Amy Pugsley 
“With him passing away the meaning of the project has changed a bit. Now, instead of seeing Karl passing away at the moment of the anniversary [on February 19] we will see Karl very young. I don’t know if you know, but Karl did not start off thinking of being a designer; this job didn’t exist at the time, he wanted to be an illustrator. He started thinking about being a designer when he won the Woolmark Prize. So this project is a big mix of a lot of things. It’s the fun of the contest, the beauty of the box, the do-it-yourself aspect, but it is also the story of Karl and the hope for the others.”
– Caroline Lebar (Head of Image and Communications at Karl Lagerfeld)
It is still winter (technically) so you have time to grab one of the limited edition Karl Lagerfeld x Woolmark Company DIY kits. Wait! There is a catch! The tribute collaboration is more than meets the eye and incorporates a digital scavenger hunt. Fans search for a special code and enter it online for a chance to win one of the coveted boxes. Excited yet? The month-long scavenger hunt ends in a few days so there is still time left to find one of the 777 couture kits known as The Woolmark Company x Karl Lagerfeld Knit Karl Kits. The boxes include wool, knitting needles, pins, and one of four Karl Lagerfeld-designed patterns.
Yes, collabs are fun but this unique brand collaboration aims to celebrate the legacy of the late Karl Lagerfeld in a way that is, “Imagined by Karl, and designed by you.” Seven was Lagerfeld’s lucky number, hence there only being 777 “Knit Karl Kits” available to the public. When discussing the designer Caroline Lebar Head of Image and Communications at Karl Lagerfeld said in an interview, “This entire year we have launched special projects and initiatives to celebrate Karl’s life and legacy. As Karl’s first-ever creation was for the Woolmark Prize in 1954, it feels appropriate to celebrate his life with this collaboration with The Woolmark Company.”
The collaboration project celebrates the life and achievements of the famous designer and brings his accomplishments in the world of fashion full circle. In 1965, Karl Lagerfeld famously won the Woolmark Prize launching his career and putting him in league with other winners like Yves Saint Laurent. The Woolmark Company managing director, Stuart McCullough, believes that the combination of creating your own high-fashion designer piece with experiencing a project that Lagerfeld himself approved before his passing will be a magical experience. Good luck to those 777 lucky fans who get their hands on one of the “Knit Karl Kits” before they are gone.
