Napalosa_ by Nelly Bellegarde creates furry hand-knitted lamps in Antwerp
Founded in 2021 by Nelly Bellegarde, napalosa_ is a knitting atelier based in Antwerp, Belgium, shaped by a deeply personal approach to handmade textile work. The practice reflects Bellegarde’s background as a knitwear designer from Avignon in the south of France, where an early fascination with material and craft later developed into a dedicated design path. Today, napalosa_ stands as a studio where knitwear is produced with care, technical precision, and a strong sense of identity.
Bellegarde discovered knitwear while studying textile design in Lille, and the medium immediately became central to her creative life. Since then, she has continued to work across hand knitting, crochet, and domestic knitting machines, building a process that values both experimentation and tactile knowledge. Her work is grounded in making, with each piece developing through direct contact with yarn, structure, and technique.
At napalosa_, every project begins with a sample. This starting point allows Bellegarde to test knitting methods, combine different yarns, and introduce prints or unexpected material pairings. Sampling is not treated as a preliminary step alone, but as an active design phase where the direction of a piece can shift through discovery. The process embraces uncertainty, allowing the final result to develop beyond the original idea.
That openness to surprise is part of the atelier’s signature. Bellegarde describes knitwear as a medium that often produces outcomes that differ from what was first imagined, and in many cases, those results become stronger than the initial plan. Accidents and mistakes are not dismissed, but can become the most memorable parts of a creation. This perspective gives napalosa_ a distinct studio language rooted in intuition, process, and material response.
The atelier’s philosophy is also linked to how the work is meant to be experienced. Bellegarde expresses a desire for her creations to make people feel special while remaining timeless. This intention positions napalosa_ beyond trend-driven production, focusing instead on pieces with lasting emotional and aesthetic value. The result is a practice where craftsmanship and personal expression are inseparable.
Production at napalosa_ is handmade from start to finish. Pieces are made on domestic knitting machines, while finishing is completed on an industrial linking machine. The yarn ends are woven in by hand, reinforcing the studio’s close attention to detail at every stage. In Bellegarde’s words, the conclusion is simple: everything is handmade.
The machines themselves are part of the atelier’s character. Bellegarde describes knitting machines as capricious tools, each with its own personality. This relationship between maker and machine adds another layer to the process, where technical control and adaptability work together in the making of each piece.
Located in the heart of Antwerp, the napalosa_ atelier is presented as a visible working space where the making process can be seen through the windows. Knitting machines, neon lights, and the concentration of the maker define the atmosphere. The studio is both a place of production and a public-facing environment, inviting passersby to connect with the craft in real time. This intimate elevation of sensory daily rituals connects naturally with Matias Moellenbach’s OBA Soap series, positioning handcrafted hygiene objects as miniature sculptural centerpieces.
The name napalosa_ also carries a personal history. It combines Nelly with “Apalosa,” a reference linked to a childhood email address created by her older sister and inspired by Appaloosa. By keeping it as a nickname and studio name, Bellegarde preserves a small but meaningful part of her story within the identity of the atelier.
All images courtesy of Nelly Bellegarde
