Culture

For this project I started off choosing Japanese culture ( to be specific Geisha) and body modification. 

            

After the research my tutor suggested that the contrast between Geisha and body modification is too similar. So I started looking at nuns. Then my mind is just full of ideas because I love the whole wild and free concept vs. constriction/ colourful vs. tonal. etc

I've then started drawing out ideas, I was thinking about creating a headpiece/ cloak made out of body jewellery. I think it might look very cool and I was deciding to make one. Sadly when I was searching for jewellery wholesale, it takes them a few weeks to be sent. So the timing was not right, I couldn't make something.

Soon after I starting designing clothes, kept going back from time to time and draw out tiny little details that I might be able to illustrate on my final designs. I incorporated scarification (it is a body modification where u cut/ burn the skin off. When it heals and scars will form into lines that make up a graphic on your body). I used the idea of colour and 'cut out', together with the look of being constricted and covered based on what nuns wear all the time, so most of my designs have high necks. 

On my final outcome I've illustrated 9 designs. Main colours used are red, white and black. Red and white happens to represent purity in Japan, and I thought that was very interesting to put together with the nuns. It almost seem like everything is tied together by something. I was very happy with the outcome, only thing is after I finished the final designs, I had a lot of time left so I started doing quick free handed sketches and they turn out looking better than the ones that I illustrated properly. I think next time I should do both, so maybe I can push my ideas even further. 

Sportswear- Lining and Final

 Today we did a few lining on stands. This really helped me with creating new shapes and cuttings. I find this really useful. I've cut out a few stripes of paper in a specific shape, I was doing a horse shoe shape because I saw this cutting on this t-shirt in Puma and I thought it was interesting. Then I started pining them onto the stands. I don't think it only helped me with lining but also the shape of a garment.

At the end of the day, I started doing a few sketches and designs based on these stand works. 

When I started designing for this project, I was only thinking about using crazy colours like colour blocks. But then I remembered that I started off this project thinking about doing skateboarding, so I kind of used the old school skateboard art/ surf art (e.g: Jimbo Phillips) and also a few newer artists like Mike Giant, as a print so I can make my final designs more fun, instead of just funky colours.

For the style of my collection, I looked into a famous London landmark. I didn't know a lot so I went for London Bridge. Just when I thought of London Bridge, I remembered that this is also a song name of one of Fergie's song. That idea sparked and I went for the bad street girl, hip hop look, which I thought I would never have fun doing it. But I loved it!

Going back to the initial idea of swimwear, I used the strappy details and cut outs on most modern swimwear. It was funny to see how much they resemble the wires that hold up London Bridge. So I also used the idea of suspension so create this final collection.

Sportswear - Trip

Brainstorming for the project I thought of doing skateboarding. I am in love with Santa Cruz ( Jimbo Phillips's graphic designs). I think it'll be very exciting to in corporate large loud colourful prints into my designs. I was very stuck based on the design and silhouette itself, luckily I went onto this trip and I got a lot of inspiration.

                                                                   

                                                                 

I arrived to the swimwear/ lingerie department. And I decided that maybe I should do swimwear just because it is not something that I usually pay attention to. It is something new to me. (I always shop for street wear instead, that's why). 

Most of these swimwear I was looking at is quite vintage inspired. I like them a lot, but I wasn't planning on working with vintage style.

Deconstruction and Reconstruction Photoshoot - Post Apocalyptic inspired

Here is a top that I re-made from sleeves of a grey tartan shirt, and combined it with a draping sheer black back piece. I also added a zipper to make it more wearable and put a little bit of edge it the garment.

Below are the final photographs displaying the top and the whole styling.

Photographer/ Stylist: Bella Puertolas

Hair and Makeup/ Model/ Wardrobe: Ophelia Liu

I had a lot of fun doing this project. I usually do not like making garments, but when it comes to destroying something and make something new out of it, I enjoy it a lot- since I do that quite often to my clothes anyway. I think I could have developed a lot more if I have enough clothes that I do not want anymore. I do have a few more pieces of old clothes, but then, the colour do not work well with each other. So for the sake of the outcome, I took a step back and kept it simple.

Bella and I both thought that we weren't going to make the deadline, but suprisingly I worked very fast and finished the top in just a few hours. I find myself focusing a lot more when I'm actually making something. I guess this is a step forward on time management. For the shoot it was just very relaxed because there was enough time for us to do that. We found this really empty and worn down place next the the Greenwich Emirates cable car and we thought it fits into what this project is and how my top looks like - Worn down and destroyed.