Look at these spectacular handmade “invisible sweaters” that blend in with their surroundings

The project “Invisible Jumpers”, born from the collaboration between the photographer Joseph Ford and the knitter Nina Dodd, represents a fascinating example of creativity and craftsmanship. The series photographs subjects wearing sweaters perfectly camouflaged with the surrounding environmentswithout the use of digital manipulations.

Each image is the result of meticulous planning and hours of manual laborwith lead times for sweaters ranging from a few hours to almost 100. The idea originated when Nina showed Joseph a sweater inspired by a bus seat pattern.

From there the first shot of the series was born, in which a man sitting on a bus “disappears” thanks to her perfectly matching sweater. The initiative, initially an impromptu collaboration, transformed into a more ambitious project that required several years to complete.

Each image plays with optical illusion

The turning point came with the proposal to publish a book, which accelerated production: in a year, they were created 12 custom-made sweatersbringing the total to 25. The creation of each shot required a long preparation.

Joseph carefully chose the locations and drew up detailed designs for the sweaters, taking texture and color into account. Nina, for her part, faced considerable challenges, as in the case of the cherry blossom pattern sweater, which required numerous color changes and a wait synchronized with the blossoming of the trees.

The series includes subjects of all kinds: from twins dressed as “living mirrors” to famous DJs like Fatboy Slim, to a “camouflaged” mouse on a carpet. Every image play with optical illusionprompting viewers to look twice to catch the trick. “I wanted to use a real medium, like knitwear, to create a fantastical illusion” explained Ford.

“Invisible Jumpers”, published in 2019, celebrates manual and photographic talent and is a magnificent reflection on perception and relationship between reality and imagination. The images capture the viewer, demonstrating that, in a world increasingly dominated by digital, the human touch remains irreplaceable.