PORCS-ÉPICS TRICOTEUR
Knitting Creative Atelier in France
Porcelain sweater, Insect-stone, Doll vest… For me, knitting goes further than working with materials and inspirations that come from here and there, from beyond borders. I want to awaken the imagination of modern “porcs-épics”, to transport them to new worlds, made of softness, and sense of freedom.
Photo: ©︎Shino Ayumi
“Porcs-épics Tricoteur” is a knitting creative atelier, founded in 2015, initially based in the Saint Maur district of Paris 11th, and now in Auvergne. Its production is intended for an urban way of life
Our name, “Porcs-épics” (means “Porcupines”), comes from the famous parabola of the German philosopher Schopenhauer, “The porcupine dilemma”.
Our creations are thought for these modern porcupines, which wish to snuggle up the ones against the others to warm itself, but who are injured with the contact of spines of their relatives and go away.
This quest for a fair distance with those who surround us depicts us seeking for our place in this contemporary society.
We want that our knitwear bring pleasure, sweetness and heat to all these urban and modern porcupines.
All our products are handmade knitted, one by one, with love. Our inspirations come here and there, without borders, and we take a particular pleasure to choose natural raw materials: pure wool spun in the countryside in Massif Central, embroidery, yarn manufactured in Scandinavia, hemp 100 % organic, vintage buttons found in secondhand trade, screen-printing, wooden pearls, African loincloths, etc…
In 2017, Mikiko launched its online shop. There she shares her pleasure in presenting and selling wool and her original knitting kits, but also to exercise her keen eye on French raw materials, whose qualities she knows well and which she wishes to introduce to knitters from all over the world!
In 2018, she launched the production of 100% natural and French wool.
The first series, “PARIS NATURE”, is dyed by the Parisian vegetable dyeing workshop “Whole Concept”.
In 2021, she started the production of hand-dyed wools “MIREFLEURS” by “Porcs-épics Tricoteur” in Mirefleurs, a village of Auvergne, France.
In 2023, the whole company moved to Mirefleurs in Auvergne.
Published works
2022
Launch of the production of hand dyed yarn by ourselves in natural dye “MIREFLEURS POTAGER” sport-dk, with the recycled wool from the Pyrenees
2022
Creation of a sweater and a hat for the book “Works with the Rowan yarn”, published by Bunka Publishing Bureau, Japan
2021
Création de patron “Jeu de Billes” et de fils teint à la main pour “Livre d’images de fils mignons dans le monde” édité par Seito-sha Japon
2021
Launch of our own production of porcupine wool dyed by ourselves “MIREFLEURS” Bulky and Fingerling, with French wool
2021
Labeled « Fabriqué à Paris (Made in Paris)» 2021
2020
Article in “Mrs”,
the Japanese fashion magazine
2019
Pattern creation for
“Amirisu Magazine” issue 19
2018
Expo-collective Popup
at Kyoto, Japan
2018
Special Porcs-épics Tricoteur
housed by “Lisette”, at Tokyo & Osaka
2018
Pop up-Workshop at Tokyo & Kyoto
2018
Workshop housed by “Lisette” à Osaka
2018
Pattern creation
for “La Droguerie” Japan
2018
Workshop housed by “La Droguerie”
at Tokyo & Kyoto
2018
Launch of the production of “PARIS NATURE” vegetable-dyed wool, 100% natural and French
2017
Book “Tricot d’une Parisienne”, Bunka Publishing Bureau, Japan
2016
Become a designer at Klin’oeil in Paris
GASNIER Mikiko
Born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1973.
She grew up and began her studies in Kyoto, before arriving in France. And she works there in a painting studio and exhibits in a Parisian gallery. She resumed her studies in painting at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts (l’Ensb-a) in Paris, before embarking on a career as a digital graphic designer and art director in communication agencies, still in France. After her marriage, she returned to analog creation and a passion that had always personally animated her by launching “Porcs-épics Tricoteur”. Today she sells her works and knitting kits in stores (in Tokyo, Kyoto, Paris etc) or in her own e-shop. (photo: ©️ Ayumi Shino)