week 11 8,9,10,11 / 12/08

Monday was hand in day for the shakers design project; we had tutorials which I found really helpful as there are a number of things I need to improve in my sketch book and final boards. We were given our final brief which will last up until April 23rd the title is Fashion v Sport, I am quite excited about this project as I was extremely inspired by the exhibition we saw at the V&A on Fashion v Sport. Tuesday I improved my work in design and on Wednesday I was finishing off my shirt and work for InDesign, I have found InDesign useful and feel I have gained a number of skills. So now all my garments are complete ready for the deadline on Thursday, I am happy I have managed to get everything done and now feel I am ready to go home for Christmas. Wednesday night myself and a friend Lucy modelled for the 2nd year’s work, the designers had made jackets and the promoters had to organise the photo shoot, it was so much fun I really enjoyed it ( see pictures below) the theme was masculine and feminine, I was masculine and Lucy was feminine! During the holidays I am going to complete some basic research on the new design brief Fashion v Sport.
Merry Christmas!! =)

Modelling for second years work -- Lucy: Me:




Me and Lucy:




Week 11

Completed Shakers Project -

Title Page in sketch book:

Philosophy: Push for sustainability, strive for functionality and live for individuality
Theme Board:


Final Board:

I really enjoyed this project, my final design was a dress which you can wear during the day with flat shoes or dress it up with a pair of heals, i decided to use textured material as the idea was simple i thought this would make it more interesting.
I looked into sustainability and eco fashion and found this really interesting and appealing.


week 10 2,3,4,5 /12/08

On Tuesday and Wednesday we had private study so I completed some work on the shakers design project, this i feel is going well.
Thursday and today we had the studios to make the shirt, when we had finished on the sewing machines myself and a friend from the course decided to do a pattern for the shorts as we had not been asked to this and wanted to see what it was like, it was hard but we followed the instructions and it was useful to see how it was created, we also made an extra pattern for a shirt collar to gain further knowledge, as I struggle in pattern cutting I found this extremely useful.
I have managed to get quite far with my shirt and feel that I should hopefully be finished by the deadline next week, I found constructing the collar very confusing at first but when I completed it, I felt I had learnt a lot.
A girl in the second year, Amy, has asked me and Lucy, a friend from the course to model for their photo shoot next week for their jackets, it is an androgynous and feminine theme, it should be so much fun I can’t wait!
week 10 1/12/08

London =)
Today we went to London to see the exhibition Sport vs. Fashion and to complete additional research on the topic.
The exhibition was incredible here is some information i got from it -

'BODISME -the body as a tool of invisible communication'  - V&A Website

‘This exhibition explores the creative connections between the two worlds fashion and sport. Recent developments have seen an increasing number of collaborations and hybrids, from fashion designers producing collections with sportswear brands to sports personalities heading fashion campaigns or even designing their own collections Fashion V Sport will reveal the complexities and tensions between the two industries.’

‘Sportswear has become an essential part of the modern wardrobe. Trainers and tracksuits are often more readily worn than suits, and high performance textiles developed for competition are being integrated into high-end fashion. Fashion V Sport examines the way that sports styles are adapted to make fashion statements, both on the street and through high fashion, and how sports and fashion products are consumed, customised and worn.’

Dare: Technical Innovation
Function and high performance are of primary concern in the design of sportswear. Companies invest a considerable amount of time and money into researching performance-enhancing garments and footwear. Recently, fashion designers have integrated many of these technologies into their designs, often in direct collaboration with sports corporations. At the same time, sportswear has become increasingly fashionable and self-aware, often looking back at its own design history.
Display: Individuality and Uniformity
Sportswear or sports-inspired fashion may seem a uniform mode of dress. There is nothing more ubiquitous than a pair of trainers, a hooded jersey top and a pair of tracksuit bottoms. However, individuality is expressed through subtle differences and modifications. This section explores how homemade street adaptations - such as how laces are tied and adorned, or how tracksuits are worn - have inspired designers to reinterpret trainers and the tracksuit. It also looks at how the practice of customising has motivated the production of industrially customised goods sold by major sports companies.
Play: Exaggeration and Vibrancy
Sportswear first crossed over into casual wear because it was comfortable and affordable. Since then it has increasingly acquired its own sartorial language, one that is based on patterns and colours of performance sportswear but is often playful and highly exaggerated. In manipulating the idea of sportswear, designers have pushed the boundaries of what trainers and sports clothes can look like. Witty, ironic and sophisticated, their work reflects the equally inventive customisation of sportswear that can be seen on the street.
Desire: Obsessive Behaviour
The area where fashion and sportswear coexist most comfortably is in the advertising and consumption of menswear and sport-related products. From case studies of a designer's obsession with football, via one-off, limited edition or cult design pieces, to expensive trainer and tracksuit collections, this section pinpoints the place in which sportswear's function has become almost redundant and instead its fashionability has become the key feature.

- All the above information was collected from the V&A Website.





I really enjoyed this exhibition and think it will help massively towards our project after Christmas!

During the trip to London we also visited Dover Street Market it was great to see the displays and look at the detail of the garments, it definitely gave me inspiration for ideas on visual merchandising. After this I went to Camden market with my friend Lucy from the course, this was so much fun; I have never been before, and…. I brought boots yay :D!