Whether hand-knitted or industrially produced, whimsical or theatrical, ingenious or just plain beautiful, these pieces are all stunning examples of the new vogue in knitting.

From Julien Macdonald’s cobweb confections and Lainey Keogh’s filigree works of art, through Prada’s classics with a twist and Missoni’s rainbow zigzags and stripes, to Martin Margiela’s avant-garde deconstructions and Issey Miyake’s revolutionary clothing concept A-POC, today’s designers are bringing radical ideas to knitwear design.

Developments in modern technology, a revival of traditional craft skills and a new appreciation of couture workmanship have all ensured knitwear’s place at the forefront of fashion. But the innovation is not confined to clothes design. Artists are creating knitted installations for museums and galleries; accessory designers such as Jo Gordon and Hikaru Noguchi use knitting for their imaginative and colourful creations; product designers are capitalizing on the unique visual and light-filtering qualities of knitted fabrics to make remarkable furnishings, lighting and jewelry.