Yuan-Lung Kao, a student at Royal College of Art, has won the eighth edition of Feel the Yarn, the competition for international creative young students – on the occasion of Pitti Filati – that is becoming more and more important in the world of yarns and knitwear.

Twenty-two 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 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,” the Pitti Filati exhibition organisers explain the theme.

“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.”

This competition, which is organised 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 part of Südwolle Group, 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, and Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia.

A highly qualified jury, together with the votes expressed by the visitors, awarded Yuan-Lung Kao the prize offered by Biella Yarn, part of Südwolle Group, which will allow the designer to continue and to specialise his training.

A special award, offered by Banana Republic, has been assigned to the project of Rebecca Holmes (London Kingston University).

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