Clare Waight Keller
Clare Waight Keller

MILAN, Jan 17, 2006/ FW/ — It was last September 2005 when Clare Waight Keller unveiled to the fashion world her first creations for Pringle and today, at corso Monforte, she previewed her first ever collection for the Scottish house, the Fall / Winter 2006 Menswear and accessories collection.

A veteran of Polo Ralph Lauren wherein she was the Design Director of Purple Label Menswear, and of Gucci, wherein she was a Senior Designer for Tom Ford, Clare Waight Keller received her Masters of Arts in Fashion Knitwear from the Royal College of Art in London in addition to her BA in Fashion & Textiles from Central Saint Martins.

Her final graduation collection impressed Calvin Klein so much that she was immediately hired to work on their womenswear collection in New York, where she would spend four years before moving on to Polo Ralph Lauren.

Taught by her mother how to knit at the age of five, her passion for knitwear that began during her childhood passed the test of time and she carried it through all her adult years, hence choosing Fashion Knitwear as her specialized field of study while at the Royal College of Art.

She came on board Pringle in July 2005, and in September of the same year, she unveiled her first ever creation for the house during Pringle’s 190th anniversary celebration. Clare created two unique pieces – effortless and delicate that approached knitwear in a modern way.

Each dress was constructed from a single five-meter length of ultra-fine silk yarn, knitted in a lace, which was then draped and wrapped around the body in a seamless piece.

In contrast to the fineness and lightness of the silk structure, precious natural seed pearls and steel-cut silver beading created delicate chain flowing in and out of the dress.

Her vision for Pringle of Scotland – ‘To embrace the traditional artisan practice of craftsmanship and quality and re-interpret classic knitwear proportions and scale for today.’

[MARI DAVIS]