Krystal Paniagua
Puerto Rican designer Krystal Paniagua’s raw, transformative knitwear collection pushed the boundaries of tailoring and knitting. The figure-hugging garments don’t conform to one singular function of knits. Instead, they invite the wearer’s interpretation and creativity – sweaters can be transformed into skirts – foregrounding the relationship between clothes, wearer, and designer.
The deconstructed looks also materialize the designer’s perception of environmental decay and urbanization in the Caribbean. Community-centered concepts combined with nostalgia for her Puerto Rican upbringing make Paniagua’s adjustable, sensual knits forge emotional connections with their wearers.
