Pento jumper detail

Pento
Jumpers

Pento celebrates color and innovation in knitwear by combining traditional craftsmanship with an entirely original technique. Transforming images into wearable art, the project produced a small collection of playful, impressionistic pure-wool jumpers, showcasing both the beauty of the garments and the ingenuity of the process behind them.

Pento jumper in vegetal pattern, photographed on model Pento jumper in animal pattern, drop-shoulder cut

The Process

At the heart of Pento is an innovative combination of Jacquard knitting and a custom application of dithering—a swatch manipulation technique developed for this project. This process turns any image into vibrant, pixelated patterns that seem richly colorful from afar but reveal a limited palette up close.

Source image being processed through dithering algorithm Dithered pattern translated into a knit-ready swatch Macro of Pento knit stitches showing pixelated colour mix
Full-length editorial shot of a Pento jumper on model

Artisan Pixels

To bring the technique to life, the project partnered with experienced Italian textile artisans, exploring the application of advanced knitting methods.

The resulting prototype jumpers featured a versatile drop-shoulder, high-waisted, oversized cut, blending contemporary style with the precision of traditional craftsmanship.

Artisan at work Knitting detail Textile detail
Pento jumper in mineral pattern, photographed against neutral backdrop Pento jumper styled with high-waisted trousers
Three-quarter editorial portrait wearing a Pento jumper

Inspired by Nature

The collection showcases the technique's versatility through diverse designs inspired by the three realms. Vegetal patterns feature jungle leaves, Animal designs reference Jan Brueghel the Elder's Noah's Ark, and Mineral motifs explore inorganic textures, demonstrating how different visuals can be transformed into knitwear.

Pento jumper in the Animal pattern — Jan Brueghel-style 'Noah's Ark' scene with horses, lions and dogs in a wooded landscape, knitted into the front panel Pento jumper in the Vegetal pattern — tropical leaves and red ferns in green, pink and ochre, knitted across the front panel Pento jumper in the Mineral pattern — surreal collage of pink crystals, a moon, mountains, a Hokusai-style wave and a starry sky
Knit detail Knit detail
Knit close-up
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