THE BORDERS COLLECTION by ANNA HOUSER
ANNA HOUSER ABOUT ME As a child my innate preference for warm woolly layers and cooler seasons was a source of great amusement to my family. It was a delight to discover that my appreciation for knitted garments translated well into a determination to learn the craft.
My year in industry confirmed to me the importance of the heritage of knitwear. I value all textiles, be it printed, woven or embellished, but knitwear has a special importance in my heart and it is something that I wish to make the mainstay of my career.
My strengths are my eye for colour, and researching through a variety of media. I am confident in my ability to use my initiative and imagination to be creative with unusual materials.
I understand the importance of web presence and style and have been employed to maintain social media sights and blogs. My love for music and trend forecasting has prompted interest from companies such as Stoll and Albert Thurston.
An adaptable person, I enjoy a challenge and I am looking to continue to learn about all aspects of the fashion and design industry at the highest level.
THE BORDERS COLLECTION I spent last year in the Scottish Borders, working as a design assistant for Studio Roam in Galashiels.
Scotland was a journey in many ways, as I was thrust in to a wild and brilliant world of new experiences. I met inspiring people who not only gave me a valuable insight in to their trades and traditions but also treated me as an equal.
On many walks I absorbed the colours in my surroundings, from the ever-changing landscapes of the heather clad Eildons to the deep red stone shores of North Berwick. This collection is an exploration and response to all that I saw and learnt in the Borders.
I’m interested in layers and stripes, using my colours as metaphors for the seasons
Combining transparent filament with cashmere and wool mixes I have experimented with creating a knitted tartan effect, layering stripes in different directions to create checks like a plaid, colours merging as they overlap. As contrast I also designed oversized knitted plaid on the Universal Power machine.
SCOTTISH SOUNDTRACK 1.
Youth – Simian Ghost
2.
Dream It Up – Sydney Wayser
3.
Lost In The Light – Bahamas
4.
Tomorrow – Niki & The Dove
5.
House – Kindness
6.
Closer Than This – St. Lucia
7.
Laughing – Tanlines
8.
Tenuousness – Andrew Bird
9.
It’s My Part – Jonquil
10. Angeles – Goldroom 11. California Sunrise – Dirty Gold 12. Sleepyhead – Passion Pit 13. Echoes – Beatenberg 14. Party Talk – Craft Spells 15. Swells – Jonquil 16. Ambling Amp – Yeasayer 17. Equestrian – U.S. Royalty
18. I Will Remain – Matthew And The Atlas 19. Dissolve Me – alt-J 20. Tailor – Anais Mitchell 21. Something Good Can Work – Two Door Cinema Club 22. Must Land Running – Stepdad 23. I Am The Lion King (St. Lucia Remix) - PAPA 24. The Wolves – Ben Howard 25. Fragile Meadow – The Black Atlantic 26. Lights Out, Words Gone – Bombay Bicycle Club 27. Fables – The Dodos 28. Walking On A Dream – Empire Of The Sun 29. The Bad In Each Other – Feist 30. Houdini – Foster The People 31. White Nights – Oh Land 32. 1901 – Phoenix 33. We Got It Wrong (Original Version) – St. Lucia 34. Concrete Wall – Zee Avi
HAWICK WORDS & PHRASES I am so – ‘Amerso’
You know – ‘Ye ken’
It’s a bit cold – ‘it’s snell’
It’s no good – ‘it’s nae guid’
I’m sure you do – ‘Ye dev so’
Tired – ‘Whacked oot/Fair wabbit’
Pleased with the situation – ‘Fair tain on’
One, two, three, four – ‘Yin, twae, threi, fower’
Do you have the key in your possession? – ‘Hai the kei wei?’
THANKS & SPECIAL MENTIONS I have so many people who have helped me throughout the past few years. Thank you firstly to Sonia Ambrosano and Lachlan Munro at Studio Roam, who took me under their wing in Scotland and who donated BEAUTIFUL yarns to this project.
Thank you to all the wonderful people at Barrie Knitwear in Hawick, Sheila-Mary and Hamish Carruthers for their care, advice and New years Eve 2011, my tutors and technicians at DMU especially the brilliant Steve, Paul Corben from Albert Thurston, my parents, brother, sister (the model in this catalogue) and my dear friend Christopher Keating. I Couldn’t have got through it without you all.
THANK YOU.
A 20-word artist statement
I design knitted fabrics. Creating or searching for something unique fuels my ambition to work in the fashion industry.
Š ANNA HOUSER 2013
WWW.ANNAHOUSER.COM