Knitch Magazine

Karabella founder, Berta KarapetyanBerta Karapetyan is the owner and designer of one of the most successful yarn companies in the world. Who would have thought that this brilliantly talented creator of yarns and knitwear designs would have come from Russia, a country not often associated with fashion? We spoke to Berta about her life and her career, and we learned that the foundation of her style and creativity in design is her expertise in mathematics and structure.

Knitch: How did you get started in the knitting industry?

Berta: I started Karabella Company in 1993 as a design shop that specialized in developing knit collections for small New York designers. Soon, my name became well known and I got involved in developing knitwear collections for different designers.

Karabella Pattern 617, Bluebell Yoke with Buckle in Aurora 8 yarnKnitch: Any names we'd recognize?

Berta: Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Banana Republic...to name a few. They'd have design ideas for runway or showroom models and I'd create the prototype.

Knitch: Had you always dreamed of a career in the knitting industry? Did you study fashion design school?

Berta: No! I graduated with a Masters Degree in Finance from Moscow's Finance Academy. I never imagined I'd run a yarn company.

Knitch: Then how did you go from finance to fashion?

Berta: I started knitting as a young girl. I still remember the first sweater I ever made. When I showed it to my family, they were fascinated by my creation, but I wasn't happy with the way it fit.

I knew I needed to learn more about garment construction, so I read a lot of books about it. I studied it and learned how to create a well-proportioned piece. Knitting was a passion for me, but not a career path.

After I married, I quit my finance work for the city of Moscow so I could raise my children, Masha and Arthur. I discovered then that I enjoy teaching. I was successful with knitting classes and exhibitions of my work in Moscow until we immigrated to the United States in the1980s.

Knitch: Then what happened?

Berta: When I got to New York I was thrilled with the creativity and energy of the fashion industry. I could see a lot of opportunity. That's why I purchased School Products, the largest and oldest yarn shop in Manhattan. A lot of designers frequented the shop.

Karabella Pattern 606, Cabled Cardigan in Margrite yarnKnitch: So you started as a knitter and shop owner. How did you end up running a yarn company?

Berta: I'm very technically advanced in architecting knitwear, and the rumor was spread quickly among designers that I could do complicated knitwear developments. As this work progressed I was getting yarns from the best spinning mills in Italy. That's when I acquired a passion for fiber. So, in 1999 I helped my son, Arthur, select the first yarn collection from the best Italian spinning mills and Karabella Yarns Company was born.

Knitch: It seems like a natural extension of your previous successes. Today, Karabella is highly respected and you're renowned for the designs you create for the Karabella line.

Berta: Thank you. Yes. I really love working with our Aurora yarns. They're smooth, springy, silky and have a wonderful stitch definition. I'm very particular about the yarns we produce for Karabella. I work only with the best Italian mills that have excellent quality control.

Knitch: How do you select which yarns you'll produce?

Berta: After years of working with fibers I can evaluate yarn by just looking at and touching the swatch or partial cone and imagining how it will behave.

Knitch: That's quite a skill. You use the properties of the fiber as your guide.

Berta: Precisely. I know my materials, and then I create a garment that will flatter, not overwhelm.

Knitch: How many patterns have you created so far?

Berta: I haven't kept count, but there are a lot! I started designing when I was quite young.

Knitch: Of all of the knitting patterns you've designed, which would you say are your favorites?

Berta: That's a difficult question to answer! But I'd say that the Aurora Cabled Collar Pullover and my Bulky Split Cable Sweater are at the top of my list.

Karabella Yarns produces an array of fine quality products that are available at yarn shops throughout North America. We'd like to thank Berta for taking time for this interview because she's no doubt very busy preparing for the upcoming TNNA Show where she'll be presenting her Autumn 2011 collection to enthusiastic and supportive yarn shops.