'I'd love to build a little community of knitters' says designer Amber Hunt

Design by Amber Hunt - Photo supplied

Fashion designer Amber Hunt has some amazing knitted designs and is currently working on growing her business. In an interview with OneVybe, she talked about how she got into the craft and her life as a fashion student.

On why she decided to study fashion, Amber said, "I've been interested in fashion since a young age, I was dressing myself and choosing different outfits every day for school from as young as 6!

"I took textiles as one of my A levels, but took a few years out of education and got a full time job.

"After a while I realised that fashion was the main passion I had, and that I had to pursue it."

Amber chose to go to Coleg Sir Gar in Wales as it was close to her family and a close friend had just completed their degree in Fashion Apparel Design and Construction there.

On her friend's recommendation, Amber decided to look into it further. She said "I gave them a ring and booked an informal chat with the course leader, Jamie Hawkins, and left with a place on the course!"

The university allowed Amber to blossom as a designer and she added: "The university is always encouraging students to enter competitions and live briefs, and I won an internship at outdoor clothing brand Howies during our final year, which was a really good high to end on."


Polyp jumper by Amber Hunt - Photo supplied

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Since graduating, Amber has focused mainly on knitting and she told OneVybe: "I really got into it in my final year, and was determined to expand on the techniques and skills I'd already acquired.

"I've been selling the Polyp jumper from my final collection on ASOS and Jaxxonhouse.co.uk.

"At the moment I'm working on another collection which follows on from some ideas I had in second year, where I focused on sportswear."

"I'm really interested in contrasting textures, and nature. I also find myself drawn to quite unpleasant things, rather than anything particularly mainstream, when I'm researching for a project.

"During my three years at Coleg Sir Gar I did my projects on a nuclear fallout zone, failed Soviet space launches, sea pollution and deep sea creatures."

Finding the right fabric is very important to Amber and she said she likes to find fabric that replicates textures that she finds interesting.

Amber's final collection was named 'Bathyspheric Perspective' and she explained: "A bathysphere was a vessel used from the 1920s to lower scientists onto the sea bed so that they could document the different types of species and plant life there.


Design by Amber Hunt - Photo by Kara Knowler-Davies

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"I'm fascinated by the sea, and became really interested in the idea of this bathysphere and what the people inside it might have seen.

"I then went on the study sea bed myself, looking at the different kinds of lifeforms that survive down there. I spent most of my weekends tearing apart crustaceans and fish to get obscure shapes and prints."

Amber describes her style as relaxed and unconventional and her customer as someone who has a casual style but appreciates hand crafted, personal items.

"I've never been into celebrity idolisation, so I'd say that I'm definitely influenced by the ordinary people of the world. Seeing someone rock their look whilst they pop out to get milk is special," said Amber.


Design by Amber Hunt - Photo by Kara Knowler-Davies

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Currently Amber also teaches knitting and said, "I'd love to build a little community of knitters. I'm also really interested in local produce, and would love to be able to provide welsh wool and hand knitted individually crafted items."

For more information:
http://www.eurliw.co.uk/home/4587721689
- OneVybe