My Story
A sense of place grounds my one-woman business, Olann Handmade, through design inspiration, regional materials, and knitwear traditions. I grew up in Ireland and today make my home on the West Coast of Canada. Earning a Fashion Knitwear Design degree from Nottingham Trent University I continued my education with a seminal internship with People Tree in London. I started my company to design and create thoughtful, handcrafted knitwear. I begin with environmentally conscious materials in beautiful Irish tweeds, mohair, Canadian wools and merino, and natural dyes. For designs and colors, I find inspiration from the places I have called home and the seasonal shifts of the West Coast landscape. My designs mostly indulge in the craftsmanship and artistry of hand knitting, while a domestic knitting machine allows me to play with texture and weight. The Olann Handmade collection balances thoughtful designs in fine gauge knit accessories with chunky hand-knit garments to produce true luxury.
Merge X Cristina Gareau X Olann
The Roulé Collection is a design collaboration between Merge, Cristina Gareau and Olann. Merge and Nanou Studios approached me in the Fall of 2022 with design ideas for a hat and sweater they had been dreaming of. And so it went that we three creative brands set about bringing their visions to life.
Roulé in French means “rolled”. The designs in this capsule collection are an ode to softness, to roundness, to turning inwards for reflection and embracing life in all its curvature. Rounded corners, soft edges, rolls and gentle textures allow you to connect with objects peacefully and embrace life’s undulations with a sacred sense of well-being.
The Roulé Hat and Sweater are handknit using mohair wool, which makes them light and airy. And so these knit pieces won’t weigh you down, but will keep you warm, so you may make your way gently.
Knitting patterns created and handknit by Olann.