About Mark

Mark Fast is a 30 year old Canadian knitwear designer. He grew up outside the city of Winnipeg, in the countryside along a highway next to a forest. This minimal, peaceful lifestyle led him to wonder what life might be like beyond the familiar frontiers of Canada.

Finally finding inspiration in London, Mark studied at Central Saint Martins for five years. He completed his BA there and went on to complete his MA in February 2008. Mark has collaborated with Stuart Vevers for Loewe, Bora Aksu, Christian Louboutin, Swarovski, Atelier Swarovski, Christian Louboutin, Topshop, Pinko, Danier, and Woolmark.

Mark designs his knits by hand on a domestic knitting machine. His work is formed onto the body as he knits. He has devised innovative stitching techniques, blending lycra with the finest luxury wools. He is inspired by the endless possibilities of lycra yarns and natural fibres together, sculpting areas of tension and areas of volume over the body.

For his AW11/12 collection Mark has designed several leather pieces that have been produced by Canadian leather goods company Danier. Mark travelled to Toronto to work at the Danier atelier on development and plans to work with them on a capsule collection to be released later this year.

“Knits have a more intimate relationship with the wearer than tailoring or corsetry. The garment takes on the shape of the person inside it, and the finished look is always a collaboration between the two.” – Claudia Croft on Mark Fast, Sunday Times Style, 11th October 2009