Looking at current fashions and the shaping...

Learning the correct terminology in pattern cutting..

' The Selvage on the fabric'

-The selvage is the term for self finished edges on fabric often the brand name is printed on the edge for e.g. Laura Ashley. Selvages keep the fabric from unraveling or fraying

'The seam'

The point where the fabric is sewn.

'Manipulation of the fabric'

When fabric is twisted in a certain way to create a ruffled look or unusual turns in fabrics as seen below:

Seam allowance is the area between the edge and the stitching line on two (or more) pieces of material being stitched together. It allows fabrics to be adjusted if the garment is to big.

Yoke a piece of a garment that is closely fitted, either around the neck and shoulders or at the hips, and from which an unfitted or gathered part of the garment is hung.

Grain-line refers to the orientation of the yarns in woven fabric.

Ambiguous If something is ambiguous it means something has two meanings. Is often used when people have two different points of view on how they look at something.

Exploring different themes...

Big Dresses slim fitted glittery dresses ...
Colour matching to your dresses...
Bright coloured dresses?
Own style
Big over the top hair...

Transport....

As part of selecting my theme for my third assignment i have thought about developing this into my own concept. I have already looked at Disney land as one of my 'inspirations' for my chosen fairy tale theme and because Disney Land is very americanized i chose to compare this to the prom industry and how the whole picking the perfect dress is very fairy tale like. The prom dress idea was founded in America. From this i felt by using my own prom pictures would help put across the image i was trying to convey...

Third assignment looking at a range of designers...

As part of our new assignment we have been set we have been asked to look at a range of different designers i felt by looking at the brand Barry M cosmetics would give me a wider outlook on my chosen fairy tale theme. We were asked to choose a theme for the individual skirt we are going to create over the up coming month...

Aims of the brand...

- To be as big as Rimmel

- They aim to use street models for there advertisements

- Using social networking sites as part of there adverting campaign.

Who is the designer of the brand...

- Barry Mero is the founder of Barry M cosmetics

- Dean Mero managing director

What is the brand all about...

- Quirky outrageous make up that is based around the people of the streets its aim was never to use big celebs like Kate Moss or Sophie Ellis Bextor its all about 'the customer being the ambassador' when it comes to style it should come from every day people. Barry M cosmetics has always stood out to me from other make ups it has only been around for a few years but it gave me inspiration that all Meros ideas come from the streets and every day people. Many big branded fashion designers get their ideas from the streets and i found it interesting that make up artists can do to.

Inspirations

- From every day people?

.. Even the most sophisticated of us cant resist Barry M's shiny rainbow shades as seen in magazines like Vogue!

'Over the top' fashion brand Monsoon accused of employing child labours...

Over the top glitter, big bold bright colours, accessories that stand out above other brand names.. I was shocked when i read that Monsoon uses child labour!

Over the past few weeks Monsoon has been accused of using suppliers in India who employ children to work in sweat shops working in poor conditions and being paid under minimum wage. When i read this article on Monsoon supplying 'handmade' clothing made by children? I was shocked by the allegations made againstMonsoon. In my eyes has always had a outstanding reputation for the quality of garments and was disappointed in the store as i have always been happy to pay a higher price tag for the Monsoon label. Critics have said that it's a 'embarrassment for the store'

Company Owner Peter Simon owns about 1000 stories in 50 countries including 400 in the UK and has said vast improvements are being made to tackle the problem of child labourers. Monsoon website boasts ' the intrinsic beauty of fabrics' if the fabrics are so beautiful why treat children so badly?

ECO the new face of fashion?

Whilst doing my research on the use of skins in the fashion industry the paper and plastic designs in clothing really interested me. Although they could be never be worn as a 'every day item' Its something new designers are adding to the catwalks its an idea that's already been used by designers like Vivienne Westwood. I personally think when plastic/paperwork is used in clothing it represents a care for nature and another meaning behind the garment i consider it more as a piece of art work.

Carrying on from my research it reminded me of my first day of starting college creating paper skirts and how delicately everything had to be done to create a final garment.

Inkahoots Graphic Designers

Inkahoots;

'Will we rise up against it or lay down beside it'

Inkahoots are a design group it was based in Brisbane Austrilla working with Unions, Activists and political organizations.

I liked all the block colours in the lettering and backgrounds this inspired me to create my high street look using block colours that have a meaning behind the imagery. A wide variety of the work that is created by Inkahoots is for political organizations displaying bold sharp images that get the point across which is very similar to the sort of image i was looking for my high street look.

I sourced all my information on graphic designers from the book " Contemporary Graphic Design' by Charlotte and Peter Fiell

... Carrying on from David Folduari work i felt his work was very similar to Craig Feinberg's his work is expressed through balance, emphasis, pattern, movement and proportion of imagery.

The use of putting cigarets on a spoon makes the person looking at his work think you would feed cigarets to a child?

Graphic Designers

As part of my primary research I wanted to look at the work of different Graphic Designers I felt this would give me a wider outlook on different inspirations from different sources. As i was looking through the different types of graphic design the block colours and the wide variety of digital images that go into the work make graphics. The block colours in particular stood out to me as i felt i could use this in my high street final piece.
Fellow designers...

' Simplify, surprise and enjoy'
- Graphic design group based in Sweden- Worked for clients liked Adidas- I used this sort of pattern on my final couture design i felt it expressed a lot of different things.

Summary of the type of work they do;

" As we start working with a new assignment, we always stick to the first idea that pops up in our minds, we keep it as simple as possible and try to find a suitable graphic expression. This way we try to keep our work from getting influenced by other contempary graphic design"

David Folduari...

- Although i was not necessarily looking at this graphic designer to relate to my work but it stood out to me a lot because the imagery Folduari uses is ambiguous. The Macdonalds clown with a chain saw trying to put across that Macdonlads food is bad for you i thought this was a really good way of expressing his feelings through graphics.

His famous slogan

' Right/wrong' which i think sums up his work incredibly well.

- Studied graphic design and illustration this shows through in his work all his illustrations make his work look more adventurous.

Clients worked for:

American Airlines

Green-peace

London Records

MTV

NHS

Nike

Couture and highstreet market

As part of my second assignment in visual recording in art and design we have been looking at the different types of clothing markets Couture and High Street...

Couture
From what i thought the couture market was to what it is the couture market is completely different to my understandings before this topic. Its all about working abstract something that is a one-off original made to fit a specific client. The production of one-off garments requires large amounts of time and money. The priority is the quality of fabrics rather than the quantity. The couture market is not meant for practical wear and is seen as art rather than clothing this is often to endorse other brands to create a look. However the couture market comes with staggering prices tags with dresses that are worth £100,000 making the market very small. Figures show only 2000 people in the whole world buy couture clothing 60% of them are Americans.

Highstreet
High Street fashion market is all about quick turn around fashions its where the latest styles get put into our wardrobes its what feild tha majority of designers work in. Everything is mass produced and then put on the high streets shelves. Buying patterns, seasonal trends, and celebrity catwalk trends are a key role in this design process as it is led by the media. Although the price tags plumet from couture clothing ranges alot of time and money is spent on the adaptations of fabrics to ensure everything is perfect as designers will loose a lot of money if just one thing is wrong. Everything must be sourced from specific places this could mean abroad for cheaper fabrics, trims, and embellishments etc.

Developments in pattern cutting

-Kick pleat
Kick pletes are generally used in womans tight fitted skirts. Kick pleats are put into various types of fold formed by the doubling of fabric back upon itself and then pressing and stiching intoshape. The purpose is to allow the wearer greater ease whilst walking.

- Block skirt
Our group task was to pattern draft a skirt block using cardboard as a template. We used a size 12 template we found this is a realistic size to be able to fit to a model. We also found whilst doing this task it is better to have the clothing bigger and more loose fitted to the model so adjustments can be made to fit the model rather than the garment being to small and having to make the skirt all over again because the garment is to tight.

Fashion trends from the streets of Liverpool

- Liverpool city centre in my opinion is the best for picking up new fashion trends. Just by walking along the streets you can pick up different outfit ideas from the passers by. Liverpool's fashion sense differs from the rest of the county there is more of a air of glamour here the girls take more time with their appearance many express their personalities through clothing.