PROFESSIONAL PROJECT IDEAS

I have begun research into my professional project and at first I was struggling to come up with ideas. I began by looking through some photography books I have and found some really interesting images relating to the human body.

I'm not yet sure how I will link this to the theme of revolutionary but I'm hoping my ideas will develop into something more solid with a bit more research.

NOT JUST A LABEL

NOT JUST A LABEL

I found this website whilst researching Suzanne Lee who is a Senior Research fellow at Central St Martins and is proposing alternative methods of producing, natural, environmentally friendly clothes

There is an article on the website about her current research project which aims to address ecological and sustainability issues around fashion...

BIO_COUTURE

The material used to create these pieces is completely natural bacteria created my mixing a green tea solution with a sugar solution and yeast where it begins to form fibers creating a leathery like layer.

There is also a good jobs section were positions and vacancies are promoted for full time work and internships.

FINISHED DRAPE DESIGN

This is the finished product of my draping project. 

DRAPING BOOKLET CONTINUED

For these pages of my booklet I have used some of the photographs I took whilst draping on the stand. 

I have used the images to document my progress and included a brief description of how I achieved each stage.

There is also a page showing my final pattern outcome and how I would develop my design into a collection.

MoDIP PRJECT HAND IN

GROUP BLOG

This is the finished product of our group project for PPRD2. It was a really good way of developing team skills, and when I deduct all the stress it caused me, I actually had a really good time working with the people in my group.

After I began my research into the 'kooky' items that could be sold alongside the stair clips, we decided to design a range of stair clips for a more modern customer base. 

We used the images I found as inspiration for colours, shapes and patterns. 


This exercise has prepared me well for if I ever have to work in a team in the future. I think the subject of our project was difficult to get enthusiasm for so it was nice to be able to work in groups which made everything slightly more fun.


I felt most pleased at the end of the project before we handed it in when we could see all of our combined efforts as one outcome. All the members of my team get on really well as classmates so it was easy for us to work as a team. 

DRAPING BOOKLET CONTINUED

I have continued work on my draping booklet and these pages feature historical patterns I found whilst researching. 

I used a model to recreate the designs and I think the pages will look really good in my manual.

MADALEINE VIONNET EXHIBITION

Dior illustration exhibition

'Rene Gruau created some of the most instantly recognisable and enduring fashion and beauty images of the 20th century. His iconic illustrations defined an era, capturing a new mood of post-war modernity and optimism. His Bold lines and fluid style, simple flat planes of colour and daring use of negative space set a new graphic style and influenced a generation of illustrators.'

Yesterday I visited the Dior illustrated, Rene Gruau exhibition at Somerset House. It's the same gallery as the Show studio exhibition that I visited last year but the space was used in a very different style.
It was open plan and in quite a small narrow space with the illustrations arranged on the walls. 
The lighting was quite dim in comparison to other exhibitions I have been to with no natural sunlight but this worked really well in setting an appropriate mood. 
The work was arranged by date starting with some more early illustrations.
This exhibition will be a likely vehicle of inspiration for my draping book when it comes to my own illustrations. I especially was inspired by the silhouette and negative space.

DRAPING BOOKLET

I have now started work on my Draping design manual. I have decided to create each page using adobe illustrator as it is what I work best with and to compile the booklet ready for printing I will use Adobe Indesign. 

These pages are my Front cover and Trend and contemporary design research.

I love the impact of the big images that cover the page. and the colours all work really well in representing the ideas I have for a final colour palette.

CUSTOMER PROFILES

In todays lesson with Anya we were looking at focusing on customer profile

Anya is our new tutor and focuses more on the promotion /Buying and Merchandising side of the industry. She seems to have a whole archive of sage advise to share with us and it's very interesting.

Today she arranged a workshop where we were split into groups and had to choose a celebrity as a muse. We then had to fabricate a lifestyle and relate it to a customer base.

For our muse we choose Nigella Lawson as we thought who better a role model for busty housewives. 
I think we successfully choose a strong muse and created a lifestyle around her that would appeal to a certain customer.


I was chosen to do the presentation and I feel it went pretty smooth.
Most of the points we focused on are featured in the image above eg.

• PLUS SIZE/CURVACEOUS
• AGE 28 +
• GLAMOUROUS
• QUALITY
• LUXURIOUS
• FAMILY ORIENTATED
• HOUSEWIFE

THIS WEEK...

I finished my Jacket project this week and now I've started work on my Draping book. I was right about the borders looking good, but I might just go and use a similar font also. I've tried using fonts that would seem to compliment the drape imagery but I think a more modern, bold font is a nice contrast.

5 YEAR PLAN

My work placement at Debenhams has really helped me to decide the route that I would like to go down within fashion. I am now more clear on the kind of company that I would like to work for i.e. an independent designer or smaller brand where I will be able to have more contribution to the production of the clothing and work in a smaller team and more closely with the people around me. 
I plan to go ahead with the third year to attain a BA hons in Fashion design. During this year I will complete the three month work placement. I am hoping this will be a good opportunity for me to make some contacts in the industry and to develop my skills in the area which I choose to work. 


I am hoping that after I graduate I will be able to get a job whether it be with a smaller company or a larger company like debenhams at first so I can gain more experience working in the industry. After a year if I am not completely well suited to the role I will feel in a better position to be more specific when choosing the right job.


Once I have secured a job where I feel I am well suited I will continue outside of my job to develop myself as a brand and after having gained enough experience working in the industry I will be able to start thinking about creating my own business based on the knowledge I will have gained.

PERSONAL PRESENTATION.

INDIE LABELS

I read in an article how Indie buyers are determined to maintain a point of difference from high street competitors by making bold buying decisions for Spring 2011.

SOPHIA KOKOSALAKI

Sophia Kokosalaki interview
'In autumn 2006 she was appointed Creative Director of the leading Madeleine Vionnet' 
'Her trademark style often features the classic Grecian draping combined with handcrafted elements'

This is spookily relevant to the ideas I have for my draping project.
Into the manual she goes.

LAYOUT IDEAS.

I came across this blog Neusblog whilst researching layout designs for my Draping design manual. I'm not sure if the font style would work with the rest of my research but I really like the arrangement. Hopefully I will be able to get some pictures of my designs on models as I think it would make the manual look even more professional.  

ps. I like the borders.

DRAPING

After receiving the brief for The draping project I've decided to initially take inspiration from Ancient Greek art and costume. 

This will give me a good starting point for my research but in order to develop individual ideas I've taken inspiration from the following books...

I am hoping I will be able to avoid taking my only inspiration from this initial research, taking it too literally which might result in me producing an ancient collection. Thus why I will also research some contemporary designers (100 new fashion designers). I have also developed a keen interest in the idea of using some of the techniques featured in 'The art of manipulating fabric', to add intricate detail that will juxtapose the soft draping fabric. This might require me spending 100% of my time in the studio as some of the explanatory diagrams are seemingly incomprehensible eg.

and...

but the outcome is definitely going to be worth it.

JACK ETTE..

MY FINAL JACKET...

Alongside the Jacket I have created a booklet with all the work I have produced on Lectra for pattern cutting, and all the steps I took whilst constructing the jacket so that I can refer back to it in future.

POCKETS!

HOW I RATE MYSELF

How I score myself on a scale of 1-4
(1 being I don't. 4 being I do)
I talk too much - 2
I turn up late - 1
I interrupt others - 2
I take up too much of the discussion space - 1
I let other people carry the team - 3
I always think I am in the right - 2
I act as if I were the team leader - 2

When working in groups of generally quite people I tend to take control, however when around people with very strong personalities  I act far more reserved.

I like everything to stick exactly to the agenda -1
I keep going off at tangents - 3
I get caught up in the details and lose the big picture - 3
I have lots of ideas but many are not relevant - 3
In tutorials I often find that I have lots of ideas but they are rarely relevant to one another. I need to work on focusing on one strong idea and seeing where it eventually takes me rather than starting with many and getting confused.
I get too emotional - 2
I don't keep to the deadlines - 1
(I don't not keep to the deadlines!?)

JACKET CONSTRUCTION

This week I've begun construction on my jacket and have ample photos to prove it. I'm really enjoying the construction so far, minus having to match the check. 

I am strongly considering including a jacket in my collection this year. Aside from the sense of achievement which is comparable  to no other, a well made jacket will showcase my technical skills and make the collection look really great.