Sourcing Trip #1

I had a totally exhausting day yesterday trekking around sourcing materials for my collection. I was a bit disappointed at the selection of wool available out there, and I think I will have to check out some websites or something for a bit more of an inspired selection. Here are the results of my quest-

Writing about Sustainable Fashion

On top of creating a fashion collection this year, we write a dissertation into a selected area of fashion theory. I have been writing the draft up this week, and thought I would share a bit of my proposal-

“The proposed research will examine how the appeal of sustainable fashion design is broadened by moving away from an eco chic aesthetic towards the concept of sensory aesthetics. It will demonstrate how this shift allows sustainability and style to coexist rather than compete in the fashion designer’s repertoire generating greater creative possibility and mainstream interest in a sustainable approach to clothing design. In doing so, the research will first define the current sustainable fashion aesthetic before it proposes an alternative sensory aesthetic, and look at how this different approach changes the fashion designing process. Case studies will be used to analyse how designers have incorporated the new aesthetic into their work by slowing down the consumption cycle, using local resources, and encouraging collaborative design. These examples will demonstrate the creative possibilities of sensory aesthetics and redefine a sustainable approach to fashion design without the limitations that were present in past notions of eco chic.”

Designs #1

A couple more pages from my process journal. I am at the stage now of designing garments and outfits for the collection, based on draping exercises we completed in class. As you can see- there is alot of work to do yet!

Young Designers

These are some young designers that I really admire-

Source: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/manstyle2

Romance Was Born: The highly theatrical label of duo Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett is known for its craft-driven, over-the-top approach and favouring of one-off pieces. Their clothing is irreverent, fun and colourful with a firm tongue-in-cheek tone.

Source: http://www.threeoverone.com/

Three Over One: With the by-line “Honest, Hardworking, Men’s apparel” this label focuses on practicality and functionality. Each collection centres on denim, with the name based on the structure of denim fabric and is inspired by menswear of the 1930’s to 1940’s.

Source: http://www.instylemag.com.au/Article/Fashion/Latest-News/The-rise-of-Dion-Lee

Dion Lee: Lee graduated from the Sydney Institute of Technology and won the L’Oreal Fashion Festival Design Award in 2010 for his 6^th collection. His label mixes slick styling with an attention to detail, sharp tailoring and experimentation.

Source: http://www.songforthemute.com/collectionaw11.html

Song for The Mute: Begun by graphic artist Melvin Tanaya and fashion designer Lyna Ty, this menswear label won the Melbourne Fashion Festival Designer Award for 2011. They mix androgynous shapes with draping and muted colours for a sophisticated take on menswear.

Source: http://arabellaramsay.com/index1.html

Arabella Ramsay: Ramsay started her label in 2006 after studying textile design in Melbourne. Her style is quite preppy and quirky with a strong focus on original prints and fabrications.

Experimenting with knit

These are a couple of samples that I completed on my old singer knitting machine. The top one is a rib, suitable for a cuff, or around the hem of a jumper. The second is a bit of a pattern that I produced with a pattern guide- the machine has 20 of these pattern cards- lots more samples to go!

Mentor: John Wolseley

Tracing the Wallace Line; wing leaf and land, 1999
Source: Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery

John Wolseley inspires me because his work encourages a different vision of the world, but doesn’t force it on the viewer. This establishes a sense of excitement and delight when people discover things for themselves and means the work is more personally meaningful for each individual. A similar directive could be applied to the design of clothing, with the wearer discovering new things about their garment as they wear it. This would create a more meaningful relationship between the wearer and the garment as they interact and impact on each other.

Mentor: Maison Martin Margiela

Mask Bolaro Source: Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal Spring / Summer 2009
<http://www.maisonmartinmargiela.com/en/collections/PE2009/collection-1.html>

I am inspired by Maison Martin Margiela’s experimental but eminently wearable clothing, because it provides me with proof that creative and commercial success can co-exist in fashion. And while the fashion house doesn’t produce Haute Couture in a traditional sense, it does go about the production of clothing in a very artisanal way. The refashioned second-hand pieces are particularly interesting to me because they redefine luxury as an appreciation of expertise rather than expensive material. As a student, I often feel constrained by cost concerns so it is refreshing to see that so much can be created with so little material outlay. Also admirable is that all of this investigation is achieved without straying from the brand aesthetic.