Displacement is the common theme for Jews of Europe and Africa. Mesmerized by the stories and yearning for the traditions of lands we could not know in person, Judeo-Arabic music and dance were the only connection that filled our home. The look and sound of belly dancers and Berber tribes were a fascinating discovery as were the mountains and the textile traditions of Sweden and Poland. Sun and wind protection of the Sahara and respite from the long Nordic winters were opposite ends of the spectrum for survival in these two regions, and our family home created the perfect blend of these cultures.
Decades later we are here to build a “home,” inspired by the nomadic Berber tents seen along the trade routes of Northern Africa. Through this patchwork of handmade textiles, we begin to stitch together the history and migration paths of my elders. My goal is to bridge the gaps of my own history, to unity the cultures that have touched my family, my core. Each piece is an important part of the puzzle that finally makes the story, the land, the history, the home… whole.
As a jew, both sides of my family were displaced from our native homes. On my mother's side in Poland, they were forced out of their homes to ghettos and then into concentration camps. The Holocaust ripped our family apart. Left with nothing left of their past, both my grand mother and grand father fled to Sweden where they met and built their future. My father and his family fled Tunisia, where being a jew they were treated as second rate citizens. They came to Paris for refuge and a new life, where they could be treated as equals, there my parents met, fell in love, and later moved to Miami.
Karelle's first trial of her family's story
James built a roof frame out of Miami grown bamboo
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Costuming Bird of Paradise by Pioneer Winters
Customizing clothes for dance brings me back to my roots. I had the chance to dress all body shapes and identities. These performers were not your average dance troupe. They came in all body types as well as identities. It allowed me to work with the bodies as moving canvases.
Balance of color and movement through fabric dancing along together in a variety of harmonies and shapes.
Pioneer Winter’s direction is grounded in collaboration with the dancers confidence in their movements in solos, duet and groups pieces.
Playing with colors that intertwined via bodies was a visual delight. It was a real pleasure to work with them all.
Keep an eye on Pioneer Winters Collective as they perform throughout South Florida and beyond.
The 3rd rendition was a collection of knits and cut and sewn pieces. Mainly thrifted garments up-cycled to fit their bodies and movements. I worked closely with the dancers making sure they could move freely while keeping the fluidity of the fabrics as an element of their dance.
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KREL Tropical Knitwear is now more fun than ever!
Our brick and mortar shop is filled with unique pieces from our collection; one of a kinds, prototypes, experiments, zero waste art, creatures and more. Book your appointment to play dress up in person or virtually.
After over 20 years of knitting in Miami, we have launched the Karelle Levy Collection, a refined selection from KRELwear’s best sellers.
Knit to order, size inclusive, and very chic, our pieces will be available just in time for the Holiday season. Place your orders today to be included in our November delivery.
Follow our new instagram! Karelle Levy Official
For wholesale inquiries please email Chelsea@IndustryAllies.com.
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Love is about sharing.
Love is threading together similarities and differences into a beautiful collection. And what better thing to share than each other's clothes!
Ali is wearing Peep Hole Drop Stitch Gown.
Vin is wearing Drawstring Harem Pants, Mesh-Striped Top, and Robe with Sleeves.
Enhance your natural love with new KRELwear!
Love is always in the air at KRELwear! Whether it is self-love or love you give to someone else, our clothes fit all occasions. We LOVE the trade-your-partners couture, so why not substitute it with a stylish, cozy kaftan? Our clothes are perfect for all of you, hopeless romantics!
You ever see a friend that you haven’t seen in years and instantly reconnect? Well this is the story of Karelle’s and Jispy’s collaboration!
Jipsy The Nefarious Girl
Ali is wearing the V Rib Crop Top Loose.
Vin is wearing Kaftan Long Tencel and the two-toned Harem pants.
On a recent night, beneath a swirl of 2000s indie - pop tunes laid down by the legendary DJ Lolo @ Gramps, voilà!
Karelle and Jipsy bump into each other and all the memories float back up like olives in the martinis... and just like that, the gang was back together. After the wild trajectory of both their lives and all the ups and downs…what a better way to get spark joy with fashion and photos!
Vin is wearing Tencel Kaftan Medium with Drawstring Harem Pants.
Ali is wearing Mock-Neck Rib Dress and Majestic Vest.
Karelle put a model call on Instagram for what was the photoshoot of the YEAR!
She met this sweet couple at Superfine Arts. Ali loved the clothes that fit her so well, both personality and body. Karelle was so pleased to hear her jump at the chance to model.
The original photoshoot featured just Ali. She asked if her partner could be there, and thankfully he was down to join in. It was so amazing seeing them interact as well as trade some of their looks, and of course you couldn't deny the love in the room.
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Every year, as part of the Knight Arts Challenge announcement, Knight also selects a group of Knight Arts Champions — community leaders in South Florida who have contributed to our region’s rich arts and culture scene. The Champions direct $10,000, provided by Knight, to South Florida artist or arts organization of their choice. Karelle Levy was selected as one of these Champions
Karelle Levy is a Miami-based fiber artist specializing in tropical knitwear with her company KRELwear. Her large-scale site-specific fiber art installations accompany workshops with a focus on craft, sustainability and zero waste practices. A graduate of RISD and a YoungArts Design national reviewer and master teacher, Karelle has used her decades of experience to teach yarn arts to every age group.
BEST WOMEN'S WEAR 2021 BY MIAMI NEW TIMES
If you think only a certain type of figure can wear clingy knits during the coolest days of the year, reconfigure your mind. KRELwear is the tropical knitwear for everybody on the spectrum of woman, of whatever stature, dressing for any kind of Miami weather. Owner and designer Karelle Levy uses yarns of every color you can think of to feed into her on-site loom and craft custom pieces to order — although she does have a limited amount of off-the-rack stock available for purchase as well. The pieces — including rompers, shorts and tanks, midi skirts with crop tops, wraps, kaftans, halters, minidresses, you name it (and if you can't name it, Levy will name it for you, or show you a picture of it) — cling gently to the body like a peach to its stone. As in, sweetly. And they also come off without a fight.
On August 31st, I received a surprising call from New Times naming KRELwear as Miami's Best Women's Wear. It took all day for it to actually hit me. Maggie (my knitting machine) and I are over the moon with this award! We have been working so hard, we didn't even notice there was a "secret shopper" checking us out. So when my friend Erin Newberg sent me a screen shot, my first thought, was "Who wrote this? It's so sweet!" but missed the headline. As I was in studio working non-stop all day, it took until the call from New Times themselves for it to actually hit. I'M THE BEST!!!
I couldn't have done it with out you all! From private orders, to boutique clients, fashion shows, and interviews... I feel even more blessed than before.
Some great things happen to great people. I was so happy I was one of them this year. On April 2021, we slowly moved into a neighboring studio. I was an amazing reset, especially because we were the best kept secret, in the best kept secret of Miami. Now we're in the center for the best kept secret! Located in Miami Ironside, just 2 blocks west of Biscayne Boulevard in the MIMO District, aka, Little River Business District, and Palm Grove area. This is a beautiful oasis in Miami. A quiet industrial complex with a small pizzeria and cafe and many of Miami's best fashion designers, hair salons, architects, interior designers, and entrepreneurs.
Now, once you enter the beautiful enclave of Miami Ironside on 7600 NE 4th Court, we are just on the right of the Berlin Wall. Our shop is beautifully painted by world renown graffiti artist and muralist Rage Scott Johnson. Enter our fresh little boutique #111, facing the pizza place and peruse the unique hand made collection made right here in Miami. Multicolored and sparkling collections of breathable tropical knits made from plant based yarns and sustainably made one at a time. Our studio is embraced with floor to ceiling windows, where one can watch Maggie (our industrial knitting machine) knit her magic among the rainbow wall of yarn.
Since our opening in May, Karelle has orders coming in regularly for customized pieces as well as boutique, the beauty of in-house production. Now there is a minimum of one month wait as each new order gets in line. We had a fabulous opening party that did not disappoint Dj Master Feathers and Keen One rocked the night. The night was filled fashionistas, designers, artists and musicians. We danced like many hadn’t since in over a year.
Pay us a visit! Our shop hours are from Tuesday - Saturday 12-7pm. You can set an appointment or just walk-in!
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In the past 7 months, we have been keeping safe by keeping apart. We have now become ME, just Karelle and Maggie (Shima Seiki Industrial Knitting Machine)
The first two months were madness. Masks were hard to find and in high demand
Working on small batch orders for small boutiques and customized pieces private clients while shipping and filling orders from our inventory.
All the events have ended, and I miss all of you. No more Stitch N Bitch or Pop-Ups. I turned to the internet and focused my time sharing on the website and instagram.
I'm working on the website constantly, editing, adding new merchandise to the inventory sale and making new items from the pile of things that never quite made it to the racks. Keep an eye out on that sale....
Everyday I feel thankful for you my clients, for my health and stability. And now treasure my memories of all the fabulous events, fashion shows, and numerous opportunities I've had. They fill me with joy and now I'm relishing in the slowness of our world.
Celebrating the past making me yearn for a better future. I added a page call PAST SHOWS to share the past amazing events and videos of some crazy creative times. Check it out and feel free to email me some great old shots! and video!
As we move in an unsteady world, I'm curious about what's to come.
Sending you all so much love and health. Let's be good to each other and one day all of this will be back to a better norm!
Keep up with KREL on INSTAGRAM!
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So when I was asked by the Miami City Ballet to make some leg-warmers for the Rodeo dance piece, a brilliant performance of a mainly male cast of athletic movements through the stage, I was delighted!
It was a dream come true! Tho a little part of the piece, and not the costume designer, but rather a commission to make something already designed. Just the simple fact of being in the costume shop and working with the costume designer
Reid Bartelme of Reid & Harriett was exciting in itself.
When I first graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, I wanted to get a job at the costume shop at the Miami City Ballet, unfortunately it didn't work out. But my love for performance art led me to an internship with the Florida Grand Opera. Still years later, the excitement was still very relevant!
I got to do what I do best, knit, for the Miami City Ballet!
Get your own Legwarmers!
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Colombia is so fascinating. The desert of La Guajira is impressive to say the least. A time warp to the distant past of indigenous communities. We met incredible people in the Maicao. Slept in hammocks. Washed ourselves with buckets. And learned a bit about their way of life. All in the name of research, travel, and Mochila bags.
The arid landscape of northern Colombia
Village girl in indigenous clothes. All the women, young and old wear colorful mumu like dresses.
Also known for their hammock weaving, the Wayuu people have exceptional skills in crochet and color placement. This is how we slept.
Fascinated by how a simple slip knot can hold a human suspended in the air. All of the Hammocks were held this way. The more you pull it the tighter it gets.
In this village there were approximately 20 peacocks. This is their security system.
WThe Wayuu kitchen, sink and all.
wThis is their stove. Sat on top of a concrete slab.
A performance by the younger daughters and son of the community.
Wayuu women crochet while they wait for sales. The black faced woman is wearing a sort of algae on her face that is like a sunscreen.
We stayed one night on the beach. Here's our room with a view and a walk in closet secured with a lock. This is a beautiful hostel, where we had the best lobster dinner.
Wayuu Market in Riohacha
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