Detailing

For the detailing project we had the option to look at any part of western history going back to up to 300 years. I find this task a bit difficult because I didn't know where to start from. After researching into different centuries and watching a few films I ended up looking to the 18th century. 18th-century dress is renowned for its opulence. The period saw fashions for elaborate wigs, rich embroidery and full skirts. The elegant life of the eighteenth century was lived among mirrors that reflected the immediate, and some would say ephemeral, radiance of fashion.

I started off by looking into different garments and drawing from interesting detail I see, from this i started developing ideas and produced a finally layout with flats. I kind of found this this topic difficult. I Incorporated the 18th century concept with reconstruct deconstruct

Politics

For this project the theme was politics, which meant I has to look into political subject which interested me. I started off by researching a range of things that I felt interested in which included feminism, poverty and ethical trading. Which meant me looking at each subject and hoe it effects day to day living and/or sociality. 

From this  I started looking into racism and I quickly came to realise how broad that subject is. With learning this I then decided to look deeper into the subject and came up with the concept of "stolen treasures"  

I came across an online article called " should Africa take by their stolen treasures" which really gapped my attention as I didn't understand why that question was up to debate and was amused by comments on the article. 

With this I started looking more into the subject and I knew I wanted to make an ambitious print. I wanted to produce something which required thought, I liked the whole idea of someone wearing something not fully understand the meaning behind it unless you look deeper into it. With this I started creating prints and creating illustrations with it playing with different concepts. 

I find this project easy as it was something I was very interested in which meant it was a continuous flow. I'm still in the process of selecting my favourite print and manipulating the prints on Photoshop and then printing it into a range of fabrics to play with the texture and appearance of the prints.  I really enjoyed this topic as it was a way for us to make a politcal impact using fashion as a tool. 

Jelly Fish ?

I mainly started my work in the last week as i finally found which road i wanted to go and and had natural direction. Last week I started to get stuck and lost for inspiration so after a group tutorial (which i found very helpful as a way for slef reflection and a source of inspiration) i started to go back to the research stage and started looking into jelly fish, their beautiful colours and the designs creating when the dance through the water. Ii started going on YouTube watching videos, screenshot my favorite parts and drawing from these images so I have my own theme work to work from. As i started doing this ideas starting flowing through my head and I decided to go through the print route without even noticing and ended up spending twp wholes day up there printing my prints onto different types of fabric to create different end effects. I really enjoyed the print process as i feel some type of sanctification from seeing a basic drawing, developed and then printed onto something tangible.  

I was surprised in myself in what i created and that i actually enjoying making prints. I think the reason behind me enjoying print making this time was one because it was done out of my free way and was a natural process i lead towards and two I was created using no Photoshop and just my head drawings which i think creates a unique effect. I also prefect drawing things by hand rather than going down the Photoshop route as i feel hand drawing is much better and is what I'm good at. However I'm aware that i will have to force myself to start using more Photoshop as its a great skill to have even if i don't use it as much. So I'm going to teach myself how to use it so that if i do need to use it as i know it can be a quicker way to do things i will be able to do so without any struggle.


After the spending a couple days in printing i started to work from these prints to create garment designs using more my prints and my jelly fish theme idea as inspiration. Overall i really enjoyed this task as I'm very pleased with my final outcomes as I've created textiles samples with printing and using the heat press but also a large range of design outcomes. I only wished we had more days to complete this task as i felt like i had much more ideas left and I would of really enjoyed creating two final outcomes, come in which incorporate my print designs and one in which goes with the task in hand. I feel like this is the only project where i am happy with the work i have created and has given me that extra boost to push me to see the potential i have as I've been feeling very demotivated and disappointed. Hopeful i can work even more harder in the upcoming task and my work will continue to improve. Two small things I will take from my work in this task is one, always develop as developments and create end results you can never imagine and two, work from loose sheets as it gives me the freedom to work as i want.

Delicate, Reveal & Crazy Horse

For this task we had creative freedom to do as will want as a way for as to all have different outcomes by exploring different things or maybe similar things. The words I choose where 'delicate' , 'reveal' and 'crazy horse'.

adjective:

 delicate -

1. easily broken or damaged; fragile.

   "delicate china"

verb:  Reveal -   1. make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others. "Brenda was forced to reveal Robbie's whereabouts" antonyms: hide, conceal cause or allow (something) to be seen. We started off the week by going out and creating independent research by visting stores and exhibitions taking pictures which I will use when creating mood boards at the beginning stage. I enjoyed taking this day out and looking for inspiration to clear my mind and get ideas flowing through my mind. I also enjoy the days we have outside from uni as a way to boarded my outlook. The forwarding day we had activities to help loosen up our flow and getting us to take risk. I always enjoy actives which requires drawing and restrictions such as time, this is because I enjoy abstract drawing as it helps me to get warmed up for the following tasks. Although Ii enjoyed these two days the only downfall is that I felt like it was slightly a waste of two days. As the project is a six day project there is clearly no room for wasted days and i wanted t get started straight away. If we had a longer time to complete this project then I would not minded these two days. (Authors 17/12/2014) (Authors 17/12/2014) On the second day we i made some abstract drawings which I'm really pleased with thinking of my three ways and using those words to control my outcome, if i did this task again I would ensure I bought in a larger range of medium to use to create more interesting  and unexpected outcomes. The second part which i really enjoyed way working on the mannequin with a range of different fabrics to create interesting outcomes. One thing we had to do which i don't normally do is draw freely from each design i create on the mannequin. this helped me to start looking more closely into my designs looking at the folds and twist and what kind of effect that makes and where

Finally

This was the finally three days of the project and I felt like I only had a day to complete it. It was very intensive and stressful, lots of last minute adjustments and work.

This was the week when I had to finish constructing my final garment, present it and complete any missing work. I also had a group assessment where six of us when around showcasing the work we had so far and gave feedback on each persons work. This was very useful to me as I was able to see where everyone was at within the project which helped me to understand if I was on task or behind. Looking at everyone else's work I did not feel as if I was behind but I felt like there was much more I could do. The group assessment was also a way for me to gain inspiration. By looking at others work I picked out the points I felt work best within their work and use add that in my work. The points I picked up from one person which I felt was important for me to also have in my work was her way of presenting their work. This is because I understand how important presentation is and the effects bad presentation on your work. It's important for me to center my work and also add texture, pop outs or things which could stop and slow down someone when looking at my work to grab their interesting and so that it does not look repetitive. All these things are important when I'm going to an interview and someone is viewing my work to ensure I stand out against others. I thought I was not going to enjoy the process of other people viewing my work as I was not confident within my work and I felt like my dislike for the project showed through. But it was an eye opener and pushed me to try better. 

(Authors 28/11/2014)

The part of this week I found the most annoying and tedious was the marking. I think this was down to the fabrics I had to work with and the time frame. I was working with thick fabrics so could but use the sewing machines available to me as I did not have excess to the correct needles. So u then tried hand sewing with a strong thread and needle but it was taking forever just to make one stitch due to the power I had to use to push through the needle. So my garment was constructed mainly with the use of needles in certain sections which made it difficult for me to take it off the mannequin. Aside from the making process I had 80% happy with my final outcome. I think if I was to do this task again I would think more about the types of garments I bought so I could manipulate the fabric. A garment which would of been great to use would be a knitted jumper as I can unwrap the yard, rip into it and also dye ( depending on the colour) this would of been ideal to do but was not available to me until the very end when I had little time to play around with it which was very disappointing as u felt their was so much more I could of done. However I do like the finished look of my final product. Although I hated the task I think they are many things I can take from doing this. One thing I would use in the future which I learned was making something from nothing. Thinking aside the box is important and this task pushed me to do so as is felt free to do 'whatever'. I was able to play garments changing it's perception.  I honestly can't wait until these six day projects are over and we go back to the long term projects. Completing these projects has shown me how much time I wasted before in the first project and how much more I could of done. I also think I've improved a lot from the first time and I'm trying to push myself even harder to ensure I reach my full potential.

Reconstruction , Deconstruction.

Today we started on our new project which is named reconstruction , deconstruction. I've never done a project like this before but I knew it would involve  cutting, ripping & pinning. 

We was told beforehand to buy a range of different garments, so I went to the charity shop looking for garments that have different construction techniques & fastenings. This was because i was not sure of what I was going to create so I wanted to have a large range to inspire me and also create interest and unusual looks. 

We started of the project by cutting out garments & objects from fashion magazine to create abstract design ideas. I loved this task as it gave me a chance to experiment by playing around with colours, shapes proportion and even  add a sense of humor to the designs. I enjoyed the fact that there was no 'wrong' or 'right' way to create these designs so I was free to do as I felt. The task allowed me to start to think about ways I can recreate garments into something completely different just by doing things like cutting into them and turning them around. 

( Authors own 18/11/2014 )

I also started to work on the mannequin either garments I bought and played around with  concepts just trying to get ideas flowing through my brain and as a source of inspiration as I then created developments from work created on the mannequin.  I started I cut up and manipulate the fabric just to experiment and see what I could create. I found working with knit was most rewarding as I felt I could do a lot more with the fabric. I was able to create new textures and pulling and unwrapping the yard. For this reason I feel like it would be the most interesting to develop. 

(Authors own 18/11/2014)

I used all the designs I had create so far to create my initial designs. I also looked at the designer Gary Harvey as I loved his style if work. He recycled unusual objects to create wearable pieces on clothing. I think the fact that he creates wearable clothing was what interested me most able him. I used his style of work when creating my initial designs as I forcused on using things you wouldn't normally use and placating things in places you wouldn't normally put them with opened seams and uneven edges to recreate wearable desgins. 

We also placed are garments under the photocopier, manipulating the fabric to create the basics of more designs. I photocopied some of the garments I could find including ones I was wearing to try and create textiles like  patterns under the photocopier. We was then told to crate basic designs from the copes by drawing clothing and cutting into the copies. As I first I did not understand the reason for this task and tried to avoid doing it as I felt it would be no help to me and I did not understand the whole point of it. I also started to get annoyed with it as I felt like I was getting told different things which just lead to confusion. However after being Becca sat down and explained to me the whole point of the task and why she set it and understood why it was so important. The manipulation of the garments under the photocopier created folds, drapes, exposing seams and tags creating interesting designs. I then recreated the cut out designs by drawing it to see how it would look on the human body.

So far I'm not really enjoying this task as I feel it replies at lot on cutting, sticking and working on the mannequin and less on design drawings and developments which I feel is my strongest skill. For some reason I don't like working on the mannequin when it comes to creating and developing designs but was something I needed to do a lot in this project. Also because it's a 6 day project it is very intensive so once you is a day you feel like you missed a whole week and everyone else is on a different task. Which I experienced as I went to a open day and coming back to lessons was very demotivating. I've realised I really don't enjoy these intensive six day projects as I feel rushed and stressed but I understand the whole propose of these projects which is to get us use to working under pressure which will happen a lot in the fashion industry.    

Win or Loose

To summarise the final days in one word I would say 'stressful'. 

On Wednesday the day was filled with cramming in last minute work in order to caught up and outdo other groups. We wanted to ensure that we also produced worthy samples to the fashion name that are don't looked rushed ( even through they were). This is because there will be know way of hiding any faults as work will be examined and pick apart by other class mates. So we fault the best way of doing this is to get everyone working on creating samples ( aside from promotion). We did this by printing out Daisy's textile prints she hand made, collecting objects and different material around us such as thread and plastic cups. We did this to show that fabric does not have to be used to create garments showing you can make something out of nothing. We also used it as a way to promote recycling, which is always helpful. Everyone took a mannequin and start experimenting with shapes and materials by cutting, crumbling and repeating. When analysing her clothing I realised she likes to respect patterns/ shapes which makes the clothing so effective. The use of repeat creates a fabric like look which I really enjoy about her work. We also made a new mood board which was more interactive by adding textured samples and also making the actually mood board into a 3D shape. 

( Authors Own 13/11/2014 )

I could half heartily say I enjoyed this project for a few reasons. I understood the whole point of the project as in the fashion work it is very unlikely that we would work by yourself so we have to get use to working as a team and the problems that come with this. It's a way for me to get a taste of how life could be like for me in coming years. I also lie the idea of us already having a fashion house we're working under as it gave me a base to work from. I like that because I'm  able to work from something and most of the work is done for me which means I'm able to forces on just one section of the fashion industry which should of made things easier for me. It also was a learning experience because I leant about a new designer which I had not heard of before and looking into her work independently  I started to become a fan of her work and the artist take on fashion, which is something I could learn from. As I did fine art for over three years and it was something I really enjoyed I want to see if there is a way for me to combind the two. I'm going to start exploring this idea during free time and hopeful it should show through my work at uni too.

However what I did not like about this project is the group part and how if one person is lacking the whole group is. It relies heavily on team work and I think because I already knew built some type of friendship with basically everyone in the group beforehand ( aside from the new promotion student who joined) it was even harder. I did learn that I can't work  with friends as it's harder for things to be done as you don't want to hurt each other's feeling, as If I did not know then before it would be straight business (work) and I think it would of been easier for everyone to put their foot down and/or speak up. Although everyone did say their views and opinions things took longer to do because we was all so familiar with each other.