Gina Schiappacasse illustrates Kevin Kramp

New York-based fashion illustrator Gina Schiappacasse just posted a series of illustrations based on photographs of the knitwear of award-winning local designer Kevin Kramp. Schiappacasse (who happens to be a Minnesota native) says, "I was turned on to him by a few other Minnesotans in the Big Apple and was instantly captivated by his exquisite use of shape and texture."

Previews: Kevin Kramp Trunk Show + Cliche Crosswalk

I cover Kevin Kramp's trunk show at martinpatrick3 and Cliche's Crosswalk fashion show tomorrow night in this weekend's issue of Vita.mn:

[A look by Kevin Kramp. Photo by Robb Long]

Hot off his MNfashion Week runway show last month, knitwear designer Kevin Kramp hosts a rare trunk show. Click here to read more

Kevin Kramp named a finalist for international fashion competition

2011 is really adding up to be Kevin Kramp's year. Hot off a stunning MNfashion Week showing, plus recent exhibitions at Paris Fashion Week and Antwerp fashion musueum MoMu, the Twin Cities-based knitwear designer was just named one of eleven fashion designer finalists amongst 850 applications for the tenth anniversary edition of ITS# (International Talent Support), the most important and influential global fashion design competition for new designers in the world. As part of this project, Kevin will be showing in the ITS#10 fashion show in Italy on July 15 and 16, where a winner will be selected

[Kevin Kramp photographed by Emily Utne]

As part of the show, prestigious fashion house Maison Martin Margiela will challenge the fashion finalists with a project that re-elaborates iconic items from the house. The winner of the MMM Award will receive €5,000 and will be offered an internship at the prestigious fashion house.

Local fashion link roundup: MNfashion Week edition

I was Lead Stylist for Voltage: Fashion Amplified and the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show, which means I didn't have much time (not to mention the objectivity) to covering the shows. Fortunately, the local fashion contingency has devoted more coverage than ever for MNfashion Week. It's a sure sign of the continued growth of the Minnesota fashion industry. Here's a roundup of reviews, photos, video and more:

[A Max Lohrbach look from Voltage; photo by Mary O'Regan via Art of Wore]

"Ma Vie en Plastique" and Amanda Christine/K.Jurek Trunk Show, 4/7:
-I recap the "Ma Vie en Plastique" and the Amanda Christine/K.Jurek trunk show for Vita.mn.
-Señorita Susan reviews "Ma Vie en Plastique."
-Rhea Pappas shoots "Ma Vie en Plastique" for MNfashion.
-Cody Lidtke shoots the Amanda Christine/K.Jurek trunk show at Cliché for City Pages.

Envision: Artopia, 4/8:
-I review "Envision" for Vita.mn.
-I chat about the show with stylist/interior designer Richard Anderson for l'étoile magazine, with photos by Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush.
-METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan recaps Envision: Artopia,
-Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan recaps her Envision favorites.
-City Pages has runway looks at "Envision" by Stacy Schwartz and crowd shots by Denis Jeong Plaster.
-Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush shoots the show for l'etoile magazine.
-Joan Erakit reviews Envision: Artopia for national blog Frank151, with photos by Rhea Pappas.
-Style blogger Kitty Cotten does a photo recap and review of Envision: Artopia.
-Minneapolis 2night has crowd and runway photos from the show.
-Photographer Rod Hasse posted a fun behind-the-scenes video of Envision: Artopia and the models of Ignite.
-Ignite Models has behind-the-scenes shots at Envision by Chris McDuffie.

The MNfashion Shows: CounterCouture & George Moskal, 4/13:
-I review the show for Vita.mn.
-L'étoile creative director Beth Hammarlund reviews the show for l'étoile magazine, with photos by Stephen Stephens.
-METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan recaps CounterCouture and George Moskal's show with some great photography.
-METRO Magazine has runway photos by Cody Lidtke.
-Katie Dohman of Minnesota Monthly reviews the show.
-Joan Erakit reviews the George Moskal/CounterCouture show for Frank151.
-Metromix has crowd and runway photos at the CounterCouture/George Moskal show by Claire Molepske and a video recap.
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show for MNfashion.
-Jules Christman Photography shoots the show.
-Señorita Susan reviews the show with photos by Rhea Pappas.
-Tricia Khutoretsky reviews the show for basic-space.com.
-South of Canada reviews The Shows.

The MNfashion Shows: Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp, 4/14:
-L'étoile creative director Beth Hammarlund reviews the show for l'étoile magazine, with photos by Stephen Stephens.
-METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan recaps and shoots fashion shows by Kevin Kramp and Emma Berg and also shoots the crowd.
-METRO Magazine has photos from the Kevin Kramp/Emma Berg show by Cody Lidtke.
-Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan does an excellent review of the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show.
-Katie Dohman of Minnesota Monthly reviews the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show.
-City Pages has an behind-the-scenes image slideshow of the video shoots for Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp's show, plus photos from the show by Stacy Schwartz.
-Metromix has crowd and runway photos from the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show by Claire Molepske.
-Joan Erakit reviews the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show for national blog Frank151, with photos by Christina "C-Rocka" Rimstad.
-Tricia Khutoretsky reviews the show for basic-space.com.
-Style blogger and Voltage stylist Kitty Cotten reviews and shoots the Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp runway shows.
-Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush shoots the show for l'etoile magazine.
-Ellen Dahl Lawson snaps a couple of gorgeous pix at Emma Berg's show for The Minneapoline.
-Downtown Journal highlights the MNfashion Week shows, including a Q&A with Kevin Kramp.
-MNfashion has a photo set from the show.
-South of Canada reviews The Shows.
-MNfashion has a photo set from the show.

StevenBe Knitwear Runway Rockshow, 4/14:
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show here and here for MNfashion.

Voltage: Fashion Amplified, 4/15:
-L'étoile creative director Beth Hammarlund reviews Voltage for l'étoile magazine, with photos by Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush.
-Vita.mn editor Simon Peter Groebner reviews the show and offers a poignant look back at the show's seven years.
-Cake in 15 has the most detailed, extensive review of the show out there, with photos by Stacy Schwartz and words by Carl Atiya Swanson.
-Star Tribune has a slideshow of photos from Voltage, as well as an exclusive look at the lookbook photos from Voltage by Stephanie Colgan.
-METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan reviews Voltage with some artful photography and reviews and recaps the stylish crowdgoers.
-Metromix has runway and crowd photos plus a review from Voltage.
-Check out MPLS.TV's Voltage edition of "What the F**k Are You Wearing?", with video by Dan Huiting.
-City Pages reviews Voltage. Click here for their Voltage photobooth shots by Cody Lidtke, here for runway photos by Stacy Schwartz and here for behind-the-scenes shots by Stacy Schwartz.
-Official Voltage photographer Stephanie Colgan shoots an amazing photo set from Voltage.
-Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush shoots the show for l'etoile magazine.
-Sarah Heuer reviews the show for Twin Cities Daily Planet, with photos by Jay Gabler.
-Ellen Dahl Lawson of The Minneapoline shoots the crowd's most stylish for Vita.mn.
-Joan Erakit does a studio visit with Voltage designer Terri Martin. Look for a review and photos to come at frank151.com.
-Tricia Khutoretsky recaps the show for her blog, Basic Space.
-Kevin Walker has a set of behind-the-scenes photos.
-HowWasTheShow.com has a video clip of Pink Mink's Voltage performance and a Voltage photo set.
-Style blogger and Voltage stylist Kitty Cotten offers some behind-the-scenes shots from Voltage (for which she styled lines by Kathryn V and Max Lohrbach).
-Mordac.org has a photo set from the show.
-Joan Erakit recaps the show for national blog Frank 151.
-Jules Christman Photography shoots the show.
-Style blogger Señorita Susan reviews the show.
-Matt Porath shoots the show here and here.
-Minneapolis 2night has crowd and runway photos from the show.
-Kevin Walker shoots backstage photos at the show.
-Secrets of the City does a studio visit with Voltage designer Danielle Everine.

Ballet of the Dolls' Fashion Ball, 4/15 & 4/16:
-Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan recaps Saturday's Fashion Ball.
-Ed Neaton shoots the event for City Pages.
-Style blogger Señorita Susan reviews the show.
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show for MNfashion here and here.

Scrubbed Into Fashion, 4/16:
-Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan recaps the Scrubbed Into Fashion show (featuring Christopher Straub).
-The Minnesota Daily recaps the show.
-Minneapolis 2night has a review and photos from the event.

Jagress Intimates Runway Show, 4/16:
-I recap the show for l'étoile magazine, with photography by Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush.
-Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush shoots the show.
-Photographer Rod Hasse posts a photo set.

The Secret Garden Fashion Show, 4/16:
-Tara Sloane reviews and shoots the show for l'étoile magazine.

Styles for Smiles, 4/17:
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show for MNfashion.

Of Venus And Gaia Spring Celebration, 4/17:
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show for MNfashion.

Follow @mnfashion on Twitter for more MNfashion Week recaps.

Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp release promo videos

During last Thursday's MNfashion Week Show featuring Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp, each designer showed a preview video to kick off their respective collections. The videos were both created by local video guru Isaac Gale, who's behind the videos for P.O.S.'s "Never Better" and Sims' "Burn It Down," and producer Kristoffer Knutson (a creative director at design agency PUNY), with art direction by Gale and David Jensen and music by composer Alex Berglund.

Kevin Kramp's video:

Kevin Kramp MNFashion Intro April 2011 from Isaac Gale on Vimeo.

Emma Berg's video, which features rising star Mary Cann of Vision Models:

Emma Berg MNFashion Intro April 2011 from Isaac Gale on Vimeo.

MNfashion Week kicks off

MNfashion Week officially kicks off tonight with its first event, "Ma Vie En Plastique," a show from the minds of hairstylist Pearson Knight and Smart & Chic Beauty Lounge. I preview the show as well as Envision: Artopia and the MNfashion Week-produced Shows from George Moskal, CounterCouture, Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp, in this week's issue of Vita.mn.

[A look by Emma Berg. Photo: Robb Long]

I spotlight MNfashion Week designer Kevin Kramp and talk his recent feature in Vogue Italia for Vita.mn.

I also cover the Amanda Christine and K.Jurek trunk show tonight at Cliche for Vita.mn.

Look for future issues of Vita.mn for more MNfashion Week coverage to come.

Also check out l'etoile's weekly shopping guide for more MNfashion Week coverage.

METRO Magazine highlights MNfashion Week designers

In its April issue, local publication METRO Magazine showcases four of MNfashion Week's designers - Emma Berg, Kevin Kramp, George Moskal and CounterCouture - all of whom are participating in the MNfashion-produced "Shows" happening on April 13 and 14 at the Grainbelt Building in Northeast. Click mnfashionweek.com for details on the Shows.

[Photo: Marshall Franklin Long. L-R: Looks by CounterCouture, Kevin Kramp, George Moskal & Emma Berg. Click image to enlarge]

Click here for behind-the-scenes shots from the shoot.

Kevin Kramp featured in Vogue Italia's New Talents

Those international magazines can't seem to get enough of Kevin Kramp. The local men's knitwear designer has been all over European publications as of late, and now he's gotten some major exposure in fashion bible Vogue Italia. Its New Talents section of its website features an interview with the designer and slideshow of images, in which he reveals he has upcoming presentations in Paris and Singapore in June and September 2011.


I love his description of his personal style: “Frumpy and uninteresting with touches of sport, 1970’s-era geometric knits, and second-hand corporate promotional logoed garments from my father’s various work places.”

Click here to read the full interview (and you should).

The busy designer is debuting his Fall 2011 collection in Minneapolis on April 14 as part of the MNfashion Week Shows; visit mnfashionweek.com for details and tickets.

Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp release promo image

MNfashion Week just released the promo image for The MNfashion Shows presents Emma Berg (SS 11) & Kevin Kramp (AW 11), happening April 14 at the Grainbelt Building in Northeast Minneapolis. Photographed at new martinpatrick3/I.D. (inside design) space, the shoot was concepted by Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp, with photography by Robb Long and hair/makeup by Charlie Brackney and Heath Bryant of HAUS Salon. The female model is Mary Cann from Vision Management Group, INC.

Kevin Kramp featured in London's Fiasco Magazine

London's Fiasco Magazine is the latest among a slew of international publications featuring the work of Minnesota-based men's knitwear designer Kevin Kramp. His white knit pants are featured in this editorial, entitled "Hustler White."



Photography: Caius Christoe
Fashion Editor: Fredo Montes

Behind the scenes at METRO's spring fashion shoot

Mary O'Regan, fashion editor over at METRO Magazine, shared some behind-the-scenes photos from their spring fashion shoot, which spotlights the four local lines showing during the MNfashion-produced shows at the Grainbelt Building, aptly titled "The Shows" - Emma Berg, Kevin Kramp, George Moskal and CounterCouture. The issue hits stands in April. Click here for more info on The Shows.

Look by George Moskal

Look by Kevin Kramp

Kevin Kramp featured in U Magazine

The press just keeps coming for local men's knitwear designer Kevin Kramp. Most recently, he has been featured in Brazilian online publication U Magazine. Kramp's piece is the knit white pants on the right.


Photography: Caius Christoe
Fashion Styling: Fredo
Model: Eduardo Calero at Request

Design Catwalk interviews Kevin Kramp (video)

More recaps are coming out of men's knitwear designer Kevin Kramp's showing at Paris Fashion Week this past January. Design Catwalk has a recap and video in which they interview the Minnesota-based designer on his collection.

"

Click here for my earlier roundup of coverage from the exhibition.

Behind the scenes: Emma Berg + Kevin Kramp promo shoot

Today, I spent the afternoon styling the promo shoot for Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp's dual MNfashion Week show. We shot at the new martinpatrick3/I.D. (inside design) space in the Warehouse District, fresh off opening its doors last Friday. Photographer Robb Long snapped each model - Emma's and Kevin's - in the parallel yet mirror opposite spaces, and he'll join the two in post-prod with his signature glossy style. I'm excited to see the final product. The images will also appear in an upcoming issue of The Journal.

[Charlie at work on Mary's hair]

Also on hand were MNfashion producer Emily Blanche, who is also producing the show on April 15; hairstylist Charlie Brackney, who just opened his own salon HAUS in South Minneapolis; and Vision model Mary Cann (back from a stint in Singapore where she nabbed a bunch of high-profile spreads).

[Emma discusses the shot with Robb and Emily]

Though the space is yet to host its grand opening (look for that to come in April), it was in impressive shape, expanding from martinpatrick3's cozier former digs a few blocks down and giving their gorgeous product room to breathe.

Kevin Kramp's Paris Fashion Week showing in review

Local men's knitwear designer Kevin Kramp has been particularly prolific as of late. He was featured in an exhibition at Paris Fashion Week in January, and has an upcoming exhibition at Antwerp fashion museum MoMu in March - on top of his solo show with Emma Berg during MNfashion Week in April.

[Kevin Kramp knitwear. Photo via Raddest Right Now from ra exhibition]

Raddest Right Now spotlighted Kevin Kramp as one of 16 international contributors to the Paris outpost of ra, an Antwerp-based fashion concept store/gallery/venue space where design, photography, installation, music and performance meet.

Fashion Windows also spotlights Kramp's work in the exhibition, as well as mentioning his upcoming exhibition in Antwerp's MoMu knitwear exhibition.

Juliet Urjoman interviews Kramp on his January exhibition at ra.

Vacart.org reviews the ra show at Paris Fashion Week, spotlighting Kramp.

Click HERE to view photos from the ra exhibition on Kramp's Facebook page.

Kevin Kramp to be featured in MoMu museum exhibition

Minnesota-based designer Kevin Kramp has been a very busy guy as of late. He just returned from showing at Paris Fashion Week and is in the middle of prepping for his F/W '11 showing during MNfashion Week in April. Now, the men's knitwear designer has announced he'll be featured in an upcoming knitwear group exhibition at noted Antwerp fashion museum MoMu this March.


"Unravel: Knitwear in Fashion" will highlight national and international designers and labels (Ann Salens, Vivienne Westwood, Sonia Rykiel, Versace, and Missoni) historic couture pieces (Schiaparelli, Patou, and Chanel) as well as more avant-garde and cutting edge pieces by established designers and newcomers on the international fashion scene (Sandra Backlund, Maison Martin Margiela, Comme des Garçons, Mark Fast, and Kevin Kramp). It's pretty amazing for Kramp to be featured alongside such legends, to say the least.

Exhibition Image: Tilda Swinton for Sandra Backlund in ANOTHER Magazine S/S 2009
Photography: Craig McDean. Styling: Panos Yiapanis. Design: Paul Boudens.

Kevin Kramp previews new lookbook

Local knitwear designer Kevin Kramp just sneaked a preview of his new lookbook on his Facebook page. The sweaters and accessories are from his spring Voltage 2010 collection.




Photo: Shuttertrip
Art Direction + Knitwear: Kevin Kramp
Accessories: Ferociter
Sandals: Zachary Pearl
Model: Abraham

Kevin Kramp seeks knitwear interns for spring show

Local knitwear extraordinaire Kevin Kramp - a recent Artist of the Year by City Pages - has been a busy guy. After showing at Paris Fashion Week later this month in an emerging menswear designer showcase and having his designs appear in the new music video by Dearling Physique, he's preparing for a spring show during MNfashion Week with designer Emma Berg.

Kramp wannabes, now's your chance to get into the mix. He's seeking knitwear interns to help him prepare for his spring show. Click the flyer below for more info.

Local fashion link roundup

Here's my weekly roundup of fashion links and news of all things local.

[Dearling Physique in Kevin Kramp designs]

City Pages posted and extended interview with one of their Artists of the Year, local knitwear designer Kevin Kramp.

You can see Kevin Kramp's knitwear designs (along with that of fellow local designer Hilary Falk) in Dearling Physique's music video "Discipline Your Hands," debuting this Friday, January 7 at the Uptown Apple Store.

In even more Kevin Kramp news, the designer just announced he'll be showing at Paris Fashion Week at the end of January in an emerging menswear designer showcase.

AOL interviews Anna Lee, founder of Voltage: Fashion Amplified and MNfashion.

Local personal style blog Dirty Hair Halo interviews national style blog icon Tevis Swain.

Dirty Hair Halo is also unloading her well-edited closet and filling up a e-shop with her finds.

Voltage 2011 designer Rachel Blomgren shares her sketches and inspiration (part one, part two, part three)

Local style blogger Hina Khan tries the ombre hair trend thanks to Mark Dolan of Evolution Salon.

Ellen Dahl Lawson shoots stylish show-goers at the Rock Your Frock fashion show a couple of weeks back for Vita.mn.

Sara Glassman covers local up-and-coming fashion and beauty lines HAROLD by Laura Nelli, Galen Labs, Daub and Bauble, and BlackBlue for Star Tribune.

City Pages offers highlights from the ongoing Mao to Now Chinese fashion exhibition at the Goldstein Museum of Design.

Local jewelry designers Heads Twogether do a how-to guide on how to make a jewelry charm necklace.

Meghan McAndrews of High Plains Thrifter does a Budget Beauty Gift Guide for Beauty Bets.

Stylist/blogger Ines Kovacevic has tons of great photo inspiration updates on her blog, Merci Beaucoup, as does stylist/blogger Jane Belfry's new blog Couture et Cuisine.

The Mall of America has a new blog; add it to your blogroll for updates on trends, sales and shopping ideas.

Kevin Kramp named one of City Pages' Artists of the Year

Along with local favorites like photographer Alec Soth and GAYNGS main man Ryan Olson, locally-based, avant-garde knitwear designer Kevin Kramp was named one of the Artists of the Year by City Pages. (And deservedly so.)


Choice quotes:

"Woven fabric is boring. I didn't design it, I didn't manufacture it, and I barely control it when making a garment. All the work is already done. Whereas with knit, I start from the beginning and control everything."

"My life is not separate from my design work; they are one and the same," Kramp says. "I'm inspired and enthusiastic to create objects of beauty and moments of joy, continually paralyzed by insecurity while simultaneously taking bold steps in daring directions."

Read the article here.