Kevin Kramp knitwear featured in Red Models lookbook

Just a few days after announcing his move to Italy, Minnesota knitwear designer Kevin Kramp has released photos from a "PROJECT: RED" lookbook featuring some of the hottest new talents of RED MODELS NEW YORK, a project of photographer James Weber and fashion editor Fredo Montes (whose editorial work has appeared in publications such as L'officiel Hommes, dresstoKILL, Coitus, Fiasco, Carbon Copy and Genlux) - both of whom have frequently collaborated with Kramp (see: spreads in U Magazine, Fiasco Magazine, SID Magazine).

Kevin Kramp announces move to Italy to work for design brand Diesel

Some bittersweet news from local knitwear designer Kevin Kramp came in over the weekend: the Minnesota native is making the move to Italy to work for Diesel this month. It's not at all surprising, knowing the designer spent ten years working in New York and London before returning to Minnesota two years ago. Since then, he's shown as Milan and New York fashion weeks, received a prestigious ITS design award, and was featured in Vogue Italia and Belgium Elle as an "new talent." But despite his international renown, he embraced the Twin Cities fashion community, showing as part of MNfashion Week's "The Shows" in April 2011 (a collection that would later hit the Milan Fashion Week runway) and winning a Jerome Foundation grant that included an exhibition at the Textile Center, as well as creating custom garments for Minneapolis-via-Berlin avant-garde electronic pop group Dearling Physique. (On that note, keep your eyes out for the new Dearling Physique music video "Terrible Mind," featuring new knit costumes, set to release this spring.)

In a press release issued on Friday, Kramp says, "When I moved back from London in late 2009, I did not expect to remain in MN for very long. I am glad I did. I want to thank everyone for their enthusiastic support, dedicated help, and belief in my work. My work could not have reached as far without your help and passion. I am lucky and grateful to have been included by all of you here."

Video of Kevin Kramp's runway presentation at mark 0:54-1:58:


Kevin Kramp video promo for MNfashion Week's The Shows, April 2011:

Kevin Kramp from WHITE TRADE SHOW on Vimeo.

Dearling Physique 'Discipline Your Hands' from Dearling Physique on Vimeo.

Dearling Physique 'Up All Night' from Dearling Physique on Vimeo.

Kevin Kramp to make New York Fashion Week debut

Though he already has Milan Fashion Week under his belt, Kevin Kramp has just announced he'll be making his debut appearance at New York Fashion Week this month. Hot off winning an award at Italy's prestigious International Talent Support competition and appearing in Vogue Italy, Minnesota-based knitwear designer has been selected by WHITE MILANO, an international organization promoting emerging fashion designers, to represent their first foray into New York Fashion Week as WHITE NEW YORK. The designer best known for men's knits will instead be exhibiting his collection of women's knitwear and accessories alongside 100 international brands. If you're planning on attending NYFW, the exhibition is set for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., February 20 through February 22 (though an invite is required). For more show information, click here.

Kevin Kramp's F/W 2012 collection showing at ITS

Editorial: Kevin Kramp in UK's SID Magazine

At long last, the full editorial from the debut issue of UK's SID Magazine is now available for your viewing pleasure. The exciting new men's fashion/arts quarterly features Minnesota-based knitwear designer Kevin Kramp alongside such internationally-known names as Henrik Vibskov, Bernhard Wilhelm, Jeremy Scott, Walter Van Bierendonck, and more. Here are the shots featuring Kramp's designs; visit sid-magazine.com for the full editorial (begins at page 105).







Photography: Reno Ranger
Styling: Fredo
Grooming: Sonja Roberts
Models: Julien Quevenne, Colt Maldonado, Eric Puzio

Editorial: Kevin Kramp profiled in METRO Magazine

Via METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan, here is the full article featuring Twin Cities knitwear designer Kevin Kramp in the latest issue of METRO:

Editorial: Kevin Kramp in The Fashion Birdcage

Local knitwear designer Kevin Kramp just got his first feature in an Australian magazine The Fashion Birdcage. The images come from a shoot of Dearling Physique's Domino Davis and Matt Vannelli, as well as Kramp's Fall/Winter 2011 collection showing during MNfashion Week this past spring featuring Vision models.

Fashion link roundup

A smattering of local fashion news from the Twin Cities and beyond.

[Photo: Mary O'Regan/Art of Wore]

Mary O'Regan does a studio visit with local knitwear designer Kevin Kramp, and it includes a really cool video of the designer in action with his knitting machine.

Local line K.Jurek Couture's "The Galaxy Next Door" skirt is now available on ModCloth.com.

Elizabeth Dehn of Beauty Bets gets interviewed by (and lands the cover of) Twin Cities-based publication HerLife.

Minnesota-based knitwear designer Kevin Kramp has been featured in Spain's We Are Selecters.

BRAVE Magazine does a Q&A with eyewear designers Coco & Breezy.

Plymouth Magazine interviews local designer Adrienne Yancy of ArielSimone.

Amy Gee shoots Monday night's Joynoelle fashion show. Beth Hammarlund of l'étoile reviews the Joynoelle fashion show, as does Mary O'Regan of METRO and Allison Kaplan of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Check out my review for Vita.mn here.

Beth Hammarlund of l'étoile reviews the Christopher Straub show, and so does METRO's Mary O'Regan. I review the show for Vita.mn. Good Morning Northland interviews Straub on his new collection for maurices.

Nancy Ngo of Pioneer Press catches up with Project Runway designers Christopher Straub and Danielle Everine.

Arts and style writer Joan Erakit interviews METRO Magazine's Mary O'Regan.

E-retailer Of a Kind does a studio tour of former Minneapolis designer Annie Larson's new Brooklyn pad and talks to her about the creative process leading up to her recent Jerome grant project, and Birchbox blog asks Annie how she keeps her super-long hair in check.

Gregory J. Scott's Q&A with fashion designer and arts curator Emma Berg for last week's Vita.mn cover stories on the Twin Cities' most influential people from the past five years.

Check out a new interview with ROX Jewelry designer Robyne Robinson by Harlem's Fashion Row.

"Carnival Chic": Photos from Vita.mn Vth Anniversary fashion shows

Last Friday, I styled two mini fashion shows for the Vita.mn Vth Anniversary Fashion Show. The event itself had a "carnival chic" theme, so taking a cue from that, I styled Vision models in circus and carnival-inspired looks using some of the Twin Cities top local designers including Danielle Everine, Joynoelle, Max Lohrbach, Ivan Idland, and Kevin Kramp, with Vita.mn honoree Emma Berg getting her own segment of looks. Accessories were provided by local designers Stephanie Lake Design (jewelry) and Ruby3 (hats), plus Lula Vintage Wear and Twin Cities Magic & Costume. Emcee Nadine DuBois of Lili's Burlesque wore a dress and bolero by local line Blasphemina's Closet.

"Harlequin, Jesters & Mimes"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Fashions by Max Lohrbach, Kevin Kramp, Joynoelle (L-R), accessories from Twin Cities Magic & Costume, Ruby3, Lula Vintage Wear.
Models from Vision Management Group.
Hair & makeup: Jungle Red Salon.

"Lion Tamer & Lion, Mimes, Harlequin & Jesters"
Photo: Peter Holme Photography
Fashions by Ivan Idland, Joynoelle, Kevin Kramp & Max Lohrbach; accessories from Ruby3, Lula Vintage Wear, Twin Cities Magic & Costume, Stephanie Lake Design.

"Tightrope Walker, Lion Tamer & Lion with Mimes"
Photo: Peter Holme Photography
Fashions by Danielle Everine (foreground), Ivan Idland, Joynoelle, Kevin Kramp & Max Lohrbach; accessories from Ruby3, Lula Vintage Wear, Twin Cities Magic & Costume, Stephanie Lake Design.

"Mime #2"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Fashions by Joynoelle, hat from Lula Vintage Wear, gloves from Twin Cities Magic & Costume.
Model: Ladonna for Vision Management Group.

"Mime #2"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Fashions by Joynoelle, gloves by Max Lohrbach, hat from Lula Vintage Wear.
Model: Carol for Vision Management Group.

"The Circus Lion"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Fashion by Joynoelle, accessories from Lula Vintage Wear & Twin Cities Magic & Costume.
Model: Ash for Vision Management Group.

"The Circus Lion"
Photo: Meredith Westin for Twin Cities Daily Planet
Fashion by Joynoelle, accessories from Lula Vintage Wear & Twin Cities Magic & Costume.
Model: Ash for Vision Management Group.

"The Court Jester"
Photo: Meredith Westin for Twin Cities Daily Planet
Fashion by Kevin Kramp, hat by Ruby3.
Model: Kyndra for Vision Management Group.

"Trapeze Girl"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Skirt & heart bra top by Max Lohrbach, headpiece by Ruby3.
Model: Elle for Vision Management Group.

"The Showgirl Descends"
Photo: Peter Holme Photography
Dress by Emma Berg, headpiece by Ruby3, jewelry by Stephanie Lake Design.
Model: Elle for Vision Management Group.

"The Showgirl"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Dress by Emma Berg, headpiece by Ruby3, necklace by Stephanie Lake Design.
Model: Elle for Vision Management Group

"Showgirls"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Fashions by Emma Berg, headpieces by Ruby3, jewelry by Stephanie Lake Design
Models: Elle & Ladonna for Vision Management Group.

"The Court Jester"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Fashion by Emma Berg, jewelry by Stephanie Lake Design, mask from Twin Cities Magic & Costume.
Model: Carol for Vision Management Group.

"The Ringleader"
Photo: John Behm for Vita.mn
Host Nadine DuBois dressed in fashions by Blasphemina's Closet and her own accessories.

Video by Corey Tenold

Photography: Peter Holme Photography, John Behm for Vita.mn & Meredith Westin for Twin Cities Daily Planet; Danielle Morris.
Models: Vision Management Group
Hair & Makeup: Jungle Red Salon
All fashion styling by Jahna Peloquin. Assistant: Danielle Morris.

New in stores: Kevin Kramp at Roe Wolfe

Newly-opened Mendota Heights boutique Roe Wolfe has just announced that the hotly-anticipated line of scarves by local knitwear guru Kevin Kramp have arrived in the store. The limited collection of circle and regular scarves are available in multiple colorways and retail at around $225. Roe Wolfe is located at 750 Main Street, Mendota Heights, 651-330-4434, www.roewolfe.com.

Kevin Kramp's Vogue Italy feature, plus a new video featuring his work

I realize this blog tends to focus a lot on Kevin Kramp, but it's hard not to get excited about all the impressive press coverage the Minnesota-based knitwear designer been getting lately, spurred on in part by his recent showing at the emerging designer showcase WHITE at Milan Fashion Week. Kramp's most noteworthy bit of press so far: a feature in the November 2011 print edition of Vogue Italia, regarded by some as the ultimate fashion publication.


A new fashion film featuring Kramp and the other five emerging design talents from WHITE was also featured in a new short film "Leanne," which was filmed during the WHITE Show in Milan:

LEANNE from WHITE TRADE SHOW on Vimeo.

Direction/Photography: Arash Radpour
Soundtrack: Alessandro Angiolillo
Clothing by: Kevin Kramp, Altewai Saome, Natacha Talay, CO l TE, Augustin Teboul, Mirit Weinstock