NEW PROJECTS AND THINKING ABOUT TREND REPORTS

So we've been given our new groups and our new briefs.

1. Co-oproduct
2. Colour
3. Trend Report
(4. Breaking into the fashion world)- technically this isnt a project, but we've started to write our CV's and also look at where abouts we would like to be and who we'd like to have work experience with etc.

Co-oproduct, is an online organisation where they create objects for example, lamps, coat hooks, tables, chairs etc out of waste materials and we've been doing a sort of collaboration with their team to create our own 'objects' or in our case, garments and accessories with our own collected waste materials. However the only problem I have with this, is that all the examples theyve given us to look at have been of recyclable materials, and I dont really understand the point exactly in creating things out of waste materials when this doesnt or shouldnt end up on landfill anyway. So.. what I'm going to do and what I've discussed with my group is that we're going to use materials which are non-recyclable, for example, CD's, foil, plastic bags and more.

Our colour project has only just got started and I'm not overly sure what will be my outcome of this, but I have thought of a few ideas, for example linking it to the co-oproduct idea and creating a quite floaty garment with something large and industrial over the top like a shoulder piece for example, I think this will be exciting to do especially as I'd like to do fashion artifact for my MA. (Well that is the idea, I guess its still a while away yet).

The Trend Report is what we are working on at the moment, this link with the two projects, we must come up with a trend report within our groups judging by the images that we brought to our tutorials, we haven't got a set colour scheme but I think we are looking at something quite industrial, which is where I got my idea for the colour project from as that will follow on from this. Possibly we could take inspiration from the print and dye inductions we have done recently. And laser cutting is a very industrial way of working, so maybe if we could look into this. Lots of ideas at the moment, just need to get together and see what we can do with these ideas.

Also, we found lots of industrial inspiration within the current market, so this will be good to bring within our trend report as they follow on from eachother.

Especially as what we want to create is a lot more experimental, very large shoulder pieces, which could easily come after what you can find in the current market, with all the big necklaces and tribal earings.

This is topshops new accessory range. Very Industrial.

DCC- Design Culture and Context- Modernism

As I have to begin writing an essay soon based on modernism, one the ideas raised in class was "Is it okay for men to wear skirts?" Personally I dont think the image of a train of male models strolling down the catwalk in black and white leather skirts is particularly attractive. However different people have different views, and I totally respect that.
I do think that men and women should be equal, but should we know when to draw the line? Should there be a line? As well with Gay marriage recently being approved I thought that this was the perfect time to look into this a bit more, so I began researching designers who had designed male outfits which were very influenced by womens clothing.

I came across a Topman collection which includes a modern version of the Catholic school girl uniform, the only difference is, is that its all in red. And for men.

Do you think that we should be mocking certain religions by using their style/ religious objects such as the cross as a means of fashion?
 I mention the cross because you can find this in pretty much any highstreet shop, and I recently found out that the cross upside down is actually 'antichrist' and I maybe think that we shouldnt be allowed to wear these, just because it's 'fashion'.

These were just a few thoughts to start me off on essay ideas.

first term of Uni over- Nottingham Trent University

So my first term is over and my first project is out of the way. I have learnt so many new skills is just the first 3 months. For one, I have learnt how to pattern cut. I've used an over-locker.. pattern layed.. worked pricing out and so so much more!

Essentially we had 2 projects running along side eachother.. one theory and one practical. The theory based one is to help us research and present our work, sometimes working in groups and sometimes working independently. Anyway we chose to research about hip hop.. after a lot of research into various different genres. It was pretty interesting as I lot of new things for example branding.. and how it can come across as one thing on someone yet gave off a totally different vibe on someone else.
So anyway.. that was that project, and we presented all our ideas at the end and had a discussion about what we thought.

The other project was a lot more practical "White project" and i chose to do mine on habitats. I looked into the natural and man made habitats and how the structure was actually fairly similar.
I decided that i wanted my model to feel sheltered as this tied invery well. So I decided to create some ideas with hoods attached.. I wanted a relatively large hood but realised in order to make the wearer feel "snug" and "comfortated the hood inside would need to be touching them. Sure enough I created a lining which was small enough to fit like a swimming hat and an outer hood which would stand away from the body.
The sleeves were a bit of a last minute thing, I knew I wanted sleeves but what i wanted them to look like was a totally different story, I tried out different shapes until I found one that I liked, and actually it worked very well, as it was in a leaf shape, and this tied in very well with my research because i visited Wollaton Hall and this was all about bugs and wildlife.

The finishing product was tweaked a few times and I had a couple of dissagreements with my teacher, but she did help me a lot and in the end i was very pleased with my final piece. I actually never thought i'd be creating something using pattern cutting and different types of designing.

The finished piece:

 (please email if you'd like to know anymore information on this project or anything about my work- eviecowan2@hotmail.co.uk)