Shima Seiki hosted its 45th Anniversary Celebration, at its headquarters in Wakayama, Japan on 28-30 November, 2007. Roughly 1,200 guests were invited over the 3 days of festivities.

The main event for the celebration was a "Garden Fashion Show" held inside a large transparent tent structure within a park area of the Shima Seiki Headquarters compound. Consisting of three main parts, the programme featured the works of Italian designer Saverio Palatella, Japanese apparel brands and Shima Seiki original designs.

The Shima Seiki 45th Anniversary knit collection has recently been introduced on the company’s website Knit Samples feature. Knitting Industry brings you some of the highlights and full collections can be found at www.shimaseiki.co.jp.

Part 1 (January) - Saverio Palatella

Part 2 (February) - Shima Seiki Collection – Avant-Garde, Neo-Ethnic

Part 3 (March) - Shima Seiki Collection

Part 4 (April) - Futurism, Relaxation, Dress

Saverio Palatella Collection

Saverio Palatella's WHOLEGARMENT collection can be described as having simple silhouettes with hidden complexities. Indeed, with hints obtained from Japanese Origami paper-folding craft and möbius bands, the garments are deceivingly simple designs that, upon closer examination, reveal complex twists, drapes and folds. Saverio Palatella's works are therefore considered the most cutting edge collection of WHOLEGARMENT knitwear to date, even by Shima's own standards. In fact, the collection has produced a number of patents for knitting techniques, structures and designs. The collection featured light and airy fine gauge fabrics in bright bold yellows contrasted against blacks and whites, in pure cashmere as well as cashmere-silk and cashwool blends.

Pullover NewSES183-S・WG08 5G

Skirf NewSES183-S・WG08 5G

Japanese Apparel Brands

Four famous Japanese apparel brands were invited to participate in the Garden Fashion Show with their own original designs. Onward Kashiyama, World Corporation, Sanyo Shokai and Sanei International all showed three outfits intended to change the conventional perception of knitwear.

Onward Kashiyama

Left

Cape SWG173-X08 9G

NewSES204-C・WG05 3G

Shorts SWG173-X08 9G

Center

Tube top SWG173-X15 15G

Bolero NewSES183-S・WG08 5G

Pants SWG173-X12 12G

Right

Dress SWG173-X08 9G

Cape NewSWG183-V05 4G

Shima Seiki Collection: "Fusion"

Shima Seiki's Total Design Center showed its latest collection featuring WHOLEGARMENT knitwear combined with all sorts of other fabrics and embellishments. Aptly named "Fusion," these pieces were a combination of WHOLEGARMENT, jacquard, intarsia, LAPIS warp/weft hybrid fabrics and weaves enhanced with print, embroidery, appliqués, sequins, rhinestones, heated films and fur, in a range of gauges from coarse to ultrafine. A variety of yarn types were used, from organic wool and wool blends to rayon, nylon, polyester and viscose.

Avant-Garde -Jacket NewSES183-S・WG14 7G

Neo-Ethnic -Jacket NewSES183-S・WG10 5G

Futurism -Dress SWG173-X12 12G

Relaxation -Dress NewSWG183-V07 7G, Hooded dress SWG173-X12 7G

Dress -Dress NewSES183-S・WG12 7G + SWG173-X12 12G,Gloves SWG041N15 15G