Three words

Man Ray - Artist: Photography, Surreal painter. 

- visited the saatchi 

Reveal - Primary research: A visit to the Saatchi Gallery: East Meets West exhibition & the Huntarian Museum

Delicate - Primary research: Science Museum, Huntarian museum

2/12/2014 - The first day of the 'Three Words' project consisted of gathering and refining primary research, this included Gallery & museum visits doing first hand rough observational sketches and photography of relevant pieces which would could be used as as starting point of initial textile sampling or rough design ideas. A mind map of the three chosen words (shown above) was also nessiscary at this initial stage.

3/12/2014 - The objective of the second day were the completion of a series of workshops, the first began with drawings using various mark making techniques, line, stippling, hatching/ cross- hatching, curved hatching,etc simply producing several A1 sized drawings from memory, not specifically of an object the drawings I had produced were all abstract transferring what the three words sujested to me individually a break down of each word using the senses to assist in the drawings, using a range if mediums such as pen, oil paint, pencils and markers. I quite enjoyed this workshop as it was out of my comfort zone which I thought challenged me in the sense of expanding and being free with my drawing rather than being literal and confined to one area of the page. Draping on the stand after with calico didn't interest me greatly and I had initially thought wouldn't be benigitial as it is something you'd do at the initial stages of design however the process of draping within a set time and producing a series of quick observational line drawings didin fact benigit me as it forced me to work at a quicker pace with designing something I intend on progressing eventually.

Week 1 three words

Three words: WEEK 1

Man Ray - Artist: Photography, Surreal painter. 

- visited the saatchi 

Reveal - Primary research: A visit to the Saatchi Gallery: East Meets West exhibition & the Huntarian Museum

Delicate - Primary research: Science Museum, Huntarian museum

2/12/2014 - The first day of the 'Three Words' project consisted of gathering and refining primary research, this included Gallery & museum visits doing first hand rough observational sketches and photography of relevant pieces which would could be used as as starting point of initial textile sampling or rough design ideas. A mind map of the three chosen words (shown above) was also nessiscary at this initial stage.

3/12/2014 - the infective of the second day were the completion of a series of workshops, the first began with drawings using various mark making techniques, line, stippling, hatching/ cross- hatching, curved hatching,etc simply producing several A1 sized drawings from memory, not specifically of an object the drawings I had produced were all abstract transferring what the three words sujested to me individually a break down of each word using the senses to assist in the drawings, using a range if mediums such as pen, oil paint, pencils and markers. I quite enjoyed this workshop as it was out of my comfort zone which I thought challenged me in the sense of expanding and being free with my drawing rather than being literal and confined to one area of the page. Draping on the stand after with calico didn't interest me greatly and I had initially thought wouldn't be benigitial as it is something you'd do at the initial stages of design however the process of draping within a set time and producing a series of quick observational line drawings didin fact benigit me as it forced me to work at a quicker pace with designing something I intend on progressing eventually.

week 2 Deconstruction/ reconstruction

Today was solely about incorporating/ collaborating the methods of fabric manipulation I had learnt and progressed on throughout the previous workshops and producing an outcome using the old clothes collected at the beginning of the project.
  Taking advantage of the studio space and facilities I was able to produce a textile based reconstructed garment using mainly denim which I cut up forming a patchwork, some area distressed using a scalpel creating slashes, frayed areas laddering by pulling individual fibres from the weave.

Fabrications - Heat distressed Velvet

The technique used to create this was a soldering iron onto crushed velvet

Deconstruction/ Reconstruction introduction: Week 1

The aim was to recycle old clothes however clothes which specifically had a Fabrucation such as sequins, clothes with clever seams, pockets, work wear, sportswear, granny, prints, knitwear, denim & tailored suits. Clothes in which I was able to get my hands on were then placed on a mannequin/ tailors dummy however not the way original item of clothing was meant to be worn, as I am a textiles based person my aim was to manipulate textures using what I had, simply placing the garments in different forms on the mannequin proved a battle as I couldn't quite manipulate texture in that way.

 In turn I began to cut along the seams of the items of clothing I had brought in giving me a smaller scale to work with and a starting point into the project.

 

As my main focus within this project is the Textile element, using different techniques in order to manipulate and form a variety of textures on fabrics deconstructed from in wanted garments was interesting. Below shows me using a scalpel to create a laddering effect by stretching the fabric whilst slashing it with the scalpel I create large holes leading on to the laddered element.

This technique proved effective however only whilst being stretched the full effect was visible I also played around with the underskirt if an old dress and incorporated denim from an old pair of jeans which I freyed using a scalpel and scissors also vigorously ringing and pulling helped in the process of distressing the denim.

Deconstruction/ Reconstruction

The aim was to recycle old clothes however clothes which specifically had a Fabrucation such as sequins, clothes with clever seams, pockets, work wear, sportswear, granny, prints, knitwear, denim & tailored suits. Clothes in which I was able to get my hands on were then placed on a mannequin/ tailors dummy however not the way original item of clothing was meant to be worn, as I am a textiles based person my aim was to manipulate textures using what I had, simply placing the garments in different forms on the mannequin proved a battle as I couldn't quite manipulate texture in that way.

 In turn I began to cut along the seams of the items of clothing I had brought in giving me a smaller scale to work with and a starting point into the project.

 

Industry week 1: Jil Sander

Initially we began by researching 8 main categories of fashion houses presented to us, these categories were Colours used, Fabrication, Detailing, Styling, Make up, Concepts, Promotional themes and Music.

The fashion houses: 

Meadham Kirchhoff, Edward Meadham & Benjamin Kirchhoff:

Colours: bold print, golden lame, pastel pink

Fabrication: Appliqué 

Detailing: Beading, crystal embroideries

Styling: flared heel multicoloured metallic boots

Make-up: day glow make-up

Concepts: Romanticism,  

Promotional themes: Topshop collection

Music:

Comme Des Garçon:

Colours: Black, maroon, Greys & navy

Fabrication:

Detailing: Inverted seams, chunky knitt, unfinished hems

Styling: Skinny jeans, met by rebellion in the form of messed up barrister wigs

Make-up:

Concepts: Big, Bold, looped, structural - naturally 

Promotional themes:

Music:

Exhibition pieces, manipulation of the human form.

Givenchy, Riccardo Tisci:

Colours: Mint, black, multicoloured palette, 

Fabrication: surface printing, embroidery

Detailing: prints - butterfly and moth wings imagery

Styling:

Make-up:

Concepts: Grown-up take on female sexuality
'He said he’d found his way into it by looking at the work of the Italian furniture designer and architect Carlo Mollino, a man with an interest in insects and taking pictures of naked and scantily clad women (it’s amazing what we find out about obscure practitioners of the arts through fashion these days, isn’t it?).'

Promotional themes:

Music:

Miuccia Prada:

Colours:

Fabrication:

Detailing:Narrow piped edgings,

Styling:Narrow silk scarves, wedge heeled boots & strappy sandals 

Make-up:

Concepts:

Promotional themes:
Music: Kurt Weill, Barbara Sukowa

Iris Van Herpen:

Colours:

Fabrication:

Detailing:

Styling:

Make-up:

Concepts:

Promotional themes:

Music:

Jil Sanders:

Colours: Greys, neons, metallic/ iridescent, pastel blues & pinks, mustard yellow/ yellow orchid

Fabrication: Knitwear

Detailing:

Styling: Bright neon platform brogues, 

Make-up: Natural make up (nudes), washed hair un processed, naturally dried  

Concepts:

Promotional themes:

Music:

Burberry Prorsum:

Colours:

Fabrication:

Detailing:  

Styling: 

Make-up:

Concepts:

Promotional themes:

Music:

Concept: 

Prior being put into groups from the previous lesson as a group we all had to piece together a concept, research and mood board for the designer Jil Sander focusing on the initial criteria we were given forming an industry these included Menswear and Womens wear designers, fashion promotion, textile designer.

As the only womens wear designer in the group I focused mainly on my own individual area of strength and interest, surface print.

Water marbling, Aurora Borealis: 

As the only womens wear designer in the group I focused mainly on my own individual area of strength and interest, surface print.

The third day into the two week project consisted of fabrications and sampling, as the womens wear designer focusing on the textile element of the project it was my role to creatively come up with the appropriate fabrications for the Jil Sander fashion house. As the overall theme that we had all come to agreements with derived from the quote given we extracted 'Massive gaps', 'searching', 'traveller' and went along with the idea of a nomadic/ Eskimo theme. I in turn looked into maps and the artist Lordy Rodriguez who paints maps which have 'massive gaps' within them highlighting the places he has travelled and wishes to return one day. This Nomadic idea lead me also to look into the Aurora Borealis also known as the Northern lights - a natural light display in the sky usually seen in the high latitude (Arctic and Antarctica) this liked closely to Jil Sanders AW 2014 collection which exhibited iridescent and metallic accessories and garments.

My interpretation of the Aurora Borealis was the process of water marbling using sublimation inks transferred onto paper then fabric.

Concept Jill sander (industry)

Prior being put into groups from the previous lesson as a group we all had to piece together a concept, research and mood board for the designer Jil Sander focusing on the initial criteria we were given forming an industry these included Menswear and Womens wear designers, fashion promotion, textile designer.

As the only womens wear designer in the group I focused mainly on my own individual area of strength and interest, surface print.

Fashion Houses

Initially we began by researching 8 main categories of fashion houses presented to us, these categories were Colours used, Fabrication, Detailing, Styling, Make up, Concepts, Promotional themes and Music.

The fashion houses: 

Meadham Kirchhoff, Edward Meadham & Benjamin Kirchhoff:

Colours: bold print, golden lame, pastel pink

Fabrication: Appliqué 

Detailing: Beading, crystal embroideries

Styling: flared heel multicoloured metallic boots

Make-up: day glow make-up

Concepts: Romanticism,  

Promotional themes: Topshop collection

Music:

Comme Des Garçon:

Colours: Black, maroon, Greys & navy

Fabrication:

Detailing: Inverted seams, chunky knitt, unfinished hems

Styling: Skinny jeans, met by rebellion in the form of messed up barrister wigs

Make-up:

Concepts: Big, Bold, looped, structural - naturally 

Promotional themes:

Music:

Exhibition pieces, manipulation of the human form.

Givenchy, Riccardo Tisci:

Colours: Mint, black, multicoloured palette, 

Fabrication: surface printing, embroidery

Detailing: prints - butterfly and moth wings imagery

Styling:

Make-up:

Concepts: Grown-up take on female sexuality
'He said he’d found his way into it by looking at the work of the Italian furniture designer and architect Carlo Mollino, a man with an interest in insects and taking pictures of naked and scantily clad women (it’s amazing what we find out about obscure practitioners of the arts through fashion these days, isn’t it?).'

Promotional themes:

Music:

Miuccia Prada:

Colours:

Fabrication:

Detailing:Narrow piped edgings,

Styling:Narrow silk scarves, wedge heeled boots & strappy sandals 

Make-up:

Concepts:

Promotional themes:
Music: Kurt Weill, Barbara Sukowa

Iris Van Herpen:

Colours:

Fabrication:

Detailing:

Styling:

Make-up:

Concepts:

Promotional themes:

Music:

Jil Sanders:

Colours: Greys, neons, metallic/ iridescent, pastel blues & pinks, mustard yellow/ yellow orchid

Fabrication: Knitwear

Detailing:

Styling: Bright neon platform brogues, 

Make-up: Natural make up (nudes), washed hair un processed, naturally dried  

Concepts:

Promotional themes:

Music:

Burberry Prorsum:

Colours:

Fabrication:

Detailing:  

Styling: 

Make-up:

Concepts:

Promotional themes:

Music:

Snakeskin print onto polyester with PVC overlay.

In order to manipulate the texture and appearance of the snakeskin, after printing I left the snakeskin onto of the transferred print and place dab overlay of PVC which I heat pressed to the polyester and skin at 200 Degrees Celsius for approximately 25 seconds to prevent the PVC from burning in the press, yet just the right amount of time to enable the PVC and materials to fuse to each other. I think this method of printing worked successfully I was able to produce a sample which retained it's colour and structure/ texture; despite being out under the heat press at 200 Degrees Celsius twice.

What could have been done differently: 

Trialled out various other materials mimicking the honeycomb/ textured finish linking 

3D paper modelling on stand

As part of the stand paper modelling workshop I had to create a structural section of a supposed garment, using dot and cross paper I was able to manipulate the form of several images from my initial research ideas portraying structure and attachment.

Paper modelling workshop (WEEK 3)

I began by cutting out multiples of one shape relating to initial primary/ secondary research, in various sizes out of brown paper, which were in turn placed on and around a dressmakers dummy/ mannequin to form a suggestion of a part of a garment. After a minute of this I had to document what I had produced by photographing the outcome. As a group we had to rotate one place to the left, using their cut out shapes manipulate a form from those; photograph the final outcome move back to my mannequin and take a picture of the outcome a colleague had come up with using the shapes I had cut out; this method of working was continued until all the mannequins had been manipulated by someone other than the person who had cut out the shapes. I think the idea/ method of other group members interpreting a form using your shapes was beneficial as you were able to view various ways of creating a form that you possibly hadn't thought of initially which you could transfer/ apply their outcomes to your own design sketches as further development.

Deterioration studies (WEEK 1)

A collection of the most significant photos I have taken today linking to the theme of structure and my own initial Insites into deterioration/ decay, the tree trunks highlighting attachment and the 'family tree' however the surface structure appears cracked and weathered further expressing current family life deteriorating.

Structure basic collage arrangement 1

Saatchi Review

Ibrahim Mahama, Born in 1987, Tamale, Ghana

Draped jute sacks wall installation.

An invigorating installation holding an individual global and personal tale each sack hand stitched by migrant workers. This installation signifies Mahama's exploration of the conditions of global supplies and ever growing demand in African markets of produce.

Observational drawings of a Crystal

Family tree

An observational drawing of a tomato leaf, the leaf being symbolic representing refreshment of life & I have used this natural form to represent ancestry, a family tree, the veins, life vessels a vast and sturdy structure yet so delicate. The mediums in which I used to portray the leaf include a black fine liner to add tone, water colour pencils of a variety of shades to enhance the undertones of the drawing. I also manipulated the sketch by cross hatching where areas of shadow and stronger tones were displayed along with elements of line and stippling techniques.