Yarn made to move

Chamade took a completely different approach to developing yarn. Rather than starting with a fibre and asking what could be made from it, they started with the garment. How should it move? How should it fit? How should it perform in and out of the water?

After three years of development, the result is Contrepoint® Air – a patented stretch yarn technology made in France and designed specifically for contemporary knit and crochet garments.

There are two complementary qualities, each designed to do something different. N.1 is the more substantial option, with more structure, support and coverage, while N.2 is finer and lighter, creating a more fluid, delicate, second-skin fabric. Both can stretch up to four times their original length, opening up projects that simply aren't possible with traditional yarns.

This is where it gets really interesting: swimwear that can actually swim, knitted garments that recover their shape, crochet pieces that move with the body and lightweight layers that remain comfortable all day. Chamade isn't trying to make another yarn – they're building an entirely new category of knitwear.

We're particularly excited about the growing collection of Contrepoint® Air patterns, created with a brilliant group of contemporary knit and crochet designers. 

Contrepoint® Air launched with five colours – Pool Blue, Icy Pink, Coral Red, Bronze and Black – deliberately chosen to work together rather than simply follow the seasons. 

A note on sustainability: we know that synthetic yarns aren't for everyone (and not usually for us at Tribe), and we're particularly conscious of that when choosing what to stock at Tribe. We're therefore pleased that Chamade is already working towards a more sustainable production model. The current Contrepoint® Air production is not made from recycled fibres, but the next production cycle has been validated using recycled fibres across the entire range, including both existing and new colours. Chamade is also moving towards GRS certification, working with certified suppliers throughout the production chain.

For now, what we can stand behind is that Contrepoint® Air is developed and made in France, with a short production chain. As the new production comes into place, Chamade will be sharing the full specifications and certification details.

Discover more about Chamade and Contrepoint® Air on their website or follow them on Instagram.