Week 1 Day 3

During this week I spent my time researching as I felt that my research skills were quite standard and undeveloped, so I spent the whole day really exploring my chosen words by intense thought of what I truly felt the words meant to me and how they can all add up together. This resulted in me creating a detailed mind map and spending a long period of time in the library looking upon book after book also for the first time I have chosen to pin up my concept board and have it right in front of my face to improve my knowledge and gain inspiration within my research.

Week 1 Day 2

During this week we worked upon two workshops which involved, free experimental drawing, and mannequin display regarding our three chosen words where I had chosen to go with Man Ray, Capture, and Brave as I felt that in a way the two words go hand in hand if thought upon in a way of taking in a freeze framing a moment; not being afraid to explore what around you and going over our limits, which as well I felt was a great example presented in Man Rays word as he captures everything and is not one to shy away reaching his limits even it does cause controversy and shocking his viewers, which I feel is a great inspiration.  

Nonetheless in regards to the workshops I started with free experimental drawing. With this workshop I used a variety of different supplies and materials, including Chalk, Pastels, Pen, Ink pen, and so on. In regards to this work shop I really wanted to explore with color and really let loose when drawing as I am one to prefer detailed and sharp drawing as opposed to it flowing so for me this workshop was very enjoyable as I was able to do just that and let my hand roam free upon the paper experimenting with a range of markings.

The second workshop that I did was the mannequin display. With this workshop we were given three different fabrics with one of them being stretchy and we had to experiment with shapes and structure then sketch it and so on. I really enjoyed this work shop as I was able to explore ways of really taking advantage of the materials by playing around with its fabric; exceeding its limits and exaggerating it's frame, while using it to express what I feel my three words mean to me which really broadened my design ideas.

Week 1 Day 1

Three Words 

In this week we took a trip, exploring two art galleries. This includes the Saatchi gallery, and the Tate modern. Through this trip we observed the two galleries to collect inspiration within our new project which is based upon a variety of words, (titling names, process, and descriptive) given to us that we personally pick an individual word per title. In regards to the exhibition I focused within the structure of the artist work and tried to find a number of different pieces where the artists have used a dissimilar kind of material than usual in their work which would give my ideas upon my own on how I could format my work and which material would not only be unique from the usual but will also be relevant to my words but will also appear captivating and bold. Through my trip I have a chance to look at pieces where they used distinct materials such a light, plants, writing, illusion patterns, videos and so on, which I felt was very useful and really gained my knowledge in developing my ideas further than just using simple fabrics, paint and such.      

Week 1 day 2

Vintage 

During this week our theme was Vintage fashion where we had to choose a period from either the 1950s or earlier and in my instinct I choice the Edwardian period we did a number of workshops which included mannequin display, quick drawings, and Frankenstein collages to help us progress and develop with our ideas in regarding to the shape and format of a garment. 

The first workshop that I started with was the quick drawings/sketches in the essence of this, this broadened our thinking and helped us think of uncommon patterns and formation that could be reviled into a garment or at least would present a captivating and abstract structure which could be worked into. when drawing my quick sketches I first focused upon distinctive details of images that I had found interesting and worked into it be exploiting does details and making it contemporary by mixing the old and the new, for example adding frills and embroidery with over sized clothing and a more modern structure.

The next workshop that I worked within was the mannequin display. Through this I drew out patterns with a black felt pen from the details of old vintage clothing from the Edwardian period that I liked a photocopied multiples of the drawn details. With this I incorporated the copies onto the mannequins and experimented with its shape and structure in a variety of different ways which involved cutting, folding, scrunching etc. This enlarged my thought process, and helped to expand my development into the theme.

The last workshop I worked with was the Frankenstein collages. Through this I followed my photocopied within the Frankenstein collages by furthering my experimentation by exceeding my development within structure, working with designs that I would not possible be able to format 3D with the mannequin resulting in collagen it instead. In my opinion I thought that this was helpful as I was able to produce interesting shapes that may not have worked 3D by experimenting, also I found it a lot more easier to exaggerate that shapes and move it around to my liking if I didn't quite think that it fitted.    

Progress Summary

During the process of my projects I have learnt a variety of different techniques and methods to which helped towards my final project pieces. This would include, flat drawings, knitting, Frankenstein collages, fabric samples, and so on. Throughout this course I feel that I have slowly started to develop ideas a little faster making the process of my working throughout projects go by a lot swifter; preventing me from falling behind frequently like I did in previous projects.

 Through the course I have also developed my skills in decorating my book and making it more presentable to the audience. This had been done by making my work more spacious and using colored tape to stick my work in rather than see-through tape and so on as it looks more interesting to the eye.

 Nonetheless I still feel that overall my pace of working is still quite slower compared to others as I feel that on each individual piece I do seem to make it quite detailed, resulting in the quantity being low, which could lead to final piece ideas being quite rushed. This is something I want to work on by creating faster sketches/images. In regards to the course I feel that my skills in knitting and sewing have quite improved and I feel that I am a lot more confident in that essence when it comes to making more garments in the future as I will be a lot more faster. Throughout the course I feel that I would want to learn more in the terms of creating an actuate sewing pattern through proper measurements  for my garments as I feel that it was something that I never quite learnt, also I feel that it could really benefit my work in the future. 

  

Week 2 Day 5 

I have come to the end of this project and I have found my final garment okay. Nonetheless I do still fill that it could have been better. In my opinion I feel that I preferred the back part of my garment rather than the front as I felt the back had a little more structure to it and I felt a little more interesting to look at. 

In regards to the garment as a whole I really liked the torn up and tattered style of the garment as I felt that it kind of gave the piece a kind of vintage appeal to it.

My favorite part of the piece nonetheless was the torn up jean hood that I created as I felt that it really complemented the garment as a whole and just gave it that something extra to make it a bit more compelling to its audience. 

I also enjoyed playing around with the abstract side of the garment by purposely choosing the make parts of the garment uneven.

Week 2 day 4

During this week I was working upon completing my final piece. Through this I decided to use a choice of three different clothing, which involved a thick grey coat, a black and which stripped shirt, and a pair of baggy denim jeans which was all added together to make a jacket. 

Being honest at first I didn't know what exactly I wanted to do at first with my garment and how I wanted it to work, as my ideas continuously changed. This meant continuous changing of clothing, colors, and the structure of the clothing and I really did struggle. Nonetheless I did mange to come up with an idea which presented a kind of over-sized jacket and displayed a kind of torn up, grunge look to it which at the moment I thought really worked as it really displayed the theme deconstruction as a way of combining different things together to make a whole piece. 

Nevertheless due to time I felt that my final piece was a little rushed and was not finalized to its ultimate best, as I felt that more could have been added to the garment or it could have been stitched in a neater format. I also felt that I could have added thicker kinds of clothing to the garment to make it more stable. 

However I still feel in some aspects it works so far as in my opinion is appears quite abstract.

Week 2 day 2

During this week I have worked upon making fabric samples of potential samples that I could add within my final piece. For this I used black fabric and used multiple folds within the fabric by stitching it up. With this I experimented by finding ways that would be suitable for my garment. I felt that this was helpful as I was able to try many examples of attaching different garments together.  

Week 1 Day 3

During this day we did more experimenting by photo coping our clothing where I decided to make mine black and white. After photo coping we cut out our copies into different shapes and presented our ideas onto a mannequin showing ways of displaying structure and layering. once we had finished working upon our ideas, which we did in pairs where are partners helped us with our mannequin designs and we helped them with theirs then the whole class gathered our designs so we could observe everyone work; looking at the ones which court our eyes the most and which stood out the most in our opinions. I again thought that this was very helpful as we were able to develop ideas and receive inspiration from others which we had not thought to add to our own. 

Week 1 Day 2

During this day we were creating more ideas using the mannequins with the clothing that we were taking pictures of the other day. With the clothing we used it to make new ideas and putting to clothing to a different part of the body which isn't its usual, for example using the trousers to make a top. I felt that this was a great method to really help me express original ideas and to come out of my comfort zone when it came to 'deconstruction' as I was able to think of ideas that I may not have given a second thought if I didn't try it on the mannequin first.

The next part of the day we had to unpick/cut our clothing to observer how everyday clothing is made and how it is constructed together. this was also very helpful as it gave me ideas of how and where I could attach the multiple of clothing together to make a complete outfit so the original garment is now longer recognizable.

With this we also used the mannequins once the clothing was unattached and tried out more new designs with deconstruction.   

New Project

Destruction

Week 1 Day 1

On the first day of the project we worked upon using a method for our sketch books called 'Frankenstein collages' where we word take different limes/ body parts from models in the magazines that we brought with us and we would cut up different clothes that we felt were nice and we would add it to the body part templates which we created to try and make a completely new outfit out of it b by using the individual clothing. 

I found this very interesting as it was a new way for me to really experiment and try new methods of designing exciting and peculiar creations. Also it gave me a couple of ideas which I could use towards me final piece which also helped.

We also gathered clothes which we weren't using and took photos of them and photo copied the clothing in different positions in a way of research and close observation of the garments so we are aware of the of all the possible ways that we could alter the clothing into a new garment.  

     

Week 8

Final Piece

Here I have shown one of the photos in regards to my photo shoot. I have chosen to work within straps as I felt that it was very effective in the essence of the inner theme 'confined', nonetheless I feel that the term 'confined' doesn't always have to resemble to suffocation. This is why I went a little deeper within my inner theme so it does not appear too obvious and still relates to the theme of 'Structural attachment'. Through this I did want my top to be spacious to present a sense of society and how we are entitled to our own freedom; however we still have that awareness of restriction and lack of full authority. This means that others of higher authority will still have that containment upon us whether we think they do or not. I also feel that the color really complements the top as the color seems almost lifeless in a way which could present a sense of depression and isolation as if the person wearing the top is imprisoned within the fabric. This can too be shown within the turtle neck and dolmen sleeve as a way of having no escape; being completely trapped.

If I were to repeat what my design I would make the straps a little shorter and so it fits the model correctly. I would have also made the neck space a little bigger as it was a stretch to put the garment over my models head. nonetheless there was no major difficulties in result of it.

Week 7 day 6 

By now I have finished, in regards to the making of my final piece and now whats next is the photo-shoot with my model wearing my design. if I have to say I felt that the making of my top overall was very difficult and that may be because my top was quite a complex top to make meaning that it would take a little longer than others, also I feel that I am quite inexperienced in the terms of tailoring meaning that it would not be at it's complete best all anything extremely professional. Nonetheless I felt that I picked up a variety of skills throughout my project and the making of the piece etc. which before I would have said that I wasn't at all confident in. I would also express that I am very satisfied with my final piece as it is one of the first few piece of clothing that I have made so overall I feel that it was quite a successful project and working within the theme of 'Structural Attachment' and 'Confinement'.

Week 7 day 2&3

During this week I have developed my final final idea and through this week going on I am now in the terms of making my final piece. Today I had worked up the pattern cutting and getting the right measurements from my model so it fits correctly on him. During my making as I was not developed enough to use measurements when drawing out the pattern I worked within another kind of method called 'draping' this aloud me to use a practice piece of fabric upon a mannequin and drape over it to create the shapes I needed for my pattern cutting. Considering that I was using a dolmen sleeve that mad it a lot easier. Through this I was able to have all the pieces needed to design my top by the end of the day. 

The following day after I had draped out my patterns I used the practice fabric pieces and traced around it on pattern-cutting paper. so it was ready to use when I start to make my top the next day using the cut pattern paper on fabric for my final piece. 

Week 6

During this week I am starting to come towards the end of my project and my final piece is in the process of being designed . Through this week however I have been finalizing everything and brainstorming on an outfit.

This would include quick flat drawings, mannequin design, and more working within shapes. Nonetheless I was able to think of efficient ideas towards the end of the week and had chosen to design a top for menswear. This particular idea had stemmed from my original idea of designing an over-sized coat for menswear, unfortunately with limited time this would have taken awhile to actually make which gave me the idea of altering the coat into an over-sized top instead, also my color had been chosen as well as I have decided to go for grey. The particular choice had been made solely through my theme being confined. I originally wanted to go with either the colors of a rich green or blue; however I did not feel that these colors linked upon my inner theme being 'confined' as it is more upon the terms of being hidden; restricted of freedom and choice, in restraint which is more so seen as quite dark and negative and gloomy in a way. And what better color then grey to present that description as grey is seen as camouflaged and dull; restricted of it's color. Also grey is a color that we seem to overlook as it's not as rich and exciting as other colors, yet its also not iconic and bold like white and black therefore it is forgotten.   

Week 5 Day 5

Accessory Design-

Final Design Photo shoot

Here I have presented the Photo shoot to my accessory design piece of glasses from a variety of different angles and view points.

Week 5

Personal Work

During our project I have made a personal choice to change my sketchbook to A4. This is a personal chose that I have made as I felt that using an A3 sketchbook was not working for me and I felt that I was forced to work big when in honesty that isn't really my way of working as I work detailed and small. Nonetheless since using my A4 sketchbook I feel that the presentation is better and I feel a lot more confident in working with it and going forward with my project. And in the future I will be sticking with an A4 book. I have also changed my inner theme from instead of continuing with Architecture I have moved to doing confinement instead.

Tate Modern

Week 5 Day 3

During this week we took a trip to the Tate Modern also our research was really for our essay I found some particularly interesting pieces of work that I really felt could help towards my final piece. In the modern Tate that was an artist that I particularly liked called Rebecca Horn and another artist called Louise Bourgeois. These artist really caught my attention as I felt that their work really expressed my inner theme of 'confined.

I feel that I could really use their work withing my own work towards my theme and I hope to use in my on going theme.

Week 5 Day 1

Accessory Design

During this week we learnt how to make accessories towards our final project design. On the first day of our workshop we brought in object around our homes to use to make our practice accessories. For the first day I brought in cotton buds, wooden picks, DVDs, and straws. Even though we were meant to be working upon designing shapes that would be interesting in the essence of our accessories I however knew that I wanted to design glasses. This meant that I worked upon designing interesting glasses using the objects that I had brought in. 

I felt that the accessory design workshop was very helpful and something that I thought that I would not enjoy as much as I did so far as I knew that my pathway would not quite lead to accessory design but it was in fact very enjoyable and I feel that this could be added towards my final project piece.

Week 5 Day 2

After designing our practice accessories we had to work with manipulation by cutting or editing are accessories and adding it to models from magazines that suit the our chosen accessory design. As I had chose to work with glasses and glasses specifically designed for menswear I had to look upon close- ups photos and men and had added my accessory design to the model in an interesting and exciting way. I even thought about making some of my designs into a headband or some kind of head-wear.

Through the next part of the workshop we had to work upon mannequins to help us towards our final design for our accessory; however I unfortunately did not have a head to work upon with my design idea so I had decided to sketch out the my design instead to decide how I am going to design it. Through this I had chosen to use wooden pegs and a hot glue gun to attach the structure of the glassed together.   

Through my research I had taken inspiration from designers Sam and Agi as I found their work very fascinating and very captivating to look at. I also like the way the accessory on the face droops down from the model like it is actually attached to the face, as if the accessory is growing upon the model. That is what I found to the most unusual. I also loved the way it hides the models identity so the audience has no way of identifying. I felt this also adds to add to my inner theme of 'confined'

as we are confined within the accessory as it takes control of us and we no longer can control our self as the accessory takes all the attention away from us leaving us sightless and unable to move much losing all of our essential scenes and instincts. I also feel that the design is confusing and frustrating to look upon which makes us want to look at it more.

Image found: http://avisim.tumblr.com/

Digital Print

Week 4

Through this week we had the opportunity to learn the grasp of Photoshop and how to use the system. During our week of digital print we were working upon duplicating patterns and adding other kinds of effects such as altering the color, adjusting the picture like changing the size or moving it across the page and so on. This was exciting as is it really gave me the knowledge of Photoshop and how to make and interesting but professional print. I would have to admit however that when I had first began with the workshop I did in fact find it very difficult but now I feel very confident independently using Photoshop with no trouble when it comes to pattern print. During the workshop I really wanted my patterns to link upon my chosen theme. This meant that I worked with quite abstract shapes and peculiar way of pattern as a way of suiting my theme. 

During the end of the week however we had a tour of the prototyping room where they showed us how each machine worked. This included the digital print machine. Through this we watched how our personal designs printed out onto fabric what exactly was the process of the making.

Here below I have shown the fabric of the print make that I had made; documented below to show my progress and the sheet with it was printed upon with the color completely removed.

Through this we also used are patterns and created mannequin designs.

Personal Research

Week 3

Through my own personal research for my project I had taken a trip to my local library to gather inspiration and ideas that could potentially be put towards my final piece for 'Structural attachment'.

Within my research I had borrowed a variety of books including architectural books which which links to my inner theme as I had decided to start off with architecture. The next books that I had decided to borrow books based off of art such as cubism. I had chosen this book in particular as I felt that it really linked to my three words which we had to choose last week (broken, frustration, confined) I felt that cubism in a way links to my theme through the perception of a kind of on structured style of art and making the art very had to identify to the viewer. I found this very fascinating useful as inspiration for a garment. 

3D and abstract shapes was also another book that I thought i'd take a look as just like cubism I found the illusion of the shaped and it's ability to appear as though the shapes are consistently within movement as though they are right in front of the viewer captivating and bizarre.

Nonetheless I felt that borrowing these books was extremely helpful towards my project as it gave me an insight to other interesting ways of make my project appear bold and unique. 

Knit 

Week 3

During this week we had been set into three separate groups; between each group either having a tutorial of fashion promotion, digital print, or knitting. In this instance I had choose between which tutorials we would rather do and I had decided to choose knit and digital print. Nonetheless this week I was doing knit with Bid.  

If I were being very honest I would have to say that when I started using the knitting machines, personally I found it quite difficult and it took me and my group that I was working with a long while to make just one singular small piece of knitting garment, which really should not have taken to long and causing us to ask for help continuously. However it was our first time actually using the machine so making mistakes and spending a lot longer on each knit would be understandable, and fortunately throughout the week we did become a lot faster with using the machines and our mistakes and need for constant help began to lessen.

Personally I felt that this week was very useful and I had gained a lot of knowledge through my experience; learning a variety of knitting techniques such as stripes, the orange peel, the volcano, laddering, and many more and also how to use the machine in itself. My experience also gave me a new insight to knitting as I wasn't really that excited about this particular way of sewing nor did I really want to take the time to learn it, through this week I realized it was a lot of fun and now I would have no problem doing it again, plus I would definitely consider adding knitwear towards my project. So overall I felt it was an enjoyable experience as well as intense and I really have no regrets taking this tutorial. 

Central London Outing 

Week 3 Day 1

During our outing at Central London we had to go in groups exploring various places for inspiration. This included designer stores such as Dior, Chanel, Gucci and so on, and various markets. In my opinion I felt that this outing was very helpful as we were able to gain knowledge of the popular kind of fashion right now and the clothing that people want to be wearing. We also analysis ed the kind of fabrics which designers use and the kind of structure. we also observed the common kind of colors within the stores, really focusing upon the 'now' trend and what people are looking for. Through our observation of this outing it gave me an insight of popular brands and everyday high fashion. I had also collected look books along with pictures to add to my further research.