A MATCH MADE IN SHOE HEAVEN!!

A MATCH MADE IN SHOE HEAVEN!!

Caterina Belluardo
Finally, we can bring you all the information from the Caterina Belluardo and Crooked Knitwear collaboration as it has now launched!! If you don't already know Caterina Belluardo then here is some information to get you up to speed. Caterina is a contemporary unisex shoe designer. Despite being Sicilian born, she is now based in London. She is known for working with traditional and classic forms but combines this with unconventional materials...this is the part where we come in.

A Chance Encounter

This collaboration flourished from a chance meeting between Megan and Caterina on the site LinkedIn. It used to be a rarity that Megan checked her LinkedIn but one night she sat down with a coffee and decided to take a look at any recent activity. Immediately she noticed a post from Caterina Belluardo that instantly intrigued. Through further research Megan fell in love with her work and new she had to be a part of this project. After deciding one email wasn't enough Megan sent another in the hope that Caterina would want to collaborate. SUCCESS!! Megan was selected above other knitwear designers to work with Caterina and their collaboration began to blossom!

Off To Work We Go
It took three attempts to get the 24 stitch repeat pattern (technical!) right using a punch card knitting machine. 30 different colorways were then created and sent to Caterina with six of them featuring in the final designs. The pattern contrasted to Crooked Knitwear's paisleys and fairisles boasting geographical chevrons, diamonds and stripes. Despite the colour changes proving to be a challenge the end result was FABULOUS and has opened great opportunity for style directions for us and opened the crooked mind to great heights! Keep a beady eye out for more new exciting work if you know what's good for your sole.

Take a look at some of the snaps from this amazing project...

Some illustrations form Caterina

and some more, she is so talented!!

Before and after pattern

Knitting away

                                                             Two different colouways 

Some photos taken by Megan pre-launch date!

The star of the collection

                                     
On display at London Collections: Men

RESULT!
After some seriously hard work from both Megan and Caterina the shoes featured in the Day 1 Highlights at the London Collections: Men. See if you can spot them 15 seconds in...