Article by Cecilia Ho
Edited by Laura Churchill Duke
"It's such a statement piece and so original! I love the pop of colours!" says Michelle Cillan in reference to Cecilia Ho's felted wool fashion designs.
Think About Wool. What comes to mind? Shrinkage? Itchy? Hand wash only? Probably not fashion pieces. However, thanks to research and improved production methods, wool is better than ever! Wool is not only a natural, durable, endlessly renewable and totally biodegradable material, it is also naturally stain resistant, wrinkle resistant, anti-microbial (body odor resistant), anti-static, fire retardant, self-extinguishing, excellent insulation, quick drying and some are even naturally water resistant! Wool fabrics also have a good UPF rating for both dry and wet situations and will protect against the sun's harmful rays! Merino wool is often used for athletic garments, as it breathes and wicks better than most synthetic fabrics. Mountain hikers, cyclists and even surfers wear them throughout both summer and winter! That is because wool is a natural temperature regulator. Wool draws moisture away from the skin and evaporates moisture, regulating body temperature in all conditions. Moreover, wool has a natural structure which allows it to absorb and release humidity. Research also shows that the itchiness of wool is related to tiny barbs on the fibre’s surface. Nowadays, wool processors have developed better wool treatments that help smooth out the barbs making wool much softer and more versatile.
Many countries are starting to make a big deal about wool too. In the UK, The Campaign for Wool, was initiated in 2008 by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. He has launched a Wool Week every year to promote the wool-related industries. This year, a major exhibition of Wool, titled Wool Modern, takes place in London between September 8 and 29, which focuses on the modern, innovative and avant garde use of wool throughout creative industries. The exhibition is set to break traditional perceptions of the wool fibre and create a new platform for wool in the 21st century. Even the top international fashion designers have shown the world in their Fall/Winter 2011 and Resort 2012 fashion shows that wool is IN and is very fashionable. Besides the typical use of wool for clothes, scarves and mittens, wool can be combined with different materials and techniques. Cecilia Ho of Port Williams does just this.
FELTasticFashion is an artistic project started in November 2010 by Cecilia Ho who believed that wool and fashion could be mixed together. Ho comes from good artistic genes: her father is a home decorator and carpenter, while her mother is a fashion designer and dress maker. Growing up in this environment has given her a passion to design, a desire to be a trend setter and the ability to make one-of-a-kind products that are not only beautiful but functional.
Ho had always wanted to work on a specific handicraft project, and it wasn't until reading a craft book last summer, that she stumbled upon the art of felting wool. Since then, Ho made her own label, FELTasticFashion, and has been experimenting with new ideas and making unique felted creations. "Felt It. Love It. Treasure It." is Ho's mantra. This can easily be seen in each of her creations that is lovingly handmade.
Everything Ho makes is from scratch with the best natural wool which comes locally from Gaspereau Valley Fibres. Ho uses the needle and wet felting process, beginning with raw sheep's wool, either dyed or natural coloured. Needle felting is done by needling the raw wool firmly with the felting needle. The needle is made of steel and has rough, notched edges that allow a person to punch repeatedly through the wool to intertwine its fibres. "A typical felt creation takes an hour or more to poke a felting needle in and out of a ball of wool thousands of times," says Ho. The wet felting method involves dampening the raw wool with hot soapy water, then rubbing or shaking it a lot. Wet felting also adds strength and smoothness to a large piece of work. Ho begins her creative work during the felting process.
With the felting technique and her fashion sense, Ho can handcraft anything from fashion pieces such as necklaces for adults and kids, bracelet and hair accessories to woolen cakes. "I love French pastry," says Ho, "so I created a felted cakes collection - something that can be kept forever." On the functional side, some of the woolen cakes are multi-use pincushions, jewelry boxes, CD keepsake, etc. Ho has done 3D sculptures and custom requests for customers from the US and Hong Kong via ETSY. "I love to design and create. I am totally thrilled when people I don't even know make nice comments about my creations."
News about the versatility of wool is spreading. In fact, the Australian Tourism Board wants to bring worldwide wool lovers together. So, the organization, We Love Wool, a campaign run by The Woolmark Company under the Australian Wool Innovation Limited, is hosing a Find "Fashion by Feelings" contest where participants around the world can enter photos of woolen piece that they made/wore, all in attempt to create a buzz around wool in hopes that people realize just how fashionable wool can be. Ho has entered her unique handmade "wool felt heart-shaped bib necklace" into the contest and has already received over 100 votes worldwide, ranking her Top 17 overall out of over 600 entries. (As of Sept. 27, 2011 ranking Top 11 out of 1000+ looks!) To help Ho win the grand prize trip to Australia - the birthplace of Merino wool, go online to www.FashionByFeelings.com to cast your vote. Go to the "top look" button or search "FELTasticFashion" on the top right side of the screen, and look for Ho's creation, as seen in the accompanying photo. Vote before the contest ends on Sept. 28, 2011 (AT). In addition, voter will get a chance to win a A$400 fashion pack from EMU Australia!
Interested in seeing and feeling the wool necklaces? Want to know how the felted cakes work as pincushion and jewelry/CD storage keepsake? Need some custom felting ideas? Meet Cecilia at two upcoming 2011 craft shows: Horton High School's 16th Annual Craft and Food Fair booth #140 (gym) on October 15 Saturday (9am-4pm) and another Christmas Craft show in November (TBA). Visit www.FELTasticFashion.com Up-to-date news is available from FELTasticFashion.blogspot.com and Facebook.
Direct link to vote: http://www.fashionbyfeelings.com/?source=EComm#/look/416
Or search FELTasticFashion at www.FashionByFeelings.com
Hey Ceci my dear!! I am so proud of you!!! :) Mia
ReplyDeleteMy daughter Evelyn Aung-Thwin told me about you. We're very pleased with your creative flare and initiative. Good wishes to you.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago I bought in Donegal Ireland, a beautiful green tweed skirt made from homespun wool. I wore it with pleasure and pride for many years. Wool is so durable.
When I was a toddler mother knitted dark blue woolen leggings, jacket and bonnet for me. After I grew out of them my sister wore them for two or three years. After that my brother did. Later the cardigan became a hot water bottle cover!
My father when he was 83 years old began hooking wool rugs. He won a prize at the local Agricultural fair. I still use the carpet. In fact I still use one I made on the sewing machine using a SingerCraft Guide. I still have cushion covers I made with hooked woolen designs, one of them a bowl of kittens. Another cushion I made is covered with yellow-orange pompoms. They look a bit like your heart shaped necklace of pompoms.
In Lesotho I bought a lovely but itchy plum colored mohair wool cardigan, knitted by a political prisoner. Most people in Lesotho preferred to knit with imported soft Australian wool. Others had their beautiful mohair cardigans lined with silken cloth. There also were scenic wall hangings and carpets woven from wool.
Myrtle Macdonald schmac@shaw.ca