Hue&Eye is always happy to introduce new products showing up in the creative scene. We receive submissions sometimes, while others we go around to seek intriguing talents. Rarely but luckily, some other times, as for Alice O’Connell from Wool&Water, we happen to meet them in the city we live in.
Alice O’Connell, a British actress who learned to knit on set over 12 years ago, is now based in Amsterdam. We’re interested in her story for many reasons, one above all is that Alice launched Wool&Water, ‘An unexpected knitwear label for modern curious dreamers’ (as she herself defines it), as part of an unexpected life project, hence a consequence of spending so much time waiting on set. “I have cast on and off some of my proudest pieces while in corsets, flares or faux blood stained t-shirts!” she says. So let’s dig a bit into her carrier as an actress. Alice was a busy TV character in the UK, as her acting credits include Ballot Monkeys, Jonathan Creek, Silent Witness, The Rotter’s Club, Doctor Who, The Verdict, City of Vice, Outnumbered, Casualty, Doctors, Behind Closed Doors, Rough Crossings, Rose and Maloney, The Bill to name a few. It’s not surprising she learned knitting while waiting over all of these film sets! She soon found herself knitting for private clients together with teaching and taking commissions for various British Knitwear Designers and labels, so after 10 years she decided to study Knitwear Design in Brighton and once finished, to relocate from London to Amsterdam and finally open Wool&Water in 2013.
“My many knitting adventures created a passion for natural fibers, the knitted textile and combining the traditional craft with a modern aesthetic.” Says Alice about her passion.
Scrolling through the online store, you will immediately have the feeling of having bumped into something surprising. Although at first glance it will appear as a collection of cute bows and ties, if you’ll deepen the quality it’ll get clear that we’re in front of some innovative yet classic, and stylish product.
A Wool&Water piece will give a hint of brilliance and humor to who wears it, both human or animal. It surely gives an original touch, generating sparks of vintage and classic look together with a contemporary urban mood. Every piece is gender neutral and adaptable for both special or everyday occasions, this is just up to you.
Now let’s focus on Alice’s selected fabrics: from only natural fibers, they will last a lifetime! They are made out of natural wool and cotton, and each one is produced on a hand-powered domestic knitting machine (circa 1979), hand seamed and carefully finished by the same Alice, whom will produce only 25 pieces of every design, so that each item will be a limited edition with its specific edition tag. How unique is that?
Alice is also teaching knitting lessons in Amsterdam, so to arrange your first one, go here!
She then still acts, so some pieces will be knit and completed while in rehearsal rooms, film and TV sets or trailers. How nice!
What are you waiting for? Shop at Wool&Water now!
