POLL: No Man Walks Alone x Kanata user-designed custom cowichan

[conceptual 4est]

KANATA COWICHAN DESIGN CONTEST: THE VOTE​

Now for something different than we’ve ever done before: a full-blown design contest. (Original post here.)

Most of you are probably familiar with what a Cowichan sweater is, but for those that don’t it’s a big ol chunky zippered cardigan. See: The Dude.

We work with a company called Kanata that has been hand-knitting these for 40 years or so. Because of the hand-knit nature of it, and the very low gauge (thick) yarns used to knit it, it becomes an awesome canvas for designs, both simple and complex, as you can hand-knit just about anything if it matches up to their knitting pattern.

While we’ve worked with them to make Cowichans using some of their more classic motifs like the double eagle, bison, and various repeating patterns, we recently opened up the floor to our friends here on SF as well as readers of our blog, and the submissions are all in. The response was truly inspiring. @gdl203 and I have narrowed down the field a bit, as there were some submissions with multiple versions, but every entrant is represented here.

We're opening up the vote here, with the 3 top picks going on to Collective Action, and the winner getting made for FW17.

To explain the format, the first two panels are the left and right chest panels, the second is the back, and the final shape is the sleeve design. The light grey lines you'll see are just the sizing scale.



Alex B. - Bats


Andrew dS. - Cranes


Dan R. - American Style Tattoo
"Based off traditional American style tattoo, using some classic-inspired designs"


Dan R. - Tiger Sukajan
"The sukajan models draw obvious inspiration in different degrees from classic souvenir jackets"


Dan R. - Koi Sukajan
"Note: can be adjusted to not have the OSAKA wording"


Dan R. - Navajo Inspired
"I wanted to try to do something from a different region of Native America, with special caution not incorporate sacred symbols. The cross and triangle motifs are basic building blocks of Navajo design"


Bang T - Swooping Crane
"It's sorta sukajan inspired, has a sakura pattern, soroban-jima (abacus stripe) pattern, chidori motif on the front, and a dope as swooping crane motif on the back."


Graeme D. - Tanuki


Greg L. - Hope


Greg L. - Wildlife and Mountains


Oliver D. - Repeating Pattern
"It is supposed to be (navy/light grey/white)"


Ryan S. - Mountains
"I am an artist in Los Angeles. These designs are inspired by my views of nature here: the sky, the trees, and the mountains. I hope they are respectful to the original types of Cowichan desgins, but also new and unique. "


Ryan S. - Palms


Ryan S. - Mountains and Palms


Vivek A - Cowichan Cowichan

 

[gdl203]

 

[g transistor]

Thanks for puttin this on! Hope mine wins (Bang T.) but if not Cowichan Cowichan is the light that we need to save us from this dark timeline

 

[baltimoron]

These are all incredible. Kudos to everyone.

 

[oulipien]

Cowichan Cowichan is amazing.

 

[1969]

Who is the 'hope' kid?

 

[d4nimal]

Thanks for puttin this on! Hope mine wins but if not Cowichan Cowichan is the light that we need to save us from this dark timeline

So impressed with the submissions all around. Amazing job, guys!
I'm gonna echo those same thoughts - Hoping for a win (Dan R.), but Cowichan Cowichan is the Boaty McBoatface of this contest.

COWICHANCEPTION.

 

[gdl203]



Who is the 'hope' kid?

It's the adaptation of a poster designed for the women's march

Spoiler

 

[AJL]

Cowichan cowichan is hilarious and the most conceptually artistic of the group, but some really nice stuff overall. Good work.

 

[AJL]



It's the adaptation of a poster designed for the women's march

Spoiler

I'm sure this design would go over big in the CEsspool. Should we invite them over to take a look? Nahhh...

 

[rydenfan]

wha a cool contest! some incredible designs

 

[LonerMatt]

So close between the crane and the koi, if the koi hadn't have had the Osaka it would have had my vote. As it stands: crane.

 

[d4nimal]

So close between the crane and the koi, if the koi hadn't have had the Osaka it would have had my vote. As it stands: crane.

Thanks for the feedback Matt. I've heard that as well on the NMWA forum when I put it up originally. I actually posted a follow up without the "Osaka" on the NMWA thread earlier and emailed Kyle a few days ago to let him know we could do that version if desired. If this is what people want (which seems to be a common request), maybe we can have the Osaka-less version voted on as a finalist if it gets to that point.

For now you can vote on both

eh? I really dig the dope ass crane as well.

PS - here's a snap of that version if you don't want to dig through the thread

 

[nahneun]

there are tanukis, cranes, kois, and tigers, but no dragons?! rip

 

[baltimoron]

there are tanukis, cranes, kois, and tigers, but no dragons?! rip

would be redundant with the giant dragon tattoos I have on my arms and chest