Knitwear is my favourite SIBLING

Menswear knitwear label SIBLING is well on the way to establishing itself as the uniform for London’s cool kids. Launched in May 2008, the label aims to give knitwear for men a kick. A big kick up the backside, that is.

One third of the design team, Cozette McCreery, describes it as ‘knit x tradition x luxury + English humour – drab = SIBLING… probably squared by something sparkly.’ There’s no sign of garish winter woolies or practical cable jumpers. Standout pieces include a leopard sequin twinset, chunky cardigans covered in skulls and a fully knitted biker jacket made to look like worn leather. A personal favourite has to be the knitted jogging pants adorned with a word not too dissimilar to banker.

The label is the collaboration of Joe Bates, Sid Bryan and Cozette McCreery. The three designers have a very impressive CV, having worked alongside people such as Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon and John Galliano.

Cozette started out as a model, hated it, and design was a natural progression – albeit by chance. ‘I told the London agent of MaxMara how to get a wine stain out of his marble tabletop, and I was offered a job.’

A meeting with Jasper Conran in Paris led to the next job, and reading British Vogue while lounging on a sofa in Rotterdam led to a letter to Bella Freud, after a friend said, ‘She looks nice – work for her!’ In Cozette’s own words: ‘Nothing was ever planned.’

Working with Bella for almost 12 years, Cozette says, ‘She taught me so much: to stop being frightened of colour, how to design the perfect suit, that prim dressing was actually sexy. I remember being in a club in New York, and there’s Christian Louboutin and Frieda dancing on tables. Christian was introducing me to everyone as ‘Coz de Riches’ (a play on the French slang for spoilt rich brat, he laughed) and insisting that I go and talk to Jason Patrick’s hot, crew-cut friend. Nights like that could only happen with B.’

So what’s next for Cozette McCreery? ‘I’m doing what I love best: hanging out with friends and being daft… Oh, and in the future, I’ll be marrying Keanu Reeves. He just hasn’t met me yet.’

SIBLING
Unit 11 Links Yard
29a Spelman Street
Shoreditch
E1 5LX

Tel: 020 7650 7724