AMANO BY LORENA LAING

Amano was created by fashion artist, Lorena Laing. The Melbourne design firm is now an international brand, featuring functional, luxe alpaca knitwear, linen, silks, fashion accessories and homewares.

 

Amano works with skilled local artisans to hand knit and weave pieces with a nod to traditional techniques meshed with natural, delicate materials to ensure no two garments are the same.

 

Renowned for its dedication to ‘slow fashion’, Amano takes a step back with its craft and focuses on sustainable, ethical and traditional artisan processes to bring its clients a truly unique modern piece. The difference in detail stems from subtleties, enduring colour palettes and depths, rich textures and finishes – the mark of raw, natural sustainable fibres and the work of local artisan hands.

 

Needle knitting, crochet, loom weaving and working with one of the last knitting mills left in Australia, Amano’s contemporary capsule collections of divine alpaca knits and accessories are featured in carefully selected boutiques, from Melbourne to New York.

 

Proudly, in its 20th consecutive season, Amano is proof of a highly sustainable and ethical business with zero waste and continues to win the battle against fast fashion. Embracing the ‘slow fashion’ movement, Amano maintains sustainable practices and challenges consumers to question the traceability of their clothing as well as the origins of the materials themselves.

 

Amano is an advocate for locally made, supports responsible buying habits, and educates on the importance of investing in local brands who provide a transparency into current manufacturing processes. Amano’s Melbourne Atelier offers a unique window into how a bespoke garment is transformed by a single thread.

 

“The Alpaca fibre I work with is local and ethically sourced from Peru. The skilled artisans who weave and knit my designs are locals and it is important to me to focus on keeping my collections local and one hundred per cent natural.

 

“Amano takes great pride in hand-crafting its pieces with locally sourced materials, have zero waste and are crafted and packaged locally. We are aware of our carbon footprint, of our struggling manufacturing industry and our aging artisanal skills. We feel a responsibility to preserve these and ensure they exist for future generations.” said Lorena Laing.

 

Over recent years, Amano has evolved its techniques, breaking new ground in sustainable practices with the growth and development of its machine knitting capsule range. Using CAD [Computer-Aided Design software], Amano has succeeded in creating fully fashioned knitted garments with zero waste whilst still mimicking the highly regarded traditional techniques and sustainable methods of Amano’s handcrafted collections.

 

Each special Amano piece bears a label with its story; how it was carefully crafted to highlight its bespoke characteristics – no two pieces are the same. It’s a personal note from the creator to its new owner, drawing them in to engage deeply in the narrative of the garments sustainable, ethical journey.