Clothing is a necessity since we must wear it daily, and sometimes it is considered art. With fall just ahead, it’s only fitting to emphasize the importance of knitwear; a staple for fall. What also must be mentioned is that knit fabric is also a staple throughout each season, and some designers have really run with the design aspect of knitwear. The days of knit sweaters and loungewear, the large majority of knitwear, are long gone.
It is designer labels like Isa Boulder run by business partners, Cecilia Basari and Yuli Suri, pushing the boundaries of knitwear fashion. The label, widely recognized for its swimsuit collection released in 2020, was locally sourced in Indonesia and made in small batch quantities to prevent overproduction. It’s now seasons later, and the label is venturing out into other areas aside from standard, ready-to-wear swimwear. Their recent swimwear drop had heads turning when the label combined swimwear with knits fabric and eccentric designs.
Lorde, Normani, and Duo Lipa have all worn Isa Boulder, and for summer, the label did it again. Their summer collection is about the perfect balance between lingerie and RTW pieces. With an emphasis on pieces that sit between swimwear and fashionable garments, their knits are super eccentric. Basari aims to design responsibly and loves that knits can be reused and rewound to reduce waste.
Since we are still in summer, it’s worth mentioning that the Isa Boulder summer collection is full of warm weather pieces, but it doesn’t stop there. It features some standout knit pieces like cutout ribbed tanks and body-snatching bodycon dresses in gorgeous colors from sage to cerulean. Basari, who focuses on technical aspects, enjoys pushing the boundaries of design. One example was an argyle technique along with a bubble technique, both involving knit fabrics.
Now for fall designs: We all expect and embrace knits. I have never seen a pleated mini skirt made of knit material until now, and I love the color combination and pairing that it has with the tube top. Some pieces really appeal to the transitional time of fall when it’s sorta hot and sorta cold at the same time, and it can be a little tricky to get an outfit together that’s suitable. Other notable designs include literally woven knit dresses and matching knit sets that are sexy and give off a webbed look.
The looks that Ina Boulder creates are embraced first by performers and Gen Z. It’s the approach to pushing the boundaries of fashion while keeping responsible designs at the forefront of their business model that is a recipe for continual success in their label. The knits are gorgeous, and I’m excited to explore the technical side of Ina Boulder’s designs.
