Knitch Magazine

It’s early in the morning…earlier than most would like. But outside the hotel banquet room is an air of excited anticipation. Groups of ladies, and just a few men, whisper enthusiastically as they cluster near the unopened doors of the room. They jostle and jockey for position as the crowd continues to grow. Tired as they may be after a long night of networking and catching up on industry gossip, they’re all energized with one goal in mind: to be among the first to get into that room.

Photo left: Stacy Charles and Dona Zimmerman of Web-sters attending the Yarn Market News Event in Seattle, OR.

When the doors burst open, the crowd rushes in to grab a seat at one of the tables close to the podium. It’s only after they’re comfortably seated that they can relax enough to toss air kisses to old acquaintances, admire one another’s colorful knitted garments, and speak enthusiastically about what they’re about to see: the newest Tahki Stacy Charles collection of yarns and patterns.

The presentation is in Columbus, OH at the TNNA Show where yarn shop owners and industry thought-leaders gather for a few days each June. Here they determine which fibers and fashions will be purchased by stores throughout the United States and Canada. They attend classes to learn new techniques. They spend many grueling hours on the trade show floor visiting booths of manufacturers and designers, examining yarns from throughout the world. Those who are lucky enough to be selected receive an invitation to attend special events like the coveted Tahki Stacy Charles breakfast presentation. It’s a literal Who’s Who of the yarn retail industry, with Stacy Charles walking amongst the tables to say good morning to old friends and to introduce himself to the few new people who haven’t yet met him. This is an industry of relationships. If they don’t know you, you can’t succeed.

Everyone wants to know Stacy.

Though he says he doesn’t much think about his celebrity status, shop owners value their relationship with him, and a personal visit by Stacy is considered a major coup – not only for the store personnel, but also for the customers who might benefit from an impromptu demonstration of technique. This morning, he’ll be telling his enthralled audience of yarn retailers what he hopes they’ll be selling next season.

He presents the new yarns, passes samples to his audience to feel (because he knows how important it is for them to have a full sensory experience), and then he shows them sample garments that demonstrate the drape, the stitch definition, the qualities created by the fibers. This is a critical part of the sales process for any yarn manufacturer: ensuring that every new line introduced is accompanied by a collection of patterns – patterns their customers will want to create for themselves.

The ladies, and men, in the room examine the yarns as they emit small expressions of delight. They jot notes indicating which ones they’d like to buy for their shop. They comment to one another about the merits of each yarn they see. The presentation goes well; his audience is impressed. Stacy looks forward to another successful season.

Later asked where he finds inspiration for his products, Stacy tells us, “Mostly from the color and texture of component yarns.” His first company started with novelty yarns, so his answer isn’t surprising.

Stacy Charles, Vice President and CEO of the eponymous Tahki Stacy Charles, began his career 33 years ago after his Aunt Irma and Uncle Sam founded Anny Blatt USA. It was a dramatic shift in career path for the young student, who had majored in Political Science/Campaign Politics and was just beginning his Masters in Geriatric Social Work. But Aunt Irma knew intuitively where Stacy ought to be, informing him that he should become a buyer or get involved in the fashion business. Little did he suspect that once he started working with her, he’d be learning how to knit and, within just five years, founding his own successful company.

“I love developing new products,” he says, “creating the yarns. For me, it’s all about the product and fashion. I also love the interaction with shops and the relationships I’ve established.”

These relationships are an important part of his success.

Just over a decade ago, in 1999, Stacy was approached by a friendly competitor, Diane Friedman, whose partner was retiring. Diane had recognized Stacy’s quick-thinking and sound business decisions; he appreciated her realism and attention to detail. Within a week, they agreed they’d make excellent partners and a thriving new company was born.

Today, they offer four separate brands with a broad spectrum of fibers and designs, for knitters of every age and style: Tahki, Filatura di Crosa, S. Charles and Loop D Loop. Tahki offers value and weekend wear. Filatura Di Crosa features European elegance and flair. S Charles presents luxury fibers and fashion mix-and-match colors. Loop D Loop brings unique yarns and the fashion sensibility of designer Teva Durham.

When asked how he chooses yarns and patterns for each brand, Stacy tells us, “I work with great teams of technicians who I like to call magicians.”

This Spring 2010 season, these magicians are presenting fibers from the eco and natural story lines, and they’re particularly excited about their Tahki Good Earth Cotton and Filatura Di Crosa Tempo yarns. These yarns are featured in comfortable, chic styles enhanced by the soft, organically-grown cotton of Good Earth Cotton, and the rustic, nubby cotton blend of Tempo.

Stacy, who prefers clean lines on simple styles says, “I work with an incredible team, led by Adina Klein, that includes Rosemary Drysdale and so many other talented designers. We start with concepts based on a variety of ideas or themes. Often we build backwards from the final looks we hope to achieve and roll into it from photography and styling.”

After 33 years he says he still gets excited about creating a new collection every six months, “I think it’s an evolving process. Since there are very few new ideas and concepts whether it be fashion or yarn, it’s about creating new proportion or tweaking and refining continuously.”

Considered one of the industry’s foremost fashion visionaries, Stacy still appreciates the value of traditional quality and endurance . He eschews the trite and the temporary to embrace exquisite design and high-quality, natural fibers. That’s likely why his favorite fashion designers are the Italian Missoni family whose vision, love of color and blending of textures have made them one of the most appreciated Milanese fashion houses.

Not only does Stacy look to Europe for the runway styles that set the trends, it’s where he goes to stay on top of the knitting fashion scene. He never misses the massive Pitti Filati yarn show in Florence, and whenever possible he attends the prestigious Premiere Vision show just outside of Paris, France. At these events, that attract fashion designers and buyers from throughout the world, Stacy examines new products the mills have developed, and determines which are to be adopted into the various Tahki Stacy Charles brands of yarns.

For Autumn 2010, he tells us to expect simple silhouettes, multi directional stitches, and unique textural yarns. Best of all, after a few seasons of somber grays and blacks, he says we’ll be seeing the return of gorgeous, glorious color.

The yarns? Stacy’s a purist who will be presenting the finest natural fibers: merino, kid mohair, silk and cashmere. Still he says, “I love novelty yarns. Not only are they fun to develop, they’re exciting and challenging from the fashion point of view.”

Excitement and challenge. Simplicity and elegance. Nature and purity. These words capture the essence of Stacy Charles. They are the reason why another excited crowd of yarn retailers will be waiting outside a banquet hall in Columbus, Ohio, in June, elated that they are among the few who will be first to see the Tahki Stacy Charles Autumn 2010 selection of yarns.