Meet Karelle Levy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karelle Levy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karelle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I love to knit and create fabrics. The best use for fabrics is wearing them! Fashion allows me to create wearable fabric. We change our clothes everyday, so this to me is the most utilitarian fabric ever made. As an artist I use the materials like paint, through color and texture I am able to create unique, wearable and comfortable clothes for all women who want something special.

I graduated school with a textile degree from Rhode Island School of Design, with a focus on machine knitting. When I came back to Miami I bought my first hand operated knitting machine. I loved knitting on the machine, i could knit clothes in a few hours. Each piece was one of a kind. In the beginning I wore them out to the clubs.

At a certain point, I made so many items, I began to sell them through stores and markets. 20 plus years later, I’m still at it. Now, I draw my patterns into a computer, and have an industrial knitting machine that “prints” the clothes. So I’ve advanced my skills and my productivity. I am able make custom items with out the physical labor. These machines are typically in large factories, and rarely owned by designers.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art and fashion cross boundaries. I play between the art, craft and fashion world. As knitter in Miami I confuse people daily. It’s fun and frustrating at the same time. I keep hearing, It’s too hot to wear this clothes, even tho my clothes is plant based and breathable. Most people think Knit means Sweater, so my last show Knit Does Not Equal Sweater was about that. It’s definitely an interesting and complex issue.

I design clothes that are minimalist in design, yet exciting in the fabric textures. My clothes are engineered to fit the body like a canvas, knitting tubular styles as one piece of fabric so they stretch over all different body types. As a curvy woman myself, I found knit to be very forgiving. I like to tell people I don’t like to sew. So very few styles have sewing involved, and if they do its very simple. Most of my designing is on the program itself where I use the coding to move the loops on the machine to my desire. I’m able to design so many styles with my techniques.

As an artist, I find it exciting to engage the participates. I have two pieces I’m extremely proud of; The Interknit & Berber Svenska Tent. The Inteknit connects people through stitches. It’s an activation encouraging people to add a knot, knit, crochet and pom pom leaving their mark in the piece while in a way adding their “code” to the ever growing World Wide Web.

Berber Svenska is a tent made from knit tapestries that depict the story of my family’s journey and countries we’ve lived in until Miami. As a Eastern European and North Africa Jewish migration, looking for a safe place to call home.

My career has ebbed and flowed throughout the years, With recessions, changing economies, changing city, and time itself, being to pivot has been my saving grace. Listening to clients has helped and slowing down when overwhelmed helps. Making mistakes is common, and just when you think you got it, sometime it just doesn’t work any more. And when you give up, the best things happen.

I’ve enjoyed my journey as an artist and designer, staying authentic to my craft has really set me apart from others. Keep trying and experimenting and sometimes luck just has your back.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Miami is so large where does one start?

There’s obviously a stop at my studio and a pizza at Ironside. Beach and a swim of course is necessary. On a rainy day Super Blue & the Rubell collection, Perez Museum & The Bass. A La Foley or Boucher for brunch. Drive through Wynwood to see walls, Design District for the buildings. For diner Silver Lake in North Beach, Michael Genuine in Design District, Uchi for Sushi, Caja Caliente for Cuban. Outside dining on Lincoln Road is never boring. The Miami Beach Bandshell & Zey Zey has great concerts and an outdoor picnic by the symphony is a treat. Farmers market at Legion Park, I love to cook, so we’ll dine at home too!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Great question! So many to thank, I’m lucky to have such wonderful support.

I would love to thank all of my fans, my clients, for without their support, I would not be keep it going. My friends and family, who are always encouraging me to keep going.

I especially want to thank my partner James Mann, who is my back bone on many projects, he’s a wonderful support though his love, kindness and help with all my wild ideas.

I had the pleasure of having a three month residency at the Green Space Miami last season. (November thru February). I was able to combine all my worlds under one roof. I hosted several Pom Pom Tea Parties in The Interknit.I showed my collection KRELwear in a storefront on Biscayne Blvd, It was fascinating to hear people stop by because they were curious about what they saw in the windows. It was such an amazing experience working with Kimberly Green and the staff, they support local artists in such a unique way through their multi use space.

I feel so blessed to continuously have opportunities for my work to be exhibited. Exciting projects are coming soon!

This is what’s happening now. My latest pieces are sold at SuperBlue museum store which an incredible feeling to be in the same building with so many talented artists and enjoyed by so many.

This summer I have enjoyed an artist residency at The Stone House, in Rogers City MI. Where for the first time I’ve truly lived in a small town on Main Street, but also have the time to reflect and experiment with my art and fashion, Excited for what’s to come.

I feel the love and I am thankful for it.

Website: www.krelwear.com

Instagram: @krelwear, @theinterknit, @karellelevy_fiberartist

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karelle-levy-63ab505/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KRELwear1/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/krel-tropical-knitwear-miami

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@krelwear 

Other: TikTok @krelwear

Image Credits
The Interknit, James D. Mann Berber Svenska, James D. Mann, Patchwork Sweater, Manuel Abreu Swanston Birds of Paradise Performance, The Pioneer Winters Collective Nelly Rainbow Halter dress by Filippo Bonfiglio Swim Multi Colored Striped Romper by Maria Lankina Camouflage Lady, James D. Mann Two Ladies, Tube top and Skirt & Romper, Celia Luna