Kiara Vallins-Koertge

Traditional fairytales perpetuate unrealistic ideals of love, gender roles, and relationships, favouring instantaneous, heteronormative romance and passive archetypes that obscure human complexity. Through the materiality of knitwear, these narratives are subverted; the labour, tactility, and imperfections of hand-crafted garments become metaphors for care, emotional labour, and evolving relationships. Blending traditional techniques with contemporary silhouettes, the Interwoven Fables collection honours craft heritage while reclaiming agency, fluidity, and authenticity in expressions of love, identity, and connection. Knitwear thus becomes a counter narrative, inviting wearers to embody relationships as dynamic, imperfect, and deeply human.