Bernell Dorrough“The Matrix”: a movie that changed our generation, that influenced the world of cinema beyond our wildest imaginations, and that brought a small sweater company into the spotlight.
Skif International is a small creative clothing company in St. Louis that designed the sweaters for “The Matrix” and its sequel. However, Skif is so much more than simply the company that hit it big: it is a state of mind, a creative epicenter, and an artistic hub.
Their mission statement really says it all: “Since 1994 our mission has been to provide our circle with love and prosperity. Our vision is a world free of itself.ÿWe love our sweaters and the people who wear them.”
Created by designer Nina Ganci in her mother’s basement, Skif, which stands for “Sweaters Knitted for Freedom,” has blossomed into a successful, growing enterprise. With only a handful of employees and knitters, and accompanied by various visiting artists, Skif has set out to improve the world, one sweater at a time. Thus far, they are doing a pretty good job. All hand-made and dyed at their store in the Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, Skif ships its sweaters and other apparel to over 250 retailers nationwide. “Our mission is to be made in the U.S.,” said Diana Lucas, who handles public relations and some of the sales for Skif.
Producing approximately 500 sweaters a month, the Skiffers are hard workers, devoted to their vision. With so few employees, most of whom have backgrounds in fashion design, everyone contributes to the making and designing of the clothes.
“Everybody’s a sweater designer,” says Lucas.
Although Ganci hasthe final word, most contribute in some way or another to the clothing designs. In addition to those on staff, Skif also welcomes many visiting artists, who contribute to the art gallery in the store as well as the Skif atmosphere.
“If they collaborate, it’s energetically speaking,” describes Lucas. “Creativity comes from various avenues.” “This is a creative Mecca,” describes Skif Employee Elani Myers. “It’s open, and it’s free. I’m really lucky. I love that Skif isn’t what makes me what I am. The fact is that I bring my own little energy to Skif. It makes me proud to be a part of the team. Once you even become a friend of Skif, you become part of this dynamic of amazing artists.”
Although one would like to think it was the Skif attitude emanating all the way to Hollywood, that got the sweaters into the “Matrix” movies, it was in fact the store’s Hollywood representative. Frank McKevitt looked to Skif to fulfill the movies’ needs after a fellow designer recommended that he check them out. He later discovered, after viewing some prototypes, that Skif was the perfect match for Keanu and the whole “Matrix” team.
“Just the nature of Skif made it a good match,” says Lucas.
Once in the hands of “The Matrix,” their costume department distressed the sweaters to conform to the parts they would play. These alterations have somewhat altered the Skif collection. Since the first “Matrix” movie appeared on the big screen, more and more Skif fans have opted for distressed and more worn-looking sweaters.
“The costume designers did a really great job distressing them, but in the end, it was still Skif,” concludes Lucas.
Overall Skif was very pleased and proud of the final look of the 98 Skif sweaters found in the film.
“Our things aren’t in the ‘shiny’ part of the movie, where they’re wearing leather, shiny black costumes, and they’re flying through the air,” says Ganci. “We’re in the reality part, where they’re all wearing their last outfit. They don’t have anything else to change into, and [their clothes] are torn. Hopefully it’s their favorite sweater.”
As Lucas put it, in the end, “We believe in comfort before fashion, but we make it look great anyways.”
Visit the SKIF studio store at 2008 Marconi, St. Louis, MO., [email protected] or www.skifo.com.