of optical illusions. A chromatic offering from the brand, the collection pushed the boundaries of possibilities with knitwear in the most luxurious of ways. AGR’s collection features signature for the brand mutli-coloured merino wool and chunky mohair pieces. Playing around with cable jacquards, the designer also developed overlaid gradient prints that reference trompe l’oeil, sixteenth-century Italian ‘Bargello’ needlepoints and retro illustrated knitting books from the 70’s.

SAUL NASH
Creative Direction | Saul Nash @saul.nash
Knitwear development | Eerika Yli-Rahko at KNITWEAR LAB
Photography | show: Chris Yates @itschrisyates, knitwear: Anastastia Osadchenko at KNITWEAR LAB

AHLUWALIA
Creative Direction | Priya Ahluwalia @ahluwalia
Knitwear development | Eerika Yli-Rahko at KNITWEAR LAB
Photography | Laurence Ellis @laurenceellis

AGR
Creative direction | AGR @agrknit, Alicia Robinson + Jake Songui-Hunte @jakehunte
Knitwear development | Francesca Pedrini at KNITWEAR LAB
Photography | William Spooner @williamspoonerphoto