HORTUS -aga PRobala

My values and principles are from an artisan - autonomy, skill and creativity. Craftsmanship—in the fullest sense of the word—is a modus vivendi, a way of life. It is about fully engaging our heads, hands, and hearts in our work. It is about connecting to a set of values and principles, that produce objects, that are not only functional and beautiful but also make for a sustainable lifestyle.

My work for my brand Hortus consists of developing knit swatches and knitwear/form concepts, always in connection with the craftsman's competence and environmental stance.

Knitting is the physical manifestation of the motto ` making something out of nothing`, with very little material one can make unique objects. It becomes an expression of the cooperation of hand and mind, of imagination and skill.

I created numerous experimental textures and knitting fabric samples for use in commercial and non-commercial work, as well as pedagogical material for sharing knowledge with anyone who has a passion for knitting or textile design.

Knit is a matter of of linking, sharing but also freedom -freedom of choice and expression. The essence and beauty of knit lies in the fact that the designer/craftsman invents everything from scratch, he treats the stitch , the gauge, the pattern and chooses the colours, deciding on texture and shape at the same time, mastering his own finishing and detailing.

In recent years I was responsible for building up a knitwear department in Design School Munich .While working as a teacher, supervising the students of the Fashion Design classes in their projects, I learned to value every stage of the knitting process .

If we choose to, knitting can be a journey, in which travelling (the act of knitting) is more important, creative and emotionally significant than the arrival at the destination (knitted object).

My research subjects include, among others: `cross-pollination`, the intersection of design, science, crafts and technology; textile art, with particular emphasis on the 3-dimensional aspects of design and craftsmanship; incorporation in the design of mathematical principles and universal geometry, as well as analysis of organic forms; biomimetics; design in the context of sustainability, sustainable knitwear and recycled fibres.