"They sip limonade and eat figs from Athina's garden."

13 unique sweaters knitted by Greek grandmothers on the island of Tinos, in the Cyclades.

We work with one of the last suppliers of Greek wool: Molokotos.
Supplier and design are located within 300 km of each other.

Therefore, a short-cycle textile project is possible.

Once on the island of Tinos the first work appointment is organized.

Valentina and Philomena, who launched the knit association and who are very committed to the social and political life of the island, put everything in place for our meeting.

The 13th of July we gather all the Yayas to launch the project and talk about their know-hows, their wishes and their availability.

During this meeting, each of them chooses the stitch of the unique sweater she's going to knit.

Caroline gives them different colorful balls of wool and a technical sketch designed with the measures and precision of the stitches.d’elle choisit le point du pull unique qu’elle va tricoter.
To be part of the dynamics, Caroline knits two sweater. That allows her to exchange with Yayas, technically as well as humanly.
A weekly meeting is set up at the café of Yayas to share the progress of each.

Maria, a woman of the Kapi association, realizes crochet jewellery.

She crochetes around the frame of hoop earrings and bracelets  which we have bought. Jewellery will complete the series of sweaters.

Almost every day at the end of the day, Caroline goes at Agneza. On this balcony which overhangs the maritimes exit of the boats, she sips lemonade and eats figs from Athina's garden.
Grandmothers' days  are punctuated by their religious agenda.

To make a "knit" appointment, we have to check the Church calendar.

These summer days are hot and windy.

Agneza knows everyone in Tinos: she was born on the island in 1929 and  has grown in the Komi village. She then left to work in Athens as a cleaner at the Canadian embassy.

She hence speaks English. Once retired, she bought an apartment in Chora on Tinos Island and she returned  to live.

She tells us that she learned to knit and to spin wool as a child.

At that time, her family had no money to buy clothes, and rarely came out of the island or their village.

Caroline takes part of the daily of the Island's women.She participates to their religious and social rites. Along the project, she weaves a real relation with the Yayas.

Knowing the inhabitants thanks to the project allows real travels and authentic encounters. Choosing to take time for the sweater production enables her to gradually integrate to the Island's life.

Tinos is a very religious Island, the orthodox pilgrimages are very important. We attend to the procession for the Virgin icon the 23th of July. This same day, Athens burns.

The honeyed light, overcasted by the clouds of smoke gives a surrealist impression to this event.

Today knitting is above all a social link. In winter, women gather twice a week to share the moment together  and keep themselves warm, while the men of the island play to "Tavli" (backgammon).

A month later, almost all the Yayas have finished knitting.

They are united on the 14th of August to present their work. They discover each other's sweaters, and try them. A lot of laughs, hugs. They are happy and proud for having participated in this project for a French brand. There are surprises, like Koula who decided to design her stripes, and also few differences considering the measures given. Litza developed her own stitch and the sweater is very nice.