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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