1st Year Foundation Degree Fashion

  Last Friday saw the hand in of my last projects of 1st year Foundation Degree Fashion.
I know I haven't blogged much about the course throughout the year but I'll try to keep you all up to date with the work I do & hopefully I'll blog more from now on.



But just to get you all up to date; here is how my first year has turned out...

Drawing & Communication:

  So my first year has saw me complete a range of different projects; starting with a Drawing & Communication module way back in September. The module invovled researching my chosen theme of Ancient Eygptians. For inspiration and as a great source of research I visited the Great North Muesum in Newcastle; at the time they were exhibiting a specially collection of Ancient Eygptian artifacts. Seeing all of the displays myself was much better than any information that I found online. Anyway; using a combination of information and images found online alongside photographs taken at the exhibition; I produced a sketchbook higlighting different aspects of the Ancent Eygptians that I found interesting and inspiring. From this sketchbook I then created moodboards, customer profile boards, etc. which I then used to produce and develop my own designs.

 

 

 

 

Sketchbook

Moodboards: Theme

  

Design Development



 Illusttration

 

 

 Technical Flats

Although I completed all that was required for the module and I gained quite a high grade; I wasn't particularly happy with the work I produced. I think the may reason for this is my lack of confidence with my drawing skills. Throughout the year I have tried to develop and overcome this problem. I still don't feel confident with this aspect.

 

Skills for Making:

The next module was a 'Skills for Making' module. This involved me learning and developing sewing skills. I learnt how to create different types of seams and when and where they would be appropriate to use. I also developed my drawing skills in the form of flats, it was at this stage when I began to see an improvement within my drawing of flats. After learning basic pattern cutting skills; I created a pattern for a standard size 12 ladies shirt with a curved hem. From this pattern I then manufactured a toile of my shirt design using calico fabric. I enjoyed this project as it was the first time I had undertaken the process of pattern cutting and manufacturing a toile. For my first making project I was quite happy with the results and was looking forward to making my next garment.

 

 

 Shirt Toile

The next moudle was the digital skills project which I have already blogged about. This again was interesting as it was a new experience to me working digitally.

Denim:

The denim project involved me researching into the history of denim and learning about the creation of the Denim jeans. I learnt about properties and characterics of many other fabrics but the main focus of the project was Denim. I created a moodboard showing the key developments within the history of Denim. I also created moodboads showing current silhouettes and key trends.

Moodboards: History of Denim & Current Trends

I then produced a range of design development sheets; drawn in the form of flats, which I then chose a design to manufacture in denim. After a discussion with tutors and staff it was decided that I would manufacture the tie front cape and the high waisted shorts with button detailed front to go with it. (Although I did want to manufacture the jeans.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design Development: Technical Flats



Unfortunately I don't have any photographs of my final garments to post (well not yet!) but the manufacturing stage went well and I was happy with the results as the process involved quite complex pattern cutting and sewing skills.  However; I wasn't very happy with the grade I was given. I personally think I derserved higher than I got and if not a higher grade than at least better feedback from which I can learn and develop. But still my garments looked good and it wwas a great learning experience throughout the entire project. Completing such complex pattern cutting, mostly on my own, I feel this has boosted my confidence with making  and I would like to further develop this and hopefully continue to produce successful patterns. The sewing stage was also interesting as when working in denim there wasn't much room allowed for mistake therefore great care and precision was needed, this was something I'm used to doing with all my work.

Branding:

From working through the denim project we took this through into a branding project which involved us working in groups. We were put into groups of 5 and as a group we had to createand develop a denim brand; this included the brand name, logos, market level, price points, etc. Once the brand was fully established we then worked individually on our own diffusion lines. As we were working in groups the task wasn't exactly easy; and the team work stages saw misunderstandings, miscommunications, and confrontations. This was because some member of the group were being overlooked when they were making suggestions or stating their opinions. Once the group overcome this obsticle we were able to agree on a brand name -House of Denim- and then created a logo. The brand holds 3 ranges; Duchess of Denim (Womenswear), Dukes of Denim (Menswear) and Mini Monarchs (Childrenswear). These sub-brands were developed individually. I personally feel that as a group we didn't work to the best standard we could of; I feel we should have developed brandings such as buttons, rivets, zip pulls, etc as a group. I also feel we should have developed branded packaging as a group; we could have designed our own branded bags, boxes, tissue paper, stickers, seals, etc. This was actually discussed but again it was something that was overlooked by other members. I feel that the weakness of the group work transferred through to my individual work as everything was decided by myslef including all of the branding aspects. Personally I thought that to get the best from this project all of our individual work should have worked together within the 'brand' if it was all placed together; to be honest I think some of the work produced shows little connection to the foundations of the brand created by the group.

Logo Design

 Unfortunately I have no other imagery to show for this project and it is currently being marked so it might be a while before I can upload anything. Sorry!




Anyway...
 This year has saw me complete a range of projects and learn and develop a range of skills needed within the industry. I feel my strengths lie within design and pattern cutting and my main weakness are drawing skills and colour application. I will continue to develop all of these skills and hopefully with time I will gain more and more confidence with the work I produce. Next year I will try to push myself more to try to get the very best out of everything I do.

Digital Skills...

I haven't really had much experience when it comes to working digitally; so when the time came that I had to complete a digital skills module, I was a little apprehensive. The brief was to produce two digital fashion illustration and with no experience with using Adobe Illustrator; I had to start with very basic training exercises but I was surprised at how quickly everything comes together.

  After learning the basic skills and tools; I scanned an image of one of my designs and opened it in illustrator and started to trace around it building up shapes on different layers to create an overall figure/image. I played around with different colours, lines, brushes, etc. until I was confident enough to start creating my final illustrations.

ScreenShots of My Experimentation

For my final illustrations I decided to use fashion photography that I had sourced from the internet as a template for me to trace around. Using the skills and techniques that I had learnt I created two digital fashion illustrations, although the styles I created are very different; I am hapy with the results as I was able to experiment with everything I had learnt. I would like to work digitally again to continue to explore skills and techniques and hopefully develop a personal style of digital fashion illustration.

Final Illustrations & Fashion Photography Templates

Fashion on 4...

  

 I have recently completed a Contextual Studies module as part of my Foundation Degree; the subject was based around Sustainable Fashion. There was a lot of sub-topics within the 'sustainabilty' of fashion; including Globalization, 'Fast Fashion', Etical Trading, and Ecological and Enviromental impacts and concerns, etc. I decided to focus on the aspects of globalization and fast fashion and how they have affected the British manufacturing industries.

As well as reading articles and researching to gain inspiration and knowledge to help me produce an essay on the subject; I found not only one but two useful documentaries broadcasted on Channel 4; the first being Gok Wan: Made in China.

The documentary saw Gok Wan travel across China to explore the unseen world of Chinese mass production and meet the people working in the factories that supply the west; incuding us the UK. He visited 'Jeans Town', a place where everything revolves around the manufacture of denim jeans. Here he saw how quickly and effeciently the Chinese factory workers produce mass amounts of garments. It was also evident that free speech was not a thing the workers could express; suggesting their employers may not want outsiders to know what life is really like working as a Chinese manufacturer.

In addition to visiting various manufacturing companies and factories; Gok Wan also visited the village in which his father grew up and learnt more about his ancestors and his heritage.

If you missed it; you can learn more or watch at:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/gok-wan-made-in-china

  

The second inspiring Fashion documentary on Channel 4 is Mary's Bottom Line. In this series Mary Portas attempts to 'kick start' the British manufacturing industry by creating a company that manufactures British made knickers. The programme follows Mary Portas on her journey as she hires experienced seamstresses to train up her new workforce of hand picked apprentices to work in an old, disused factory. She also struggles to source British fabrics to work with and searches for one of the last remaining Brithish lace manufacturers; to produce truly British pairs of knickers -Made in Britain.

The programme also had alot of interesting statistics and was quite informative; providing me with plenty of points of inspiration and interest to include within my essay. Although I have completed my essay and the Contextual Studies module; I will definately continue to watch this inspiring programme and hope that Mary Portas succeeds in her mission to kick start the British manufacturing industry. I also hope that people will be proud of a British manufactured product and hopefully more people will buy into the future of a revived British manufacturing industry.

  

 Catch up on the series at:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/marys-bottom-line

Foundation Studies: Final Project

This is my final project of my Foundation  Studies course; after this post everything will be my current work and thoughts. The theme was The World of Confectionery...

I researched so many artists, films, exhibitions, designers, etc. it was unreal! The amount of people inspired by confectionery and all its glory was immense. I found a lot of interesting and inspiring sources but I eventually had to narrow it down and create moodboards to inspire my collection. From my moodboards I produced a range of design developments and went on to select a line-up for my final collection; from this line-up I chose one of the garments to create. I made the dress with a pleated section front; the dress is lycra and the pleats are chiffon to create a contrast of tight, figure hugging and the soft, floaty pleated chiffon.  

One of the artists I found particularly inspiring during this project was Will Cotton. He was also the inspiration behind the music video for Katy Perry's California Gurls. His paintings are soft and feminine and in my opinion are simply beautiful. Take a look at some of his work at http://www.willcotton.com/ 

Katy Perry - California Gurls (Music Video)

 

 

Paintings by Will Cotton

As part of my primary research for this project; I created a series of still life arrangements and photographed them. This was good to see details of confectionery up close and from various angles. I enjoyed this aspect of the project quite alot as I enjoy taking photographs of things I find interesting.

Here are some of the photographs:

 

 

 

 

Primary Research Photographs

And my design process....

 Moodboards: Reflecting Theme and Colour

 

 

 

Design Development 

Collection Line Up

Illustration of Final Garment

And the Final Garment...

I hope you have enjoyed looking and reading about my work from my Foundation Studies in Fashion as much as I enjoyed doing it! 
xx

Foundation Studies Portfolio...

Favourite Things: Caspusle Collection

At the very begining of this project I completed a short questionaire about my favourite things; incuding questions such as my favourite colour, designer, place, movie, song, etc. From the results of this I chose to base my project around one of my favourite songs: Umbrella.

I sourced insppirational imagery that related to my chosen theme and created a moodboard for inspiration when I came to design my collection.

Moodboard: Theme Board.

I also chose from a selection of areas to design for including; Soft Tailoring, Sportswear or Concept Fashion. I chose to look at concept fashion and researched relevant designers. I created a moodboard to display my findings and to also help inspire my collection.

Moodboard: Concept Fashion.

I was also given a range of colours to work with and out of them all I had to selected 2 Base colours, 2 Main colours and 2 Highlight colours to work with. I collected colour swathes and materials in my chosen colours, as well as an inpiring image to create a Colour Board. The Colour Board helped me to think of what colours I would be using within the design process.

Colour Board.

This project was also a way of learning new skills and how to use them within my designs. For example I learnt how to knit; at first I found it quite difficult but then all of sudden it just clicked, and I was knitting away. I produced Knitting samples in my chosen colour scheme, using various knitting methods and used some of my better samples to create a sample board.

I also learnt different pleating techniques, using different types and sizes of pleats. I also learnt other paper manipulation techinques that could be used within fashion design. All of the sample I produced helped to inpsire my designs.

Sample Boards: Knitting and Pleats (or Paper Manipulation)  

After selecting a theme, concept, and colour scheme; it was time to start designing. I used my Theme board, Colour Board, Concept Board, and the techniques that I had learnt as inspiration for my designs. I then chose to illustrate my favourite design from the capsule collection.

Design Development

Final Illustration