Philippa Saphir. 
A collection of limited custom-made cardigan and tops, to include a navy and...

Philippa Saphir. 

A collection of limited custom-made cardigan and tops, to include a navy and pearl-dyed hemp cardigan in a continuous plain weave structure with knotted imitation pearl closure, further to include a raschel knitted tank top spread with flower heads

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Grade A-B

Please note that the piece does not have a vetement spa label, as it is a runway piece. Additionally, please note that the sizing of the piece is an approximate size 8 to 12 mannequin size. 

Provenance: The Collection of Philippa Saphir. 

Notes:

Educated at Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art during the 1970s, Saphir explored the creative boundaries of rayon knits. Inspired by British designers Jean Muir and Bill Gibb, she developed her own fashion narratives through a continuous exploration of knit variations. Knit, a raw and intimate textile of its own, became her medium for storytelling, each thread reflecting her sensitivity to structure and movement.

Saphir’s craftsmanship lay in her technical precision: the manipulation of tension, gauge, and fibre to create fluid silhouettes that retained architectural strength. Her knits often revealed a dialogue between softness and discipline, transforming an everyday textile into couture form. Influenced by Chinoiserie and guided by an instinctive sense of colour, her designs captured a phantom of luxury, an illusion both delicate and deliberate. Balancing this with versatile accessories, she composed an innovative symphony of womenswear that defined the artisanal spirit of the 1970s.