Today we’d like to introduce you to Karelle Levy.
Karelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born with yarn in my veins. My parents worked on large scale needle point tapestries while I was a child and my mom also knitted us all clothes when we lived in the cold. She passed away when I was 16, and I became obsessed with weaving after taking my first night course at University of Miami, I was the only one under 50. I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1997 with a BFA in Textile Design. I also have a background in dance and made most of my projects into costumes, which then led me to start my fashion line, KRELwear. I have since been knitting ready to wear, one of a kind art to wear, as well as artwork and installations. KRELwear is a unique blend of wearable knitted fabric using a playful array of color and yarns. It started right after I graduated, as I bought my first hand loom and never stopped knitting. The collection started in my garage, then was sold to over 40 boutiques worldwide. Now KREL has a permanent boutique catering to clients with ready to wear collections made in Cali and hand made one of a kind pieces. I’m also the head of Stitch N Bitch in Miami that I host once a month at the Freehand, where a group of novices and pro knitters and crocheters get together.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s a bumpy road. Every challenge has its obstacles that sometimes develop into great projects. When the economic crisis happened in 2008-09, I went from having 43 boutiques carrying KREL to 3, and had to figure out a way to get sales directly to my clients and create a new strategy.
I started a project called “KREL 2 go, Quickie Couture” where I customize clothing on the spot with mill end knit down fabrics I designed. This project was a huge success, as I was part of the Scope Art Show and made thousands of custom pieces as performance and also as pop – ups at boutiques, galleries, and hotels around the US and some international cities.
I also came up with a fun collection called DiscGlo, where we knitted one of a kind dresses rompers and pieces that glow in the dark and in black lights. Our show was brought to several venues as entertainment fashion performances. Both of these projects are ongoing.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
KRELwear is a tropical knitwear brand. We, my assistant Eva Rodriguez and I, knit all of the hand one of a kind hand loomed pieces. They are not your grandma’s sweaters, but rather colorful, fun, sexy, and meant to wear in warm weathered climates. It’s always a pleasure hearing about my clients’ experiences of getting compliments about their clothes and that people recognize the brand from the fabric. We have a signature look and it’s really unique in this over consumed market. We now cater to our private clients and have a few boutiques carrying the line.
What were you like growing up?
I was really crafty my whole life. I knew I’d be somewhere in the arts creating. I also loved to dance and it became a significant part of why I make stretchy clothes. I went from being a ballerina to a club fanatic and I started making my clothes to go out. Eventually I made so many pieces I had to start selling them. And that started the collection of KRELwear.
Pricing:
- Dresses start at $140 – $500
- Hot Shorts $74-$150
- Rompers $140 – $250
- Art work $50 – up
Contact Info:
- Address: 7520 NE 4th Court #107, Miami, FL 33138
- Website: www.krelwear.com
- Phone: 305-528-2755
- Email: info@krelwear.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/krelwear
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/krelwear1
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/krelwear
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/krel-miami
Krelwear Resort 2017
Image Credit:
Jipsy Nefarious
Maria Lankina
James Miille
Karla Garcia
Andre Gabb
James D. Mann
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