AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.09.2004, Qupperneq 73

beautiful things and also by very
talented craftsmen. People who
thought nothing of building houses,
making clothes or furniture. I was
taught how to knit when I was 5
years old. After that I could not stop
knitting and made all sorts of expe-
riments with knitting. I still carry on. I
also think that it was a very import-
ant background for me as a design-
er that the people around me felt
that nothing was impossible. You
just carried on until everything work-
ed as intended.
I could just as well have become an
artist, furniture- or industrial design-
er. I wanted to work with colours
and form and loved to solve puzzl-
es. Textiles, therefore, were quite
inviting when I started in the art col-
lege, Myndlista og Handíðaskólinn
(The School of Visual and
Handmade Arts), but there I took
many useful sidesteps. I consider
myself very fortunate to have stud-
ied in this art college as it was at
that time. In the Textiles Department
one was not channeled into a def-
inite course but had the freedom to
develop as a designer with the ass-
istance of excellent teachers. I am
not, however, criticising the college
as it is today but think that for me it
was important not having to position
myself either as a student of design
or art.”
On completing her studies Bergþóra
started her own studio and design-
ed her own collection. The main
emphasis was on lcelandic wool.
After that she started the shop
“Aurum” with goldsmith Guðbjörg
Ingvarsdóttir and they ran this shop
for two years or until Bergþóra start-
ed working for 66°Norður.
“It was very important for me to
take this road because in this way I
had realized that I wanted to work
as a designer. I for example learn-
ed the important lesson that it is no
simple matter to work as a designer,
producer, salesperson and handle
PR, all at the same time. However,
my designs were well received and I
have kept in touch by offering hand
knitted sweaters at “38 þrep” in
Laugavegur from a production line
which has been popular.”
Bergþóra was employed by the
“I think that my background in the
Textiles Department in Myndlista og
Handíðaskólinn, where the studies
were both broad and intense helped
a lot in my work as we are working
with highly developed materials for
the outdoos with respect to breat-
hing, moisture transfer, windproofing
and waterproofing and so forth.
During my studies I for example
attended classes given by the text-
iles engineer Joy Boutroup who is
one of the leading authorities in her
field. I also took classes in weaving
and material science given by art-
ists from all over the world. We also
worked intensively with colours,
form and textures with knitwear
designers and dress designers to
name a few.”
Bergþóra Guðnadóttir is one of the
most important lcelandic designers.
Her sucessful designs pave the way
for future designers. ■
Kven regnkápa úr PVC, gerð með sam-
skonar tækni og sjófatnaður sem er soðinn
saman með hátíðnisuðu. /Woman's rainc-
oat made, using the same technology as
sea-wear, welded by high frequency.
Sjóklæðagerð in 2001 and
they produce under the label
66°Norður. “We are two des-
igners who are in charge of
designing the production line,
assisted by an excellent group
of professional people in the
making of patterns and protot-
ypes. My work is quite varied.
In addition to the obvious
- creating garments and des-
igning the collection -1 create
colour concepts for 6 months
at a time, two years before the
collection goes on sale. I have
also had a hand in advertising.
I design for a very broad group
of people because we are
designing both for adults, chil-
dren and toddlers in addition
to sea- and rain clothing which
I like designing. I also regularly
attend material- and outd-
oor exhibitions where I follow
the latest developments. The
company has been growing
very rapidly. Sales in lceland
have been unbelievable and
we are also testing markets
overseas.”
Módel: Berglind. Ljósm. Sólver.