Karelle Levy Talks Her Last Krel Collection

Last night, Miami designer Karelle Levy debuted her Krelwear Spring/Summer 2011 collection at the opening event of Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami Beach. The last funky hand-knit collection we saw from the self-described textile artist was a mélange of day-glo specialty yarn fashioned into disco shorts and bandeau tops. This time...

By Gabriela Garcia

October 21, 2010

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Last night, Miami designer Karelle Levy debuted her Krelwear Spring/Summer 2011 collection at the opening event of Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami Beach. The last funky hand-knit collection we saw from the self-described textile artist was a mélange of day-glo specialty yarn fashioned into disco shorts and bandeau tops. This time around, the 26 looks on the Setai runway reflected more of the original Krelwear aesthetic, but the contrasting colors and patterns, and hand-shredded accessories and stockings, continued to flip the idea of hand-stitched-knits-as-grandmotherly-demure on its head.

This is Levy's last collection, as she's taking a sabbatical from fashion to pursue some performance and art installation projects, so if you were thinking of scooping up some of the one-of-a-kind pieces, this might be your last chance. Check out some of our favorite looks from the show (and where to get Krelwear for cheap) after the jump. Click here for a slideshow of last night's runway and models prepping backstage.

Karelle Levy was inspired to create her Flora and Fauna collection by recent travel to the Costa Rican jungle and Swedish countryside. "I love landscapes. I'm a big fan of just being out in nature. The two countries are just so different from each other, and it reminds me of my own background from two different worlds," the Tunisian and Swedish artist told us. For most designs, no two items are identical. Each is handmade and hand-shredded, and "each row is thought about," she says.

Because Levy will be out expressing artistic inclination in other ways, her Wynwood boutique will be open by appointment only. You can also get your hands on some of the goods this weekend at Shop Miami Beach, a Funkshion event that is open to the public. A portion of the Bass Museum will be turned into a faux garden orchard featuring different retail pop-up stores, and Krelwear tells us it will be offering some deeply discounted threads.

Shop Miami Beach takes place on this Saturday and Sunday at the Bass Museum (2121 Park Ave., Miami Beach) from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event is free. Visit funkshion.com.<

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