May 31, 2010

Sewing away....

With two looks due in three weeks exactly, I'm working on perfecting my tioles for my final collection. So far so good, only a few minor adjustments, and over all I'm really happy with the way my designs are progressing. Both these looks are going to utilise the African batik textiles I'm currently experimenting with, and I hope as a result create high impact/ high energy designs. 





May 25, 2010

Haute Couture Under Structure


Haute couture garments have detailed under structures that provide a base for which the outer layers of the garment are attached to and supported by. These are most often hand sewn together, layers of boning, interlining, and lining crafted together to ensure the flawless perfection of fit and design. 
As my final year collection is influenced by haute couture, i want to reflect the intricate nature of inside of the garments, as a design detail on the outside.
I'm thinking of appliqueing layers of fabric on top of each other as panels on the right side of the garments, and using the internal functional hand stitches such as pad stitching, as decorative embroidery on the outside. 
Here are some inspiration paces from my design journal in regards to this idea.

 

May 24, 2010

Big Bold Gareth

I really admire Gareth Pugh's talent in innovative and bold fashion design. Dark and imposing, my favourite collection Fall 2008,resonates the structure and built up silhouettes of my up coming collection.
I hope my collection reflects such strength and command of the runway, through the power dressing of built up silhouettes and structure. 





image credit- style.com

May 16, 2010

MK & A as mentors, vote yes!

Encouraged to find a mentor to inspire us when designing i couldn't go past the Olsen twins. Long ago were the days of Full House I personally feel these girls have an AMAZING sense of style. They pull off looks from sleek simplistic sophistication, to over accessorised boho, dark Gothic, casual sheek and glamour. Whatever the outfit there is a sense of effortless style, they really seem to have a keen sense of fashion and how to work the elements in the creation of edgy and unique looks. 










Image Credit- Olsen Twins anonymous

Searching for Silhouette Inspiration


Before starting to drape my final year collection I took part in some silhouette tutorials, where we draped on the stand with tailored garments creating shapes and silhouettes. It was a really great exercise that not only helped loosen me up but informed some of my most interesting designs that I'm exploring as part of my final 12 looks. I would recommend exercises like this to anyone before they start a collection, it's a great starting point and really assists in informing silhouette, shape and design. 
I then took the photos of these drapes and created proper garments on the body in photoshop, I think this line up really reflects the direction that i want my collection to go in.

May 13, 2010

Dior

These are some images of my favourite Dior Haute Couture pieces. The sleek tailoring and structured nature of the garments make for eloquent designs, where simplicity creates impact. 

Dior Manniquins at a Red Cross benefit show 1954, Cachottier Spring/ Summer 1951.
Bleu de Perse Autumn/Winter 1955-56, Dior draping on a live model, Mystere de Paris Autumn/Winter 1955-56, Parc Monceau Spring/ Summer 1963. 
Gascogne Autumn/ Winter 1950, Meilhac Spring/Summer 1953, Zemire Autumn/ Winter 1954. 

Image Credit- Pochna. M, 2004, Dior, Assouline Publishing, New York. 

May 11, 2010

Batik Textiles

For my final year collection i want to incorporate a 4-5 textiles prints so i can have a few in each look creating rhythm and movement for high impact designs.
I came across a great website The African Fabric Shop, which operates out of the UK dealing in fair trade textiles from all over Africa. The textiles are mostly purchased straight from the small communities that produce them for an agreed fair price, or as the in the case of the shwe shwe fabrics, from the textile company of which 40% if owned by the workers.
These are hand dyed Batik textiles from Ghana, i love the bright colours and their organic feel.  


I'm also looking into creating my own textiles, possibly using the Batik dying method, so that my collection is more personal.I really like the energy and movement that the Batik wax crackling affect creates and I think it reflects the adventure and excitement of Safari travel. 

May 10, 2010

Safari's New Look


Sketching away, these are some initial designs for my collection. I'm really inspired by Dior's New Look. The actual collection, Dior's first in 1947 was called Corolle, but after the editor of Harpers Bazaar exclaimed "it was such a new look", it became more commonly known as such. I'm looking at adding the signature fullness of the New Look, but doing so in the creation of structured built up hour glass and trapeze silhouettes. 





 Image Credit - Maria Buszek 

May 9, 2010

Couture meets Safari

It's my final year of university, and for my major project I'm creating a 12 look collection inspired by haute couture of the 1950's particularly that of Dior meets African Safari. 
I'm really excited about my theme, I'm imaging built up structured and tailored designs, clean sleek lines, with the interjection of African wax prints and African inspired batik textiles, in exagertaed trapeze and hour glass silhouettes. These are a few pages from my design journal, including a short visual narrative i designed to explain my theme.


Dior galor, she wanted more...
Adventure, excitement, travel... safari you say?

Such a strange place...
Timid at first, inside she hid... 
Into the wild she ventured...
Advenuture, excitement, the things she did see...
Queen of the jungle...
She feared no longer...
All that she saw... 
She would take with her forever. 

May 8, 2010

Dion Lee RAFW

This was Dion Lee's second show at Rosemount Australia Fashion week since his debut as part of the TAFE show in 2008. Under the glass sales of the Opera House he unveiled his collection to a crowd who had been eagerly awaiting it all week. Pleats, knots, digital Rorschach blot prints, slashes and and artful construction I really admire the fresh and unique style of Dion Lee. His look is clean, edgy and modern, resolved designs that are strikingly beautiful.






I really admire Dion Lee as an emerging young designer. Hoping to work in the industry, possibly as a designer when i graduate, i find his success at such a young age and early stage in his career inspiring. I think the reason behind his success is the fresh contemporary nature of his designs, simple and clean. I feel I design in the same manner, and i certainly favour sleek tailoring and structure. I want to try and embrace these qualities when creating my final collection as I feel it is well received by the current market. 
Image Credit- Fashionising