Knitwear is a serious business I tell you! There is nothing worse than a scratchy jumper or scarf. Knitwear is suppose to be soft and luxurious and something that you want to wear all the time. I came across Sosatsuma on twitter I believe and fell in love with the brand instantly! Beautiful knitwear for kids and adults, made in the UK, what else could I ask for? Clementine, owner of Sosatsuma only uses the best yarn out there and the best colours too. She understands what parents and kids want when it comes to knitted accessories. With a world full of horrible knit, it's time you start buying the best! I had a lovely chit chat with Clementine about Sosatsuma, read on to learn about her business.
Side note: apologies to Clementine for just getting this interview up now. I was hoping to have it up before Christmas, but the days got away, but as it's still winter, there's still loads of time to get yourself and your little one a beautiful Sosatsuma piece!
1. TELL ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
I am clementine, I live
in Manchester with my husband and two boys (Louis 7, Seth 3). I come from a back ground of knitters and
creators. As a young child I took knitting for granted, my mother would always
have a project on her needles. my grandmother was renowned for making something
from nothing and a flawless seamstress.
I knit continuously, I
never stop and I do not work to patterns, I never have. I now have a few notes
on some pieces but I would be embarrassed to share them, for me knitting is not
a structured activity, I feel that not learning to follow patterns has freed me
to work in ways that traditional knitters find more difficult.
2.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
KNITTING FOR?
For me the interest in
knitting didn't come until later, although I had always known knitting, I
showed little interest in learning until I had my own children. From the second
I began knitting...I have never stopped!
3. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START DESIGNING KIDS ACCESSORIES?
Having my own children
triggered the interest in developing a children's range. I was completely uninspired by the mass
produced accessories and general knitwear available. For me it is about quality! There are so many
reasons for a child to wear a pure yarn, not synthetic or nylon that swamp the
children's market at present. Wearing
pure merino, for example, provides the smallest wearer with a comfortable
temperature, a pure yarn will breath and adapt to the childs body temperature.
Paying a little extra on a quality classic piece can have so many rewards.
4. WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE KNITWEAR DESIGNERS?
With out question the
wonderful Julia Ramsey. I love any designer breaking the mold, changing the way
people think of such a traditional process of making. Her work is wonderful.
5. WHERE DO YOU GO FOR DAILY INSPIRATION? DO YOU HAVE A
FAVOUITE CAFÉ, STORE, BLOG, ETC YOU GAIN INSPIRATION FROM?
Day to day I am with my
children, watching the way they wear and interact with their clothes is always
an interesting staring point. I find
often that I am inspired primarily by the wool I'm working with, I use high
quality yarns and pick them because I am drawn to them, maybe because of the
texture or colour, I find an idea begins to form immediately.
6. iF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD
THIS BE? WHY?
Anyone...oh my goodness
where to start. I love Vivien Westwood,
I would love to design a dramatic piece along side her work.
However, more relevant to
our children's accessories, Bobo choses, I am a huge fan of their work, It
would be a dream to collaborate with them.
7. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE YOU ARE DESIGNING? IF SO, WHO
ARE YOU LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT?
Sadly not a great deal at
the moment, I tend to be with my sons when knitting and so they get control of
the music.
8. AT THE MOMENT YOU ARE JUST DESIGNING ACCESSORIES, DO YOU
PLAN TO DESIGN KNITWEAR AS WELL?
We do offer bespoke
jumpers, in keeping with our range they are bold, simplistic and chunky, but
only available on custom order. We do however, have a well established adult
range too!
9. WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE SOMEONE HAS GIVEN YOU?
Go for it!...this came
from my mother and I have never looked back.
10. WHAT
ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR US?
Life is too short! If you
do not like it, change it. I think as
adults we forget too easily that we have autonomy, we do have control, we do
have the power to change ourselves and our lives.
As for children.... have
as much fun as you can possibly have EVERY DAY !
11.
CHRISTIMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, DO YOU HAVE ANY HOLIDAY TRADITIONS?
oh yes! we are absolute
fans of Christmas, without doubt my favorite time of year. My whole family gathers
at my sisters house in lytham for a week long celebration together, as a family
we now have christmas down to a fine art.
But our strongest tradition has to be getting up at the crack of dawn on
Christmas day...we all get a little over excited !
12. ANY
EXCITING NEWS OR EVENTS COMING UP? WILL YOU BE AT ANY HOLIDAY FAIRS THIS
SEASON? WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
This season has seen us
take part in some wonderful events! including the fabulous places event at the
round house in Derby, an amazing event that bought 12000 people through the
doors! we are always in attendance at the wonderful Treacle market in
Macclesfield, an incredibly lively market with great hustle and bustle with and
atmosphere matched by no other market I have attended. We are also over the moon to be involved with
the snug gallery in Hebden bridge, a treasure trove nestled in the Yorkshire
valley! We are also hoping to take part in an exhibition at the royal exchange
theatre in Manchester that will run from January to march. We are also in discussion with various
children's boutique for our 2014 collection. This year, we hope, will see us
vastly improve on our web presents so that are whole range is easily available
to all!
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