The Art of Collaboration: Kendall Ross & Gaby Wilson Talk Craft, Process & BIRD CLUB
Brett KarleyConversation conducted by Gaby Wilson
Writer Gaby Wilson sat down with artist Kendall Ross to talk about all things knitting, bird watching, and the collaboration that led to Bird Club’s first-ever sweater drop: The Binocular Sweater.
Kendall Ross doesn’t just knit sweaters—she knits cultural commentary. Emotion. Memory. Quiet rebellion. Her one-of-one hand-knit pieces, often text-based and always unforgettable, have earned her a cult following among art-world insiders and anyone who's ever felt something big and weird and hard to explain.
“Knitting is how I process the world,” Kendall told Gaby. “It’s tactile, repetitive. It slows everything down in a way that lets the meaning come through.”
She’s based in Oklahoma, but her work lives everywhere—from museum walls to editorial features to Tumblr-core moodboards. And now, for the first time, her vision has been translated into a limited-edition wearable: The Binocular Sweater, designed in collaboration with Bird Club.
A Sweater That Sees You Back
Front: “I haven’t seen you in so long.”
Back: “But still I see you everywhere.”
These aren’t just words. They’re a framework for feeling—delivered through bird’s-eye jacquard knit, with binoculars framing some of North America’s most iconic migratory birds: Scarlet Tanager, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Evening Grosbeak, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
“I wanted it to feel like a memory,” Kendall says. “Like something you maybe inherited. Or something that reminds you of someone.”
Crafted from soft, breathable organic cotton grown in Burkina Faso, this sweater is made for all seasons—light enough for summer nights, cozy enough for fall mornings. And emotionally calibrated for those weird, tender days when you miss someone who’s no longer here (or maybe just far away).
A Collaboration That Makes Sense (And Feels a Little Unreal)
We’ve been obsessed with Kendall’s work for years—her ability to turn softness into strength, to pair humor with heartbreak, to use craft as a form of personal and political storytelling.
She learned to knit from her grandmother, the same person who introduced her to bird watching. It’s no surprise that these two rituals—quiet, observational, deeply personal—have become central to her practice.
“There’s this beautiful overlap between knitting and birding,” Kendall told Gaby. “Both require slowness. Both demand attention. They’re grounding.”
“And they’re both better with other people.”
This sweater was born from that spirit of connection. It’s the first time Kendall’s work has been available in a series—and we’re still pinching ourselves that it happened through Bird Club.
Who Is Kendall Ross?
If you don’t know her yet, you will.
Kendall is part of a new wave of artists redefining what textiles can be—pushing the form beyond function and into fine art. Her work is funny, radical, soft, and smart. She’s currently prepping for her first solo art show (coming this September), where she’ll debut large-scale sculptural knit pieces that expand her vision even further.
“I love that it’s seen as sweet,” she says. “Because that gives you cover to say something kind of sharp. Or kind of sad. Or totally unhinged.”
And that’s the magic of Kendall: she disarms you with softness, then delivers a line that hits harder than anything you’ve read all year.
Why You'll Love the Binocular Sweater
- 100% Organic Cotton: Ethically grown in Burkina Faso. Soft, breathable, and good for the planet.
- Bird’s-Eye Jacquard Knit: A textured, high-res approach to knit design that brings migratory birds to life.
- Unisex Fit: Relaxed, flattering, and easy to layer.
- All-Season Wearability: Light enough for summer. Cozy enough for fall. Built for migration and everyday magic.
- Limited Edition: The first time Kendall Ross’s work is available beyond the art world. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Wear it when you miss someone. Or when you feel them everywhere.
This isn’t just a sweater. It’s a collaboration between an artist we deeply admire and a brand built for the curious and the kind. It’s about birds. It’s about memory. It’s about being present.
→ Shop the Binocular Sweater Now
Free returns. Ethically made. Approved by birds.
Want more?
You can watch the full conversation between Gaby Wilson and Kendall Ross here:
