The competition FEEL THE YARN, for international creative young students, reaches its 8th edition and is more and more important in the world of yarns and knitwear.

During the last edition of Pitti Filati, in Florence, from June 28th to 30th 2017, 22 students, who were selected for their creations by the most outstanding international fashion institutes, attended to interpret the theme Knit Mix developed by Mrs Ornella Bignami, the curator of the contest. The winner is Yuan-Lung Kao of the Royal College of Art.

The new approach to the knitwear design results from the shared need to investigate daring innovative ideas. Time has come to emphasize contradictions and similarities, to adopt colours in synergy or with contrasting matches, to play with unexpected and experimental mix of thin and thick, voluminous and flat, soft and rough, in a short circuit of creative solutions. Colours are filtered, quiet; they interpret a contemporary sensitivity between masculine and feminine. Tones are expressive, cold, matched with original clash for casual look. However, the whole range may evolve into provocative visual contrasts. Mix of yarns and stitches, volumes and decorations go beyond the traditional codes, combining substance and innovation, mixing genders and generations, opening to subversive solutions.

A highly qualified jury, together with the votes expressed by the visitors, awarded the prize offered by BIELLA YARN part of SÜDWOLLE GROUP which allow the best designer to continue and to specialize his training.

A special award, generously offered by BANANA REPUBLIC, was assigned to the project that will mostly emphasise the creativity of Italian yarns.

This competition, which is organized by CPF-Consorzio Promozione Filati and supported by Pitti Immagine, involves 22 companies among the most creative spinning mills attending Pitti Filati: ALPES MANIFATTURA FILATI, BIELLA YARN by SÜDWOLLE, BOTTO GIUSEPPE, E. MIROGLIO, FABIFIL, FILATI BIAGIOLI MODESTO, FILITALY-LAB, FILMAR, FILPUCCI, GI.TI.BI. FILATI, ILARIA MANIFATTURA LANE, INDUSTRIA ITALIANA FILATI, LANIFICIO DELL’OLIVO, LINSIEME FILATI, MANIFATTURA IGEA, MANIFATTURA SESIA, NEW MILL, PECCI FILATI, PINORI FILATI, TOLLEGNO 1900, TOSCANO, ZEGNA BARUFFA LANE BORGOSESIA.

The number of schools also expands with the new entry of Korea: ACCADEMIA COSTUME & MODA, BIFT-BEIJING INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY, BUNKA FASHION COLLEGE, HOCHSCHULE LUZERN-Art and Design, HOCHSCHULE NIEDERRHEIN-University of Applied Sciences, HOCHSCHULE TRIER, IED Istituto Europeo di Design, KINGSTON UNIVERSITY, POLIMODA, POLITECNICO DI MILANO-Scuola del Design, ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC–Institute of Textiles and Clothing, HANYANG WOMENS’ UNIVERSITY.

A rich program of training and knowledge, organised by CPF and Pitti Immagine for all the students, will take place during the days preceding Pitti Filati, thanks to those companies which are willing to involve the young guests, thus establishing an exclusive link. It includes a full immersion of the students in the creative and productive reality of Italian spinning factories, coordinated by Ornella Bignami.

A substantial series of visits to knitwear factories, twisting factories, and BRACHI TESTING SERVICES research laboratories will allow illustrating the development process from yarn to knits, up to quality control and product analysis.

The development processes from fibre to yarn will be subject of the Workshop of Ornella Bignami, while the designer Carlo Volpi will give a lecture on his creative path. Innovation and fantasy will be object of the visit to TRAFI, involved from the first edition of FEEL THE YARN with an extremely scenographic presentation.

In addition, the students will participate in a special workshop on “SUSTAINABLE FASHION”, a topic subject for the future of textile productions. They will also participate in the official events of Pitti Filati.