In what I can only describe as fickle (AF. Excuse my French) and fundamentally confusing times that is managing to spur a notoriously apathetic generation and an ENTIRE GENDER to be hot and bothered, my visit to Barrie Knitwear in Hawick, Scotland comes as a balm.
There is an air of enduring timelessness to Barrie, suppliers of Chanel knitwear: a distinct lack of fuss or noise, save for the gentle whirring of machines and crisp snip-snaps from thread cutters sprinkled across a well-lit assembly hall. The main objective: the craft. It’s a no-brainer. It’s evident in the sculptural jumper worn by my guide (whom I end up awkwardly hugging/petting in the end, because CASHMEEEERE), in the knitted brows (see what I did there) of the men and women mounting the rib panel stitch-by-stitch, and the multiple quality control stations that punctuate the entire process.
It has been quite a journey to reach this point, my guide tells me, however. In 2012, Barrie’s holding company had hit a financial bind and was forced into administration, which is when Chanel’s subsidiary company Paraffection (meaning “for love”) had given a hand in the name of savoir-faire. This poignant purchase has since aided the mill in securing scores of jobs, serving the Hawick community, and resuming some 140-year heritage and expertise. In a sense, arguably it’d been a natural acquisition, given that Chanel had been working with Barrie for thirty years’ prior on producing twin-sets and the perennial two-tone cardigans that is still a staple of the brand. No stitch was to be dropped (aren’t I just full of puns today) in Barrie’s cause for highly finessed knitwear production.
Photos – Shini Park
Chanel’s Metiers D’Art returns to Paris for the brand’s sixth and final collection of 2016, right back to the hallowed lobby of the recently renovated Ritz, where Coco Chanel famously lived from 1937 throughout World War II, and died in 1971. While a centre-piece of French pastries and cookies needs no excuse, the show – served up in three sittings at lunch, tea and dinnertime, was filled with the cosmopolitan, high-rolling glitterati that would have visited the Ritz in its heydays.
Weaving in between the tables, dancing with the occasional ‘stranger’ (who turns out was a dance duro), the models wore midi-skirts with deep V-neck tops to match, bubble-capes and hair veils decorated with roses. As look number 42 sauntered by, I recognised the golden tunic that was merely a sketch and a swatch panel when I’d visited Barrie just two weeks past.
Catwalk Photos: Chanel
A stitch-by-stitch pattern is constructed based on sketches from Paris.
While final design input is made by Chanel, Barrie’s technical know-how is trusted in composing the best creation method.
An artisan scores a clean-cut button hole on a Chanel two-tone cardigan
All Chanel knitwear is made in the ‘fully fashioned method’, which results in neater seams.
Above: a steady hand boldy shears through a cardigan in its final stages.
In the design room, I make a bee-line to a wall tiled with Karl’s sketches (I tend to dart off the leash at Chanel factories…), feeling a little naughty as I glean hints of the upcoming Metiers D’Art collection. The nonchalant hand-written annotations by the Chanel design team illustrate how the production process is a well-versed collaboration between the two studios. These rough sketches are then used by Barrie technicians to construct the pattern, stitch-by-stitch, using a highly mathematical application that look like impossible pixel-art to me. I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that there can be as many as four Chanel collections, in varying technical complexities, in development and production at any given time. I can’t even do my laundry while the water is boiling.
It’s a gruelling process. Assembling one piece can take up to 40 steps, involving state-of-the-art Shima Seiki machines from Japan, as well as some near-extinct industrial beasts from the 70’s. But the star of the process is the hands, and that’s ultimately what the Chanel customer pays for: the meticulous and rigorous care of highly-skilled artisans.
As a parent-company, Chanel endorses the pursuit for the ‘best’, and this resonates through Barrie as every trainee, technician, craftsman, work towards indisputable quality and quiet over-achievements. And this, especially in a landscape of dubious origins and sub-par quality products (and politicians), is something sure worth paying for.
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This is simply a very interesting article on fashion … Beautiful photos and moments captured … Always fabulous! :)
Muy bueno tu trabajo, Shini.
¡Me encantó!
Muestras muy de cerca el trabajo de una marca y su historia.
Saludos desde Ecuador.
http://www.lenteconestilo.com
Such a gorgeous place! x
Jessica — NinetyCo
Amazing! Love to know about production processes.
Love this post!
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Amazing post
http://thedaydreamings.blogspot.com
so interesting! thank you for the tour!
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I am absolutely in love with this beautiful post, I said it on instagram and I’ll say it here. I love how you document the processing and craftsmanship of fashion. This is precisely why I went to India in November, to understand how garments are so ‘precisely achieved’. Well done, Shini.
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Thank you so, so much for this interesting and informative article!!! It was a great pleasure to read this :)
XoXo from Germany
Neele vom Lifestyleblog Justafewthings.de
Gorgeous post! Loving the photography
Gorgeous post! Loving the photography
Nice beautiful article thanks for sharing this kinds of knowledge ….Totally hard work
Great post! thank you!
Hey dear nice post waiting for your next blog
This post is simply amazing, thanks for sharing about how those gorgeous are made <3
xoxo, Cool style for men
Very informative and beautiful photography. Nice to see more behind the scenes in the fashion industry.
Heather x
http://www.digitalfluidity.com/
This machinery looks impressive
Great post!
Thanks for the inspirational post!
Thanks for providing the information about the production process. Very good photography!
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Very interesting post!!! I really liked the photos!!! Thanks for sharing:)
[…] post Chanel Knitwear Factory appeared first on PARK & […]
Great post! Thanks for sharing
Ellysa
The custom t-shirts are delivered well in time and sometimes even within three days of the placement of the order. You can choose the color, design, and occasion for which you want to design your t-shirt, including parties, St. Patrick’s Day, a football match, Christmas, or a charity event. Most of the companies use the latest and most advanced technologies to give you the most vibrant colors and designs. These t-shirts are also durable and are available for a baby and even for a 60-year old.
I love to see and read all your “closer look” posts. It’s so exciting to see, how those beautiful pieces are crafted. Respect to all the skilled hands!
Daniela
Wow, this is super interesting and all the pictures are gorgeous.
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Wonderful dress. Great to know how the details.
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The custom t-shirts are delivered well in time and sometimes even within three days of the placement of the order. You can choose the color, design, and occasion for which you want to design your t-shirt, including parties, St. Patrick’s Day, a football match,
Tập Đoàn Đất Quảng
The custom t-shirts are delivered well in time and sometimes even within three days of the placement of the order.
Tập Đoàn Đất Quảng
I would recommend spending as much time outdoors as possible,” she says. “After being crammed in your dorm and library studying all the time, it’s relaxing to get some fresh air.
I would recommend spending as much time outdoors as possible,” she says. “After being crammed in your dorm and library studying all the time, it’s relaxing to get some fresh air.
Very resourceful site
It’s great to see this pictures from inside of company
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Gorgeous!
This post is simply amazing
quạt trần
Amazing post and great editorial work. It’s like reading a fashion magazine.
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Best article.
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Excellent post! I would have never imagined the process behind Chanel pieces. It’s remarkable the job of the artisans and the quality product they deliver that, like you mentioned, is ultimately what the customers pays for. Even though it’s a very rigorous process that includes very special machines and quite a few steps the final product is always beyond our expectations.
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Beautiful pics. I just love the post.
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Amazing! Love to know about production processes.
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Lovely looking collection!
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Wow! These looks are an authentic past. The truth is that getting dressed is always a success. They are very elegant and bring a lot of femininity. Very good outfit.
A greeting!
LOVE CHANEL!! The process shows every cloth is masterpiece! Fabulous!
So gorgeous!!! Perfect!
Love this post.
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