Smashing success! We had a fabulous show and are very happy with all the amazing positive reviews and messages from everyone! Thank you! We wanted to do a special newsletter edition just to recap the Portland Fashion Week Runway and Trunk Show.

Reviews:
“Stealing the runway, though, was the launch of the first ever, in-house hand knitwear collection by Anna Cohen, along with guest designers, and Imperial Yarn, a division of Imperial Stock Ranch. The designs, which varied from knitted sweater dresses to knitted belts and knee high socks, are the first knit-it-yourself kits, versus ready-to-wear designs, to be featured at fashion week.” – Sustainable Business Oregon

“Finally, Anna Cohen’s line for Imperial Yarn strutted down the runway and my slouched posture perked up into a proper state. The line of knitwear (non-knitwear pieces were from Cohen’s design archives) consisted of cozy, wanna-snuggle-up-inside, chunky pieces in shaped silhouettes. The line is Oregon 100% with the sheeps raised here, wool made, garments designed and created. That makes me love it even more.” – Portland Monthly

“Last night at Portland Fashion Week, a mostly dull lineup of active wear collections and quiet, easy wearing lines from Ethos Paris and Avni (plus a disjointed excursion into Dakota country with Lenzanita) was capped off with Anna Cohen and Imperial Yarn's Imperial Knits Collection, a small collection of yummy, live-in-it knitwear capped by a finale ensemble that was a three-way collaboration between Cohen, Imperial Yarn, and Earthtec, producers of fabric made from recycled plastic bottles. Simple but stunning, the floor-length black gown was awesome, speaking volumes about the potential for Earthtec's product, while the felted wool cape, while not as striking, achieved the same feat of deceptively brilliant simplicity. It is worth noting again that the Imperial Collection is not sold off the rack, but as patterns for intrepid knitters to DIY their own versions, allowing for an infinite potential for variety. As a finishing touch, the collection came out to a live score of original music in collaboration with performer Chris Pickolick.” – The Portland Mercury

A special thank you to Zahara Boutique for the use of the beautiful jewelry by local designer Lux.

-Anna Cohen

P.S. Chris Pickolick is my fiancé!

As soon as the finale of the Imperial Knits Collection left the runway, everyone began asking, “What did you think?!” “Are you pleased?!”   I found myself unable to express any opinion – speechless.  I wasn’t sure at first why I couldn’t craft a response that would sound at all intelligent, but my mind just seemed to be blank.  It took me a few days to process the experience and realize that how I feel about these pieces is constant. They are evidence of an evolving work that has been 11 years in the making.  It comes from our efforts to remain viable as a family ranch, to preserve the presence and relationship of sheep on the landscape and to mankind, and to reach a hand across the rural/urban divide to work together for a richer future. I love these pieces.

What’s really amazing, is that others appreciate it too, as you can see in the reviews.   It warms my heart to see the shift today toward “knowing where it comes from” or “the source.”  Most prevalent in the food sector, this was strong evidence that it is truly about more than food and wine.  I personally think this derives from a deep need to reconnect with the very landscape which supports us literally and spiritually.  A sincere thank you to Anna, who has been part of our ranch family now for 3 years.  She truly has been able to translate the beauty of this place and what we do, in her designs, in a way that speaks to a broader audience.  A sincere thank you as well, to all the folks at Twisted, for their ongoing partnership, support, and a sensational event in their store.

Jeanne

TG:  When did you first start designing and what inspires you?

AC:  I first started designing as soon as I was old enough to think creatively. My parents are both artists and designers and I grew up in the most creative environment - nature which is my biggest inspiration.

TG:  What season do you like to design for most and why?

AC:   I like to design for Fall.  In the fashion industry, this is the most important season due to its defining silhouettes with coats, pants, jackets and sweaters, and is therefore heavier on brand identification.  Putting together a cohesive overall feeling of a brand, of the identity and character of a collection, is my favorite part.

TG:  If gravity, time and money were not an issue, what would you like to design?

AC:  Wow, what a question! That's a first. I'd love to design an enormous project that would be contributed to by people all over the world, online, somehow knitting, sewing, singing, playing a part of this piece that would come together as a global community of creative positive energy. Wow! I didn't know that's what would come out of my mind! How exciting.

TG:  Which is your favorite Imperial Yarn to design with?

AC:  Oh how to answer this question. I love them all!! So beautiful and natural, so connected to the earth with amazing drape, weight and texture and SO soft for wool it’s shocking. Well, of course I love the Anna Yarn, named after me with the wool/cotton blend. It is kind of like the urban rural blend we represent with our work, plied together, these two very different and very strong fibers. It is also important to me to share that my favorite aspect of designing with Imperial Yarn is working with the wonderful women that help to bring it to life and honor such an amazing natural beauty that the sheep provide.

TG:  What advice would you give to aspiring designers?

AC:  Listen to your heart and don't be afraid to follow it. Lovingly, passionately, diligently, work toward learning and building what you believe is truly your passion and your strength with respect for yourself and everyone and thing around you. Don't spread yourself too thin. Recognize what to let go of and what to put your energy into. Go for it! And have fun!

It was a very special time at the trunk show at Twisted on Saturday, October 8th. Oregon wine, chocolates and stories were shared with an enthusiastic crowd of earnest shoppers. Dan Carver, Jeanne Carver and Anna Cohen each gave a short presentation about their work and the connections they are strengthening across urban and rural landscapes in their work together. All was very well received.

-Anna Cohen