My name is Helena Margareta Cernigoj and I am a Canadian-born designer - raised in Slovenia, the heart of Eastern Europe. I have blended two different cultures into a love of knitting and European-styled eye for design.

I returned to Canada as a young adult and graduated from Confederation College in Ontario with an Honours degree in Interior Design. The pull of the West was strong, gradually moving me to the mountains and rich landscape of the West Kootenay's, British Columbia, where I have settled with my husband to raise our young family.

With a passion for fibre and style I was first drawn to work with exotic alpaca. Soft to the touch, light as air, hypoallergenic, the right warmth in any weather and with a beautiful drape, alpaca is the perfect medium for sensual and warm wraps complimenting every woman's figure and style.

Gradually I started working and blending alpaca with luxurious synthetic yarns, such as polyamide and viscose. I prefer to work with yarns imported from France, Italy, Spain and southern Europe.

In 2003, I introduced my first collection, designed at my studio Exotic Fibertwists. It was received with widespread admiration and demand. In 2008, I started my new brand Helena Margareta, a hand-crafted, luxurious line of accessories made from natural and  synthetic yarns. I create my own designs and transfer them into life by hand- knitting, machine knitting, crocheting and hand-dying.

 In the last couple of years I have started to work  with fine novelty yarns and introducing new lines of accessories each year.

One product that has remained the signature of my design line is a MULTI- VERSATILE RIBBON SHAWL. This shawl is made of a fine polyamide fibre, and is hypoallergenic.

 In 2010 I am expanding with my fashion-forward and classic designs so they are available to women across the world through my secure, online shopping site.

I look forward to hearing from you

Regards,

Helena