people tree.

of course i'm still being sustainable in my practise by using second hand fabric. i have managed to save the same fabric i've used in my samples; a blue and pink woven check from the flea market. it's lasted all my project that fabric, and i'm pleased i've got some left over as vivienne westwood is all about the check.

i have been researching into other sustainable clothing companies today, and the one i found most interesting was people tree.

they're a fair trade fashion company;

'For every beautiful garment People Tree makes, there's an equally beautiful change happening somewhere in the world.

We like to think of it in terms of our little shoots-and-roots motif. We provide you with exclusive fashion - the shoots - while at the same time we work deep down through the roots, improving the lives and environment of the artisans and farmers in developing countries who work to produce it. It's Fair Trade throughout. Simple.'

i really admire the work they do; http://www.peopletree.co.uk/content/ecology.php

 

collars, folds, pleats and ruffles.

vivienne weswood inspired.

http://www.viviennewestwood.co.uk/

progress...

i havebeen researching ALL DAY and finally thought of a concept idea to link with my theme; ruffles, fold, pleats and stitch... SHIRTS.

vivienne westwood was the main inspiration... god i love her. i'm so pleased to finally incorporate her influence into my final pieces. here are the main links in her collections;

ruffle detailing.

high neck lines.

her detailing is very particular. normally distorted triangles. i have practised this with origami.

ruffles and pleating detailing. like rosettes.

crazy pockets. placed in odd places. this shirt looks like it's been recycled due to the different tones of denim... perhaps it has!

the collars are arranged in different places. and i like that about vivienne westwood. she's so different and unique.

 

i'm a bit annoyed i'm still not making corsages. i love making corsages. waa waa.


i have to make four final pieces. i aim to make a number of 'collar' pieces. not an actual collar, but a mock up. also a ruffled collar of some sort, a pocket and possibly an accessory. like the rossettes.

http://www.viviennewestwood.co.uk/collections/red-label-spring-summer-2011/ you can see in this video, she uses alot of tailored clothes in her collections. so i'm focusing in onto the shirts and collars etc.

combining textiless with paper origami.

http://www.ecouterre.com/sarajevo-artist-creates-math-inspired-origami-dresses-from-paper-textiles/amila-hrustic-platos-collection-3/?extend=1

samantha pleet.

http://www.samanthapleet.com/

The story began in 2006 when Brooklyn Designer Samantha Pleet debuted her namesake collection, intertwining elements of the mysterious and fantastical with a sense of modernity.
Each season new and ancient ideas from music, art, history, and literature are conjured along with various feelings and are transformed into Pleet's silhouettes, then shown in collaborative projects from films, photographs to unique installations.
The clothes, made in New York City using organic materials whenever possible, have become favorites among creative girls around the world including musicians like Beach House, The Dirty Projectors, and Au Revoir Simone.
She has collaborated with Urban Outfitters on Rapscallion by Samantha Pleet which led to curating the inaugural pop up shop at Space 15 Twenty in Los Angeles. The 29 year old Pratt graduate gardens, paints, travels, and hunts for treasure in her spare time. SHE SOUNDS AMAZING.

her collection are simple, girly and sustainable.

eco fashion at new york fashion week 2010.

(www.posh-swaps.com)

For the second season at New York Fashion Week, the Green Shows featured a range of global eco designers and brands sending a very clear message that New York can do green with style. The collections featured a range of ecofriendly fabrics including recycled and upcycled, organic and sustainable fabrics.

The Green Shows opened with an extravagant and elaborate couture , inspired collection, by London designer Gary Harvey featuring recycled clothes made into beautiful full skirted outfits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5z1PYFPdM0&feature=player_embedded#at=33

JoAnn Berman’s colourful and eclectic collection was made using recycled and upcycled materials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajRbqfk2SQk&feature=player_embedded

this is a good summary:

LAST WEEK.

today i had a tutorial with visiting lecturer jane eastwood. (http://janeeastwooddesign.com/about.html)

it's the last week before hand in. and we have to make 2 inspiration/contextual boards and 4 final conclusions by then... AH.

as i was stuck to what i should do next, the tutorial really helped.

her comment 'simplify and refine check fabric techniques. try pulling out threads and slashing, and other ideas done on other fabric sample. try making less bulky.'

i guess this is good feedback for when i start making my final pieces... but what should my final products be? and for what context?

i spoke to grainne earlier and she suggested i make a theme from my initial fabric manipulations. FOLDING, PLEATING AND STITCHING are the most common themes from my samples. also the idea of cutting out and hiding.

so, i photocopied a number of my samples and started to create shapes and forms by folding and pleating. like origami, but i'm not making an object - just shapes. this will help me refine ideas for when i create my samples in fabric.

i still need to think of a context. i was told today i'm a 'fashion girl.' i don't know if i'm an interior girl... or both? we'll see :)

alot of my folding involves triangles. perhaps look at collars..? (http://www.urbanjunkies.com/london/images/stories/08/0616-brightsparks-1.jpg)

ah. collars and corsages in one unit..!?

websites

 http://www.ecouterre.com/
 http://www.refashionable.com/blog/
http://www.peopletree.co.uk/content/FOLKprofile.php
http://textilefutures.co.uk/
http://www.collaborativeconsumption.com/
http://www.tedresearch.net/
http://antenna.sciencemuseum.org.uk/trashfashion/
http://www.aadip9.net/erandi/2007/12/
http://ethicaltextile.blogspot.com
http://www.alltheluckintheworld.nl/en/home.php
http://www.fiberarts.com/article_archive/reviews/group/throughthesurface.asp
http://www.guidetoartschools.com/tips-and-tools/print-design-blogs

a week left.

ararara. for this three week recycling project, i only have a week left... and most of my work to do...

today we had a really useful seminar with les. i realise that i must focus and refine my fabric samples now. so i have chosen the following techniques to use in my developing work:

LAYERING; collage and applique.
FOLDING; pleats, loops, create interesting shapes.
STITCHING; embellishing and adding texture.

i will, of course, be using my recycled materials - fabrics, clothes and pillow cases from the many different charity shops i've visited in the last week. i don't, however, know where this project is heading yet, what context i will be focusing on etc, so i must keep an open mind.

better start sampling.

SEWY MACHINE :)

GETTING A NEW SEWING MACHINE ON FRIDAY.

the singer confidence 7470.

hopefully it'll be amaziiing :)
and i can't do lots more work... the past few days work has been non existent.

what can you do with an old pillow case...?

quite a lot actually..! ere is the textile wall organiser i made out of an old pillow case and fabric.
i'm pretty chuffed with it :)

simply arrange fabric square onto the case and stitch.

attach an old trouser hanger at the top to hang it up.

i made tubes to hold my knitting needles so they don't fall out everywhere.

lace is a great trim as you can attach pins/earrings/anything onto it as an organiser.

playing with pillows.

initial fabric manipulation samples.

here are a few of the samples i've been making this week. mostly small in scale and focusing on folds, layers, stitch, texture, pleats, knots and cut outs.