15.5.10

Reflection

So now i've slept and actually had time to think and reflect on the module I thought i'd write my last post now.

Overall I did find the module really interesting, and learnt alot through the process.
  • Designing towards a designer/design house's trademark style was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Trying to keep an essence of you, yet meeting all the other criteria (i.e. simple drapery and having to make a tailored garment) wasnt really my style but I believe my end product showed a bit of both in the end.
  •  Throughout this degree I keep doing things that reinforce what I want to go on and do in the future.
    I know I will never be the best pattern-cutter, but I'm going to work to my strengths and build on these areas to create the best collection I can for my final year!
    Getting more hands on with printing, dying and drapery, I realise how much I love experimenting with fashion and textiles and have started my research on companies/designers I would like to contact for my work placement.
  • I believe I have improved on my areas of weakness:-
    -2D design developemnt - by finding my signature style (working with watercolours/brushstrokes/photoshop) I have found a way that works for me to show my design ideas at the early stages.
    -pattern cutting - I have spent alot of time this semester working especially on this area. By taking part in tailoring classes, to just spending alot of time playing arougn the get the perfect fit and shape.
    -Time Management - I know everyone, not just myself has struggled with the workload this semester, with marketing, design and learning contract it has been difficult to assign even time to all of them, especially when you enjoy one more than another, but I have tried my best and that's really all you can do.

    I really do believe I am growing as a designer and an individual and that the point of coming to uni right?
    *and of course to get a degree!*


    #thatisall
    fornow

13.5.10

Purple Fingers!!

I have to go to Arizona to spend a good couple of days just sketching and painting in the Antelope Canyons before I design my final year collection!!

I just find everything about them so inspirational; from the organic shapes formed, silky smooth textures, draped ripple lines and the COLOURS, just amazing


2 days later and i'm still feeling the after effects of hand-dying



So thats me basically up-to-date with my blog

sketchbook is calling...



Bye!

12.5.10

Playing Catchup - Friday 7th May: Shell Presentation

Been a very hectic week, marketing report is finally handed in so only two modules to rack my brain around now!

My focus for the next two days is to finish off my garments and present my 2D work properly.

But first I'll explain how I got to where I am now:

Friday 7th May (Shell Presentation)
It was the first fitting with my model who I found on ModelMayhem, Sydney Blake.



The fit was really nice on her and the colour suited her skin tone so I was pretty happy overall that I wouldnt have to make any major adjustments. All that was left to do was to play around with the sleeves a bit more so they draped how I wanted them to look.
For some reason I've really tumbled back and forth about these sleeves, but I'm alot happier (well as happy as I can be) with my jacket than I was last week, Ive changed the style lines to match those of the Antelope canyons in my research creating curves that meet each other at the hem.

For my learning contract I've been experimenting with screen printing and dying, and thought I may as well put my skills to use and dye my fabric for my dress
*that and because AOne Fabrics were sold out of my 3-tone chiffon!


But hey things happen for a reason...

30.4.10

Friday 30th: Toile In progess

Soo its just past 1 and I just had a chat with Karen about my toile.

Her first reaction was "what happened to your exaggerated sleeves"!?

she did love the fit and the collar though!

During the pattern making process of trying to construct a really well-made tailored garment I think design-wise my jacket has suffered so I decided to come to the computer room, sift through my blog and see my design development.

It is so useful having all the stages I've been through all in one place! without having to carry loads of sheets of paper around.(more environmentally friendly too!)
*definitely think blogging should be a method used for PDPs in the future.


Soo I've just been through my blog. Looking at my old posts and where I'm at now I am actually really disappointed in myself. I have pushed myself technically but I think my design has lacked because of this.

I have a final fitting with my model on Monday so 2 days to bring an essence of ME back into my outfit.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD...

peace! (scurries off to start drawing style lines on her third toile!! *deep sighh*)

26.4.10

Toile Presentation - Friday 23 April


After battling with my tailored jacket and feeling like I wanted to give up and make something completely different I sat down to sort out my patterns and finished it in 2 days!!





Unfortunately my model was unable to come into uni on Friday so I tried it on someone with similar stature and it fit really well!





Of course there were glitches, especially in my worst area...the sleeves!? (can't seem to get my easing right!)

So my task is to make the ammendments done by Rose and make a FINAL toile by early next week so my model can try it on, do a final fitting and be ready to construct my jacket out of fabric.

Second Garment - draped dress.

I did spend a lot of time on the tailored piece just because I wanted it to be really well made.
My second piece is a draped chiffon dress.
I love draping and find this a much easier way to work so I left this garment till later.

Here is a tacked version of the dress I am going to make in a cheaper version of my chosen fabric.
silk polyester at £2/m.




I really wanted both pieces to compliment each other really well and I think in my chosen fabrics I will achieve this.