JENNIFER JARVIS

...taking the old granny stereotype out of knitwear

Jennifer Jarvis was never far from the creative inspirations of London, as she was born and raised in Kent. She studied at De Montfort University, graduating in 2008 and during her degree she fell in love with the endless possibilities of creativity within knitwear. Jennifer's degree collection was selected out of hundreds of fashion students to be in the final gala show at Graduate Fashion Week and selected for the final three knit collections for the visionary Pringle knitwear award. Her collection was made up of over-sized pleats in a palette of greys, black and red. The most successful piece being a luxurious hand-knitted oversize coat. Soon after she created the knitwear for the Felder Felder Spring/Summer collection 2009, featuring modern pleated knitwear with inserts of silver leather and wrapped around pleated knits. Her creative style is to create knits in unusual techniques which would not be thought possible. Her aim is to take the old granny stereotype out of knitwear and replace it with young, sexy and chic. Jennifer is currently working on an ethical nettle knit project and soon…her autumn winter collection.

Nothing inspires me like...
The city. I've always loved London and wanted to live there, and now I am...I absolutely love it. There's so much creativity to see and so much to get inspired by. I love visiting galleries and people watching! I'd love to live in Paris next, somewhere in Montmartre.

I hope…
That everything goes to plan. But it never does.

Cultural influences…
Are English with a hint of Philippino. My mother is Philippino and my father is English, but I always see myself as pure white British because that's what I've been surrounded by... A bit like when a kitten is in a litter of puppies and it will think it's a dog.

I got where I am...
Through long hours, bad reviews, mental breakdowns, stressful deadlines and sewing disasters. That's dedication.

Fashion can sometimes...
Be hard work, but it's always worth it when you see the end product.

I scream when…
I see a great piece of knitwear. I have to look at it in great detail, see how it is made and if I could make it.

Money makes…
A very drunk night out that you will never remember.

Did you know…
I can't swim. I have tried though, I can struggle for about 2 meters and then I go under.

I dance like…
I'm in the 1990s. Stop! ...Hammertime!

Creativity comes from…
Thoughts when on the toilet. My future toilet will have a white board for a wall.

I have never…
Seen Grease.

My dreams are…
To become the British knitwear icon.

I suck…
At sports... couldn't even jump far enough to get onto the sand in long jump... I'd just land on concrete.

I like making...
Cupcakes and then bribing people with them.

I wouldn't want...
To become the stereotypical fashion bitch. I'm nice to everyone I meet.

JENNIFER JARVIS ON NJAL