KRELwear

Known for creating adventurous and conceptually driven collections, Karelle Levy knits her own fabrics, finding inspiration in the inherent beauty and formal aspects of the process. Since its original inception, the Krelwear line has evolved into two separate collections. The couture collection is comprised of hand knit items pulling from the extensive archives of unique yarns that the designer has amassed over the last decade.  Using a wide array of yarns from organic to industrial fibers, Levy has developed garments by reconfiguring what she calls “toobular” fashion, using few or no seams in her knitting technique. The ready-to-wear line consists of uniform colors, minimal construction techniques, eased wear ability and are entirely made-to-order. The items are interchangeable and convertible; a single piece can be worn as a sleeveless top, or a skirt and all of the pieces reflect her independent, no rules ethic, “Living garments, embracing flaws - let it run.”

Born in France to a Tunisian father and a Swedish mother, Karelle Levy knits a sense of the unexpected and unorthodox into her line of clothing. The Miami-bred Levy graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, in Textile Design. Inspired by her mother’s large- scale needlepoint tapestries Levy found an elevated utilitarian use for her fabrics by designing clothes. After interning at  Sfate & Combier, one of the top silk houses of France- as a textile designer for lingerie and silk fabrics, she branched out into costume design working for established theater, dance, and opera companies such as the Florida Grand Opera, Mad Cat Theater Company and Gable Stage.

The KRELwear line was launched in 2003. The following year Levy was chose as a Gen Art Fresh Face in Fashion. She competed in the Perrier Bubbling Under Fashion Show in Miami. The designer has since staged a self-produced shows for the Fall 2006 collection and Spring 2007 collection. Fall 2007 collection was shown at Kitten Fashion Week in Los Angeles in March.

KRELwear celebrity clients include Patricia Fields, Alanis Morrisette, Cristina Ricci, Carmen Electra, Pink, Cameron Diaz, Hillary Duff, Fergie from Black Eyed Peas and the Pussycat Dolls. Featured in Dooney and Burke Catalog and last year Sunglass Hut used a KRELwear swimsuit in their national ad campaign. Editorially the line has been featured in WWD, Lucky, Soma, Jane, and Ocean Drive and included in segments on Style, UPN, and Fox.