Sophie Digard scarf from Loop
Since 1999, Sophie Digard has designed the most lovely knitted, crocheted and embroidered throws and scarves using fibres dyed to her own specification. Originally a Parisian, she set up her workshop in Madagascar where she now provides work for indigenous women. Her use of colour and geometric design is reminiscent of Kaffe Fassett’s early knitwear. Both are unafraid of colour and use lots of finely graded shades and intricate detail that suck your eyes into a journey round the piece in front of you.
Tomato red Sphie Digard scarf from Loop
I have often looked through the scarves and fabric jewellery on display in Loop. The jewellery’s not for me, though I still admire the daisy chains of crocheted flowers. In general I also find many of the scarves a bit too anaemic as to background colour, though here too I love looking at the detail. I could never design nor embroider those slightly wonky, naive flowers, with straggly stems and misshapen leaves but it doesn’t stop me getting pleasure looking at them and appreciating the work put into them.
Sophie Digard’s tomato crocheted scarf from Loop
Recently, however, I popped into Loop for some needles and came out with this wonderful tomato coloured scarf (and gained rather a lot of points on my Loop loyalty card in the process but I shall keep hush about that !). Pale colours wash me out but this red gives plenty of lift to the spirits and pasty winter skin. The super fine wool is also caressing to wear and wonderfully warm, yet light enough for a summer evening too.
Sophie Digard scarf in tomato from Loop
4 Comments
Yes, that will be a cheering addition to the wardrobe for years to come!
I think so too Rachel.
Scrolling back through your older posts here, and I am delighted to hear about such a beneficial business going into Madagascar. My daughter went there with a humanitarian group a couple of years ago, and they seem a wonderful people who could really use some help. Not a very visible group of people either which makes finding help a little harder. Lovely product too!
What a fascinating trip for your daughter and to such a unique place. Small enterprises like Sophie Digard’s are to be encouraged for the short term (I’m never sure that in the long term hand crafts like knitting, crochet and sewing have a future if people are to earn a decent return for their labours.)
I believe I read that there are problems with growing vanilla, so I think you’re right that times are tough.