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14 - Sunday, Nov. 22, 1992 - North Shore News

Simple lines, smooth textures make knits ideal for city life

Shapely knits

Shapes International’s
knits mix and match

WiNTER FASHION focuses on the new slim, softly
shapec silhouette in daywear. Streamlined clothing is cut in

knitted fav-rics with stretch to maximize movement.

These stretch fabrics, which
often have spandex added to 2
fine knit, don’t clutch your shape,
they cling lightly, adding form to
function and subtle curves to
classics. Jackets and sweaters are
cut ciese to the body, topping fit-
ted or flowing skirts that run from
the knee to the ankle.

Simple lines and smooth tex-
tures allow these pieces to work
for every aspect of your city life.
Most of the detaif and punch lies
in the pattern cr the color of the
fabric itself, with no extra trim-
ming and fuss necessary. The in-
tricate knitted surfaces can render
a look that is similar to
sophisticated woven tweed, plaid,

velvet, chambray and even fine
wool crepe. .

A knitwear company called

Shapes International has recently

been introduced to B.C. by West .

Vancouver resident Linda Wiles.
.Wiles, who is the West Coast
marketing and sales director,
distributes the coliection of finely
knit sportswear through home
parties, and personal demonstra-:
tons at office or association
meetings.
Wiles explains that Shapes In-
ternational is produced by Ber-
nard Cowan Co., a well-known
. Eastern Canadian manufacturer
and wholesaler of quality clothing.
The firm has 48 years’ experience
in the fashion business,
distributisg merchandise both in
Canada and internationally.

- Shapes Internationa! is Cowan’s
only division which sells directly
to the public; ali others are
wholesaled to retailers. No middie
man is needed, and as a sesult the
‘prices for Shapes International
clothing are very affordable.

Though the line is described by
Wiles as ‘‘casual wear for home
and office,’’ it actually consists of
suits, dresses and daywear sepa-
rates. The relaxed ease of the knit
makes the clothing comfortable
encugh for weekends, yet the
styles are certainly appropriate for

- Office or dinner.

The soft knitted fabric, which is
a blend of Lycra and acrylic, is an
exclusive material io Shapes In-
ternational called Mattina. Shapes
International’s winter collection is
‘comprised of - jackets, skirts, .

dresses, tunics, . fitted tops, leg-
gings and pants in both solids and
jacquard patierns.

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The fabrics are fashionably pat-
terned with oversized houndstooth
checks, plaid, diamond checks, a
subtle floral print or a Navajo-
influenced stripe. They are also
available in rich solid shades of
royal blue, true red, taupe, cream
or black. AH clothing styles are
available in the selected fabrics,
for a mix-and-match wardrobe.

Shapes clothes are easy to wear,
which is evident even in the gen-
eral sizing which runs XS, S, M,
L and XL. Styles are very simply
cut, perfect for layering with the
basics that are already in your
closet.

The bes: pieces in the line are
the two jacket and dress designs.
A feminine jacket cinches the
waist, then flares out at the hem.
It is collarless with single-breasted
butions at the front.

A sexy dress hugs the body in a
simple sheath style with a :ound
neck and long sieeves. The nar-
Tow stretch pants are also worth
mention, since the same thick, re-
silient fabric is used, also available
in all of the patterns.

The jackets are priced from $99
to $114, the dresses are $77 to $92
and the stretch pants are $39 to
$44. The garmenis are easily cared
for by washing in a warm or cold
water machine cycie, then iaid flat
to dry. Wrinkles are easily erased
by fianging the clething, so they
are great for travelling.

tf you would like to arrange for
an appointment to view the line or
to host a home party, call Linda
Wiles at 921-5950. .

‘a

and after tieatinent

Shapes International's winter '92 clothing line comprises soft knitted separates in Navajo-inspired |

stripes and solids.

Exhibition spotlights ‘king of knitting’

INTERNATIONAL KNITTED
textile designer Kaffe Fassett, who
is said to have single-handedly
tevolutionized the knitting craft,
will be featured in an exhibition at
The Canadian Craft Museum in
Vancouver from Dec. 3 to Jan.
31,

His decorative fabric work in-
cludes themes from seashells and
pottery to mosaics to flowers and
animals, and each one has his
distinctive flair for color, texture
and design.

Kaffe, who is known as ‘‘the
king of knitting,’ has a client list
that includes many of the world’s
rich and famous, and has sold
over a million copies worldwide of
books filled with photos of his
beautiful textile work.

Though he is now considered to
be more of an artist than a fash-
ion designer, only a year after he
taught himself how to hand-knir,
Vogue magazine featured a full-
color page of Kaffe’s third knitted
garment.

This magazine photo was spot-
ted by Italy’s foremost knitwear
designer Missoni. When Missoni
asked to view his collection, all
the young designer could produce
was a shoebox containing a few

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knitted squares.

Kattc went on to produce five
collections for Missoni. He then
began working with clothing de-
signer Bill Gibb, and though he
had learned to knit only three
years previously, he was again
featured in Vogue in a five-page
color spread.

Kaffe attended art school in
Boston in 1964, then moved to
London to paint. He visited a
Scottish woolen mill in 1968 arid,
fascipated by the many different
shades of »vool he saw, purchased
20 varieties there and a pair of
knitting needles. He learned to
knit on the train back to London
from the mill. .

When she heard what his craft
was, the Queen said to Fassett,
“Even I can do that!’? Anyone
can learn to knit, and this is ex-
actly what Fassett says he loves
about his chosen field.

“Ic is humble and practical,’* he
says, ‘It’s just making a sweater
or a sock. You're not only making
a handsome object, but the pro-
cess is a soothing, life-enhancing
activity.””

The collection that will be
showcased at the museum is a

retrospective exhibit which will in-

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clude his first piece of knitting -
and a widely publicized tapestry —
depicting oriental pottery.

The event wil! also feature a-
knitting competition for both
handmade and machine-knit
sweaters, and Kaffe Fassett will
select the winner. A jury which
included well-known Vancouver
fashion designer and weaver Zon-
da Neliis has chosen #1 finalists
from across Canada for the con--
test.

Three winning entries will be
selected and announced to 1,200
guests at the Hotel Vancouver at
the Kaffe Fassett Lecture Awards
Evening on Dec. 1.

The sweaters of the finalists will
aiso be displayed at the Canadian
Craft Museum for the duration of
the Fassett Exhibition. Call 687- .
8266 for ticket information. .

- Carol Crenna

Ladies all over the world are
wearing sequined and beaded
shimmery garments for
special occasions. They do
look sensational in them. On
a recent buying trip I
purchased a good selection
for our store.

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