Mark Fast is a young upstart knitwear designer from Canada who is fast making a name for himself in the international fashion community. He grew up in some secluded forest fairytaleland outside of Winnipeg. The solemn quietude of his childhood pressed tightly against his growing genius, and he eventually found his way to London, where he studied at Central Saint Martins. Before setting out on his own, Mark did three seasons of knitwear for Bora Aksu. Fast knits all of his pieces himself on a domestic knitting machine. His innovative techniques, such as blending lycra with natural fibers, like angora and wool, or soft, sculptable fabrics, like viscose, result in pieces that are texturally complex, and that adhere to the body in extraordinary ways. Fast is all about creating pieces that transcend the trends. “I believe there is a growing interest in craftsmanship in fashion these days,” he says, “as opposed to quick fix disposable pieces. I am focusing on timeless classics.” I, for one, hope to Christ that this is what timeless classics look like in knitwear from now on. Fast’s designs combine a comprehensive historical perspective with his modern sensibility. The end product is a line of super
