Like Mother, Like Daughter

Knitonthenet sent Isabella Lennartson to meet the dynamic mother and daughter duo behind the successful merino yarn label, Biggan Design.

It sounds clichéd, but when you meet Biggan and her daughter Henrietta Dups, you realise instantly that fashion really is 'in their blood', and they really are 'like mother, like daughter'.

At the tender age of four, Biggan picked up her first set of knitting needles and under the tuition of her mother learnt the craft and was soon after was knitting garments for her dolls. By the time she was twelve, Biggan was sewing and knitting her own clothes.

For Henrietta it was sewing. For her sixth birthday, Biggan gave her a Barbie pink sewing machine. Biggan was thrilled when a teenage Henrietta took after her, at least on the sewing front. Knitting however, was a different story. According to Biggan, "Teaching Henrietta to knit was a trial. It took an annual Christmas visit from London, for her to ask me to teach her how to knit, which surprised me as it was 35 degrees celcius, so not exactly knitting weather".

Eighteen years later, Henrietta, who is left handed, decided to learn again using the right handed continental method, which proved to be the clincher. "Now I never leave the house without a WIP in my handbag", Henrietta laughs.

Biggan started her knitwear label Biggan Design in 1975 while studying at Anders Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm, where she majored in knitwear design. At the time, Biggan was also modelling in both Paris and Stockholm and knitting seemed a useful pastime to keep her busy between lengthy castings and photo shoots. It was during these shoots that several fashion editors and photographers took a liking to Biggan's creations and started featuring them in magazines including Sweden's two leading women's fashion magazine's Damerna's Varld and Femina. Biggan Design was born.

Biggan put her career on hold when she and her husband Kennerley emigrated to Australia in 1982 with their young family. They first lived in the countryside in Victoria before settling down in Adelaide. Kennerley's subsequent career in oil and gas exploration saw the family flitting from Australia to China and then Indonesia, before finally settling back in Queensland, Australia. This moving around made it impossible for Biggan to continue her business. However, throughout this period Biggan constantly absorbed all the sights, sounds, and cultural experiences lending a fresher and more sophisticated maturity to her creativity.

Henrietta knew from the age of 12 that she wanted either to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a fashion designer, or follow her aunt's lead and become a fashion journalist.

Henrietta studied for a Diploma in Fashion Design and Marketing at MIT in Brisbane before jetting off to London where she spent six years working as a fashion and social journalist for magazines including: Harpers Bazaar, Tatler, Hello, Shoo, and All Access, as well as a celebrity stylist. After years of treading the red carpet and working with other designer labels, Henrietta decided it was time to return home and join forces with her mother in re-launching Biggan Design.

After a 25 year hiatus Biggan has re-emerged, this time, with her own range of super soft Merino first cross, DK hand knitting yarn, available in 64 brilliant colours. Biggan explains, "Ever since coming to Australia, I have wanted to create my own yarn from this country's soft Merino Wool, which is the best in the world. I have also wanted to use my designs with this superb yarn to re-invigorate the ancient and joyful craft of hand knitting. In 2002, I saw an opportunity to realise my dream to produce a range of Australian yarns that would give this unique combination of softness and abundance of vibrant colours."

After what seemed like endless researching, trialling and re-trialling, Biggan Design is now proud to offer an exceptionally soft yarn in 100% Merino First Cross Wool. A cross breed fleece, it combines the softness of the shorter Merino fibres with the durability of the Border Leicester's longer, stronger fibres with more crimp. This gives a wonderful buoyancy and spring to the yarn and makes it fun and easy to knit with.

The yarn is so soft you can wear it straight on your skin, it is machine washable at 30°C in a gentle / wool cycle, it does not bleed, it holds its shape even after extensive wear and it does not pill.

Most importantly for any knitter out there is that the Biggan Design colour range is here to stay. So, if you tend to start a project and then let it sit for several years before completing it, only to discover when you do that there is not enough yarn, you will still be able to order the same colours.

Biggan has recently released a stylish yet simple collection of brightly coloured hand knit garments showcasing her yarn range to perfection. Biggan's talent and skill when it comes to knitting vibrant colours into beautiful and timeless silhouettes is clear.

It is obvious Biggan and Henrietta have a great rapport with each other, which follows through in to their work. Biggan as Creative Director for the label often looks to Henrietta (International Marketing & Sales Manager) to discuss new ideas, checking that they also appeal to a younger market, before transforming them into timeless and stylish pieces that suit women of all ages.

Henrietta's background in styling reveals itself in the versatility of all Biggan Design garments and the many ways they can be worn. Henrietta comments, "At Biggan Design we want to create garments with longevity that are simultaneously fashionable, and when coordinated with your current wardrobe always create a modern chic look. Through our website we endeavour to showcase how to wear their knitted garments in many different and diverse ways."

Biggan interjects, "The key to Biggan Design is that we believe knitting should be easy, fun and stylish. I create patterns that are easy to follow ensuring that even a beginner can knit up a great looking garment, first time round."

Evidently, colour and style are the raison d'etre for Biggan Design, the crux and fundamental ethos behind the company.

Also in this issue are the Biggan Design patterns: Janet, Gaby and The Chanel-esque Bow Belt