F U L L C I R C L E
Wednesday 27 June 2012
Fashion show pictures...
Here are my four final garments on the catwalk. I was really pleased with all four final outcomes and all my designs looked great on the models!
End of year evaluation
Olivia Mullin Evaluation for unit 122 and unit 128
Unit 122…
Title: Pattern Development for Fashion and Clothing.
1 Be able to prepare blocks for pattern construction
2 Be able to make full-scale patterns
3 Be able to prepare a lay plan for production
4 Understand own pattern development.
Unit 128…
Title: Garment production.
1. To be able to operate equipment and machinery correctly for the development of garment production.
2. Be able to evaluate work during the production process.
3. Be able to produce and assemble garments.
I used basic dress blocks to create my dress bodices and used whole dress block for one garment. I did not create any of my own blocks. I patterned on the stand to create pleats going across the bodice and used the stand to create the strap to support the flower detailing. I used the basic dress block to adapt the pattern pieces for my bodice (adapted by removing darts and forming panels) and used a slash and spread technique for garment 1 skirt.
I put my name, garment name, size, grain line, number of pattern piece, cut x, cut on fold information on my pattern pieces. This information is important so that the pieces do not get mixed up and the manufacturer can cut them correctly. This means the correct measurements can be achieved and the patterns can be easily adapted, by using the tracing off method.
When creating my lay plan my choice of fabric meant that I had to consider the width and the best way to fold the fabric. I also had to consider the costing, and to ensure as little fabric waste as possible. This is very important in industry. I learnt from this process: how to do a lay plan (this was my first attempt) also how the process is done in the industry to keep costs as low as possible. I also learnt how industry standard lay plans are done on CAD; this is important for industry as they can be saved for future reference and easily adapted.
After completing my costing sheets I learnt the overall production cost of the garments. In future I could try to keep my costs lower by considering the price of fabrics at the design stage, but still keeping the quality. As I designed for higher end High Street customers I had to balance the costing against quality. Industry professionals would have the same challenge.
Initially, I found CAD very difficult as I didn’t find Adobe Illustrator software very easy to use. I had training from my father, who is a graphic designer and practiced every evening to gain a better understanding of the programme. I also adapted my original spec drawings to a higher technical standard. I found this made my designs look more professional. Spec drawings in industry help manufacturers picture the finished garment. In industry they will feature stich marks, zips, seams and other such details.
I used a domestic over locker for the first time. This gave my garments a more higher end high Street finish, rather than using the industrial over locker. I used the domestic over locker on all my skirts.
The areas of my collection that I sampled were: decorative, layered flowers, to find a method which didn’t fray and which could be mass produced (I needed approximately 70) I also had to sample pleats going across the bodices; I did this by creating a simple stich line and pressing together. The pleating process was particularly difficult. I also sampled a skirt finish (seam area) and created a net sample for the underskirt, by experimenting with gathering and securing the gather. I tried out the domestic over locker to assess the finish.
I was happy with my fabric choice and feel it matched my target customer. I based my whole collection around the Romans and a new and established company called Jones and Jones. My target audience is young women ranging from ages 17-24.
My customer would be fashion forward 'feminine and confident in the way they dress' They would have to be earning a reasonable income ranging from a salary of £1800-£2400 a year as my customer would be buying high end high street. As I wanted all my designs to look very feminine I feel this reflects me as a designer and what I would like my brand name to portray. I feel all my designs have been designed to embrace the female figure particularly the hip area.
High-end high-street uses the best fabrics available for high street trends with perfect finishes. After-all your customer is buying at a higher price tag. In conclusion to this I have used strong and effective Crepes this goes well with my chosen colour pallet. Crepes are a good quality fabric. I feel this worked well for my target market, colours, influences, and designs.
In conclusion, I felt my strengths were the CAD unit, as I am now able to create and adapt garments using adobe and Photoshop. This will help me in the future to translate my ideas into a spec drawing to industry standard. I also felt my flower designs worked out very well and I was pleased with my final colour choice. Pattern cutting is a skill that needs improving, however this is not my chosen career path. I am going on to study a fashion marketing course in Birmingham University in 2013 and will use all the skills gained on this course. I did not enjoy the pattern cutting aspects of the course; nevertheless I really enjoyed the design elements and can improve this area by making my designs more technical in the future. Reflecting on the past academic year I am pleased that I have managed to complete all the coursework, to above my target grade.
Unit 122…
Title: Pattern Development for Fashion and Clothing.
1 Be able to prepare blocks for pattern construction
2 Be able to make full-scale patterns
3 Be able to prepare a lay plan for production
4 Understand own pattern development.
Unit 128…
Title: Garment production.
1. To be able to operate equipment and machinery correctly for the development of garment production.
2. Be able to evaluate work during the production process.
3. Be able to produce and assemble garments.
I used basic dress blocks to create my dress bodices and used whole dress block for one garment. I did not create any of my own blocks. I patterned on the stand to create pleats going across the bodice and used the stand to create the strap to support the flower detailing. I used the basic dress block to adapt the pattern pieces for my bodice (adapted by removing darts and forming panels) and used a slash and spread technique for garment 1 skirt.
I put my name, garment name, size, grain line, number of pattern piece, cut x, cut on fold information on my pattern pieces. This information is important so that the pieces do not get mixed up and the manufacturer can cut them correctly. This means the correct measurements can be achieved and the patterns can be easily adapted, by using the tracing off method.
When creating my lay plan my choice of fabric meant that I had to consider the width and the best way to fold the fabric. I also had to consider the costing, and to ensure as little fabric waste as possible. This is very important in industry. I learnt from this process: how to do a lay plan (this was my first attempt) also how the process is done in the industry to keep costs as low as possible. I also learnt how industry standard lay plans are done on CAD; this is important for industry as they can be saved for future reference and easily adapted.
After completing my costing sheets I learnt the overall production cost of the garments. In future I could try to keep my costs lower by considering the price of fabrics at the design stage, but still keeping the quality. As I designed for higher end High Street customers I had to balance the costing against quality. Industry professionals would have the same challenge.
Initially, I found CAD very difficult as I didn’t find Adobe Illustrator software very easy to use. I had training from my father, who is a graphic designer and practiced every evening to gain a better understanding of the programme. I also adapted my original spec drawings to a higher technical standard. I found this made my designs look more professional. Spec drawings in industry help manufacturers picture the finished garment. In industry they will feature stich marks, zips, seams and other such details.
I used a domestic over locker for the first time. This gave my garments a more higher end high Street finish, rather than using the industrial over locker. I used the domestic over locker on all my skirts.
The areas of my collection that I sampled were: decorative, layered flowers, to find a method which didn’t fray and which could be mass produced (I needed approximately 70) I also had to sample pleats going across the bodices; I did this by creating a simple stich line and pressing together. The pleating process was particularly difficult. I also sampled a skirt finish (seam area) and created a net sample for the underskirt, by experimenting with gathering and securing the gather. I tried out the domestic over locker to assess the finish.
I was happy with my fabric choice and feel it matched my target customer. I based my whole collection around the Romans and a new and established company called Jones and Jones. My target audience is young women ranging from ages 17-24.
My customer would be fashion forward 'feminine and confident in the way they dress' They would have to be earning a reasonable income ranging from a salary of £1800-£2400 a year as my customer would be buying high end high street. As I wanted all my designs to look very feminine I feel this reflects me as a designer and what I would like my brand name to portray. I feel all my designs have been designed to embrace the female figure particularly the hip area.
High-end high-street uses the best fabrics available for high street trends with perfect finishes. After-all your customer is buying at a higher price tag. In conclusion to this I have used strong and effective Crepes this goes well with my chosen colour pallet. Crepes are a good quality fabric. I feel this worked well for my target market, colours, influences, and designs.
In conclusion, I felt my strengths were the CAD unit, as I am now able to create and adapt garments using adobe and Photoshop. This will help me in the future to translate my ideas into a spec drawing to industry standard. I also felt my flower designs worked out very well and I was pleased with my final colour choice. Pattern cutting is a skill that needs improving, however this is not my chosen career path. I am going on to study a fashion marketing course in Birmingham University in 2013 and will use all the skills gained on this course. I did not enjoy the pattern cutting aspects of the course; nevertheless I really enjoyed the design elements and can improve this area by making my designs more technical in the future. Reflecting on the past academic year I am pleased that I have managed to complete all the coursework, to above my target grade.
Tuesday 19 June 2012
Developing my inspirations...
For my fourth final garment for my end of year fashion show I have had to look a series of different looks going across the dresses bodice. Here are a few pictures of how I have developed and changed my research...
Wednesday 13 June 2012
The start of my end of year evaluation
Customer Profile
I based my whole collection around the Romans and a new and established company called Jones and Jones. My target audience is young women ranging from ages 17-24.
My customer would be fashion forward 'feminine and confident in the way they dress' They would have too be earning a reasonable income ranging from a salary of £1800-£2400 a year as my customer would be buying high end high street.
How did the choice of my design meet my chosen customers needs?
As I wanted all my designs to look very feminine I feel this reflects me as a designer and what I would like my brand name to portray. I feel all my designs have been designed to embrace the female figure particularly the hip area.
High-end high-street use the best fabrics available for high street trends with perfect finishes. After-all your customer is buying at a higher price tag. In conclusion to this I have used strong and effective Crepes this goes well with my chosen colour pallet. Crepes are a good quality fabric. I feel this worked well for my target market, colours, influences, and designs.
I based my whole collection around the Romans and a new and established company called Jones and Jones. My target audience is young women ranging from ages 17-24.
My customer would be fashion forward 'feminine and confident in the way they dress' They would have too be earning a reasonable income ranging from a salary of £1800-£2400 a year as my customer would be buying high end high street.
How did the choice of my design meet my chosen customers needs?
As I wanted all my designs to look very feminine I feel this reflects me as a designer and what I would like my brand name to portray. I feel all my designs have been designed to embrace the female figure particularly the hip area.
High-end high-street use the best fabrics available for high street trends with perfect finishes. After-all your customer is buying at a higher price tag. In conclusion to this I have used strong and effective Crepes this goes well with my chosen colour pallet. Crepes are a good quality fabric. I feel this worked well for my target market, colours, influences, and designs.
Experimenting with photoshop
Here I have added paint to make the design stand out more my final outcome is shown in my sketch book where I have created Aztec prints down the side of my design.
For my Final Major project I had to come up with 50 designs which incorporate my theme and colour pallet this one in particular is Aztec print I looked into current trends and repetition to source my inspirations. I have experimented in photo shop to try to digitalise my design and turn it into a reflection of my thoughts and how I could illustrate my design.
Monday 11 June 2012
Fashion Forward
Marketing is such a huge must in the fashion industry today. Whether your a gardener or fashion designer promoting your company in the correct way is always going to bring in consumers. Social networking sites are the new IN thing in fashion. Websites like Miss Selfridge and Topshop give you the option to tweet a garment or share via facebook with a personalized message. This is a great way of making a brand/trend more well known. It also gives a company a good indication of what consumers think of their products rather than having to do surveys or questionaires. Topshop and Miss Selfridge also give the consumers the opportuinty to rate a garment you have purchased out of five and to leave feedback. This is then posted on the website and other new consumers can see the rating levels. This could conclude in bad commenting however if the company are getting bad feedback about fittings this could then be seen as a good thing so they can improve for next time when making a similar garment.
Here are two new garments posted on the Topshop website recently I really love both styles! Collars and 50'60's silhouttes are really in this summer both outfits incorporate one of the trends. Topshop advertise their garments on a mannequin and just as a image. Using a mannequin to advertise is a good marketing technique as it gives the consumer an idea as to how the garment is going to fit without it even being purchased. The development of CAD in the fashion industry now enables big companys to allow buyers to zoom in on certain details on a garment!
Lookbooks, style diarys, and trend pages are also a new and up coming thing more and more fashion websites are adding. One of my fave websites that do this is MISS GUIDED they show celebrity styles and always have copies of the new trends but for slighty discounted rates as a pose to stores like ZARA and TOPSHOP.
Wednesday 6 June 2012
Sunday 3 June 2012
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