Dezeen Magazine

Donna Wilson on her knitted tree for the Stepney Green Design Collection

In the next movie filmed for the Stepney Green Design Collection we curated, east London designer Donna Wilson talks about the knitted tree with creatures nestled inside it that she contributed.

Donna Wilson on her knitted tree and creatures for the Stepney Green Design Collection

Wilson originally exhibited her knitted creatures at the Royal College of Art graduate show almost ten years ago, after which New York gallerist and retailer Murray Moss "latched on to them and bought the collection," she explains.

Donna Wilson on her knitted tree and creatures for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The knitted tree was created for an exhibition called Endangered Species at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (below) as a way of "giving the creatures an environment and place to live".

Donna Wilson on her knitted tree and creatures for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The characters inhabiting the tree include Cyril Squirrel-fox (below) and his offspring Rill and Ralf - read more about the knitted tree and creatures in our previous story here.

Donna Wilson on her knitted tree and creatures for the Stepney Green Design Collection

In the movie, Wilson speaks about the importance of manufacturing the products in-house at her Bethnal Green studio, just a stone's throw from Stepney Green - see all our stories about Donna Wilson here.

Donna Wilson on her knitted tree and creatures for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The Stepney Green Design Collection consists of 10 products selected by Marcus Fairs of Dezeen from creatives who live near to VIVO, a new housing development in the east London district. The project also includes objects chosen by east London bloggers Pete Stean of Londoneer and Kate Antoniou of Run Riot.

Donna Wilson on her knitted tree and creatures for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The collection is on show at the Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End Road, Whitechapel, London E1 4UJ, from 10am to 10pm every day until January. After this, the objects will be given to VIVO residents.

Donna Wilson on her knitted tree and creatures for the Stepney Green Design Collection

We’ll be publishing movies of all the designers who contributed to the collection over the coming weeks – see all the items they designed for Stepney Green Design Collection here.

The music featured in the movies is by American designer and musician Glen Lib. You can listen to the full track on Dezeen Music Project.