Hello, Ikou Tschüss

Ikou Tschüss may sound like an obscure name for a label, but it perfectly reflects the quirky and offbeat collection of colorful knitwear and accessories created by best buds Guya Marini, a fashion stylist, and Carmen D'Apollino, assistant to contemporary artist Urs Fischer.

The inspiration behind the label's signature crochet- and wool-trimmed silk foulards originated from a practical need: Carmen's silk scarf once flew off her neck while she was riding her bicycle, so the pair cleverly used their nifty knitting skills to weigh down its edges. Needless to say, a star was born.

The duo has an acute and playful sense of color, utilizing refreshing combinations of woolly yarns and brightly hued recycled threads in their scarves. Each piece is individually hand-made by Guya and Carmen, with a little help from their grandmothers, aunts and friends. In addition to the scarves, the line has expanded to include eccentric pom-pom knit hats, hooded wraps, soft printed tees and bejeweled cotton jersey bib necklaces. A children's collection is debuting next season.

By the way, "ikou" means "let's go" in Japanese, and "tschüss" means "bye-bye" in Swiss-German. But we hope this Paris-based label isn't going anywhere besides into our closet. We've already put in orders for the pixelated dog-print scarf with neon crochet trim and bow-print tee with thick, wool puff sleeves. And buyers from Japan, Germany, Zurich, Beirut and even New York's Saks Fifth Avenue have made this showroom a required stop during Paris Fashion Week.

—Jessica Dang