Communication is vital

During  my internship experience at Red Seal Clothing, a CMT in Maitland, the owner Mr CR kept insisting on the importance of communication. If production was not communicated in a way that everyone understood, the company could lose quite a bit of money. To be honest, I figured I knew all that already. Until yesterday that is.....

As our last official communication lesson, we played 30 seconds. It was really amazing to see how differently we communicate the same things. Absolutely fun! Even though I only managed to get 2 for the team (whoops! sorry guys).

Available on 

http://thereelteamnewsletter.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/communicationpersuasion

Last before couture

This week, I have started working on my final outfit before couture garment for our Graduate Collection. 

What a rocky road! 

I am particularly fond of this outfit, which comprises of corded pants and kimono with drape, styled top. The top is almost complete, but the pants is still under construction, and what a mission it is proving to be!

Last week, was visual studies week with a twist. We were given the task of conceptualizing and design outfits, based on music played. Interesting twist and although I had always known inspiration could stem from just about anything, I had not realized just how differently, we all interpreted the songs. Was really fun and interactive process of conceptual design, which I intend on using when needing inspiration for conceptual design.

This is the board based in different songs.
I chose the fourth outfit, which had tranquil and nostalgic feel and named it Serenity.
The heavily draped design was based on the sound of falling water, which was in the background of the song. 

Another one bites the dust

You know this is getting bad, when I start counting down our final days of FEDISA.

So near and yet so far. 

Firstly, I have come to the realization that the designer I chose, would not fit the assignment I had intended on researching, as he is still fully functional, alive and well (oops!). Which is why I've chosen to research Elsa Schiaparelli. 

This iconic designer was of the leaders in the fashion industry, along with Coco Chanel prior to WW1. Revolutionizing the industry with knitwear prints, of the first designers to launch a sportswear range.Her style was innovative and she believed in the boyish silhouette as a blank space, allowing prints to create the design. 

Outfit 6 photo's 

Final countdown

Sometimes, knowing when to call it quits, pays off. This past few days have just about pushed me, seriously close to insanity, but somehow I know it will all come together.

Saying goodbye to nine friends, whose time at Fedisa was cut short, was the hardest thing to do. What made it even more heart breaking, was the fact that they had all tried so hard this last few months to improve themselves, and it had not managed to save them. Hoping to see them at the show and in the future. Going to miss having them around the class. 

Little note to self, nothing is in vain, everything is a lesson and that mistakes are meant to be made and learnt from.

Currently working on outfit 6, which turned out to be a bit more of a mission than I had anticipated. 

Will post a picture of garments as soon as they are complete.

History assignment that I am working on is based on iconic designer, Jean Paul Gaultier. From the fantasy, creature inspired spectacle of fashion shows back to when he first made an impact on the fashion industry. He is one of the inspirations behind the concept for my collection, which is why I am so keen on learning about how he made his mark in the industry. 

If only I could have a longer day......

This week is but barely a full week and I'm already anxious about getting things done properly. 

So we had a garment hand in, which wasn't exactly as planned, but still effective I think. Fabric drape had not worked as well, which is why I replaced it with corded drape. 

Currently working on photo shoot styling assignment, which is every bit as great a challenge as I thought it would be. Based on fully stylized models dressed in food, we are creating a "FEDISA cookbook", which is a really fun assignment, but a mission to do well. Must admit though I hadn't anticipated it to turn out the way it had and that it could have been a lot worse. My concept was based on tropical resorts (the perfect getaway) and the places I would not mind spending a day or two at. What it turned out to be was perfect backgrounds and oranges! There's not much else I can say about it.


Hand in for life and figure, which was based perspective runway with models, was today. I really struggled, but I think it turned out better than I expected.

 The next challenge is storyboards, which are based on celebrity marriage. The twist is conceptualizing every aspect of the trend book, (which comprise of the mood board, styling board, colour ways, fabric and trims, along with theme introduction) with background and overall theme of the boards. Which is cool, as we now have free range to play around with trend book layout.  

Perseverance Pays Off

This week has been quite a rocky week. I realized that even when you do simple garments, there is always room for improvement. My model 5 hand in is on  Monday, and I've redesigned the dress, which I thought was not as effective. I will post pictures of the board and the garment photo's as soon as the garment is done, as soon as possible.

Innovative presentation is sometimes so much more complex than anticipated. I'll admit, I could have done a better job, but I'm working on it. Presentation will get better for next boards:).

Last week Fridays' storyboarding hand in

Just when you think, things couldn't become crazier, karma proves you wrong.

I have tons of catching up to do as far as posting, which includes outfit three and four pics but will update you in no time.

Currently working on outfit five, which is going well (should hope so, considering design simplicity).



Outfit 3
Draping is sometimes so much more of a mission than it seems



Outfit 4
Yes, this is the fabric that I've been hand sewing all year

Thanks again Nicole

These last few weeks have been busy, not to mention the internship during the 'holidays' (it was holiday?)

The company Red Seal Clothing, a local CMT (cut, make and trim factory) was not my first choice as an internship, but it's amazing how much one can learn when being in the industry. Digitized pattern making, mass production and sampling, following processes from start to finish is done differently from what students are exposed to.

Really makes one think if institutes prepare us for the industry, but then again, one learns best when put into situations.

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Back to the future

Wednesday was the final hand-in day for our second outfit of our collection. 

I originally planned to do the pleated draped skirt, with cowl drape top, worn with a waist cincher. I  decided to do the pleated jersey knit drape dress as I thought it would take longer to construct, and by experimenting with the drape dress, I now know to put the skirt together and the time allocation necessary for construction.

Thanks again Nicole :-)

We had a copycat assignment to do, I promised the pics.

My illustrator was Frederik Watson

Back to the future, simply explains how trends are created. Design History, has taken on a new approach, which encompasses historical events, current events and their influences, thereby finding what direction the market would lean towards.
History repeats itself, however not necessarily in its same form.

History facilitates and accounts for the way consumers spend, or don't spend, whether they indulge in fads or investments and ultimatlely predetermines the rise and fall of the local and international market.
Trend forecasting, is communicating what happens around us and how it influences us.

Life and figure drawing has once again incoporated the yearly self portrait, however this year, there's a twist.
We have draw our self potraits depiciting either of the  given eras. Will post it as soon as I am done with it.

Will post my next outift storyboard picture asap.

This weeks' a breeze

This week is visual week and we were given a copycat illustrators' assignment, which will push us to adapt to illustration techniques that we might not be comfortable with. I was assigned the illustrator Frederik Watson, and if I'm not mistaken he works wonders with water colour, pen, dry and wet chalk as his main mediums, which he brilliantly stylizes Old Hollywood Glamour illustration. Hopefully I can imitate his style of illustrating :-).

This is my first outfit hand-in, worn by Nicole, taken by Raya Rossi. Thanks for the help guys!

Will upload my next outfit asap.

Justs gets better......or does it?

When things go rocky, eventually they can only get better, so thats what I'm telling myself and anyone who feels like I did.

Last week we were given the task of planning our fashion show, which is really cool as we get to have a teeny weeny bit of creative input into our final show at FEDISA. 

Problem is, finding a place able to cater for the audience of about 1000 (legally, that is) and with proper toilet facilities, preferably a more hospitable setting than the wilderness.

But it shall be done! 

Another accessory design assignment, for the Durban July, which touches on the section of accessories I haven't really explored in my collection accessories, head pieces and hats. The theme this year: The Right Royal Affair

So to get inspired enough to come up with something that isn't my collection is a challenge on its own, but one that has to be taken on.

Trend forecasting assignment for History is really cool, and such a relief from the body modification assignments that just never seems to end. Was really interesting but really am glad to be changing direction. 

Some inspirational pics from Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty

21 days

Handed in first outfit on Monday, which felt great. Now to get the others going...

This is the next outfit I'm working on

This week was visual week, which meant that the accessory designs for our collection were due, hands and feet illustration, CAD logo design and drapery concluding the busy week with four mood boards, which would usually be enough work to allow an hour or two of sleep every night, a cup of coffee whenever possible and ten new gray hairs. 

I have managed to do the accessory design, hands and feet as well as the logo during the holidays and for once in my life was able to keep my heart rate normal for a week.

My mission for the next few months, to work faster. It takes 21 days, so wish me luck ;).

Thought I'd load some photos and pictures of this weeks work

Some of my favourite accessories from collection accessory design assignment

Drapery assignment

Inspiration for Drapery based on OVO theme from Cirque Du Soleil, which focused mainly on the movement rather than costume.

Did an illustration based on this design

 I think all our class designs for the drapery assignment turned out really cool and the themes still allowed for individual personalities to shine through.

More time, more work

Its  amazing how much longer things take when you have more time and this week has proven exactly that.

Its the simple things that take you off gaurd. I had just managed to complete accessory designs, amongst other assignments that have been waiting on me, and then the list gets shorter, but not quite done.

I believe that all our hard work in conceptualising and brainstorming our collections will all pay off, especially since no short cuts could be taken to get things done as the should be, which would reflect in the overall look of the outfits.

Sewing collection garments really is exciting and I can hardly wait to see the finished product. There is no time to get lazy or have a headache in some cases take that much needed holiday (which might I add, has been an amazing opportunity to work in ones' own time and space independently). Its due this Friday, hoping to get it done sooner. Wish me luck!

I have started working on this design

And the list goes on

So this week we were given the greatest gift ever! The gift of catch up time. Which would have been ideal for the tons of hand sewing re-fabrication I'm still busy with. We were then given the mission of completing one of our collection looks, along with several visual assignments, which include hands and feet (again) and accessory design assignment. 

The hands and feet turned out to be a little more challenging than usual, yet exciting as I am not overly eager to experiment with different media, which this assignment forced me to.

Here are the pics

The gray is Pencil, Blue - dry pastel, the black - Charcoal and the purple and yellow - Coloured pencil

The garments and accessory design is still on its way. Will post pics as soon as they're done.

Filling the Gaps

 The re-fabrication in my collection, is of the strongest contributions to my collection theme. The fabrics all have a texture or have a strange colour which emphasize distressing and decomposition of the state of the world. Here are some pictures of them.

leather  with textured film cover

Rusted and coffee dyed

Rusting

Hand sewing the lozenge pattern

Reverse side of leopard print fabric

Textured cotton blend

CAD has always been a bit of a mission for me, not because I can't do it, but it somehow never turns out the way I'd planned. So this term, I've made it my business to get back into making things work and finishing them the way they need to be done. Wish me luck :-). We did re-touching of model on Photoshop, and I was impressed at the simple techniques used to 'Beautify' models, which really makes me feel better after looking at a magazine cover and knowing a few of the tricks of the trade.

Landscape drapery assignment 

This was quite interesting, as I had always thought I had fabric rendering covered and was fully capable of doing it properly. I couldn't have been more wrong!

I realized that my 'technique' (if I could still call it that) was scratchy and folds would only exist in my drapery, when my mood was right. Which meant that I had to spend more time on making my drapery landscape look like an ok-ish landscape. Think I know where I went wrong now.

Here's the picture of the landscape I illustrated