About

Welcome to Studio Myr, the Luxury Knitwear Label by Dutch Independent Designer Miriam Lenarts.

With the foundation of Studio Myr in 2012 fashion designer Miriam Lenarts made her dream, to share her ideas about timeless and sustainably made fashion with the world, come true.

STUDIO MYR offers premium luxury designer knitwear with lifetime value, rooted in art and craftsmanship.

All designs are brought to life with great love for natural yarn, natural colours and the ancient craft of knitting.

Production and post-production, all take place locally in The Netherlands in an ethical way.

Inspired by the ancient craft of knitting, art and fashion, Miriam Lenarts designs unique high-end collections for both men and women. Pure materials such as extra fine Merino wool, linen and cotton are being ethically transformed in a pure, timeless style.
Her products are defined by refinement, elegance and playfulness, with a slender and graceful silhouet.

Sustainability is a major aspect of her work, both in design and in production. The collections are ethically produced in one of the last knitting factories of The Netherlands, according to the "zero waste" policy.
In order to prevent over-production she produces only on a small scale, and keeps low stock. STUDIO MYR produces no seasonal collections, but each collection is being maintained and extended every new season.

Due to this policy, the timelessness of the designs and the high quality of the yarns, one can enjoy her creations for many years.

STUDIO MYR designs for men and women with a passion for high quality designer fashion, made in a responsible way.

“I have always been fascinated by creating beauty from seemingly nothing. As a child I made wedding dresses from lace paper doilies and raincoats from plastic bags for my Barbie. I still have that alchemical feeling when I sit behind my knitting machine and watch my designs emerge from a single thread.

As a child I was surrounded by creativity and beauty. Both my father and grandfather were photographers. They taught me not only to look, but also to see. In addition, my father taught art school, and occasionally he took me along. I loved the atmosphere. It seemed like everyone was playing and having fun.

Koen Lenarts, Orchard 1981

My mother had a great taste for interior design and fashion. Under her influence I discovered the value of beautiful fabrics and the craft of making clothes. She designed her and my clothes, according to the fashion in the French magazines, and had them made by a seamstress.

She also taught me how to knit, although it didn't do much for me at the time.

When she bought clothes, she did so deliberately. In order not to have to compromise on quality, she first saved up the amount.

My mother as a young bride, wearing her self-designed wedding dress and hat

My grandmother inspired me with fantasy and humor. She showed me how to be creative with minimal resources.

I studied fashion at the art academy in Maastricht, the Netherlands. It was there that I worked with a knitting machine for the first time and immediately fell in love with its capabilities.

As a single mother, after graduating from art school, I had all kinds of jobs. But my passion for making fashion remained, and became even stronger. During the lunch breaks I started knitting. This got noticed, and people started asking me to make a design for them. Then I decided to work on a knitting machine, which I had never done before. So I got one and taught myself how to deal with it. When the demand increased further, I started looking for a local partner. I found it in Knit-it, one of the last knitting factories in the Netherlands.

At the moment I only make the samples on my knitting machine. Then they are produced fully fashioned by Knit-it in small editions. The finishing is then again done by hand in my studio.

For me it feels very natural to produce locally. I do not want to be involved in any way in commercial exploitation of people, animals or nature. I notice that this appeals to more and more customers.

MY DESIGNS

I want to design in a pure, traditional way. For this I only use pure, natural and sustainably obtained yarns such as Merino wool, organic cotton and linen. These materials make me feel in touch with nature that created them.

While working I try to get to the essence of my designs, to focus on the quality of the yarn and the functionality of the garment by leaving out everything that is superfluous.

I also think it is important that my designs are not too serious, but rather elegant and playful. After all, they are for our enjoyment too.

I focus on men and women who consciously choose their clothes. That's why I think it's important that my designs are timeless, of excellent quality and not part of the throw-away culture. You can enjoy my creations for years, making them a real part of your life.”