Style ZepHyr: May 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Textile Designs and Shibori Experiments

These are some initial textile design ideas which were achieved by utilising a shibori technique to create a random pattern or marking in a sense an art-form. Few of them are looking interesting and promising, but most of them are too hippy which was pointed out by my tutors, as not suitable for my collection theme. So I am going to take another direction - the combination of digital print and manipulation in later experiment.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Dye Workshop

Due to the fact of different fibres absorbing dye differently even radically, it is very hard to achieve the right colours for the right fabrics that I want for my collection through the dyeing process. It is a combination of cheerful and frustrating experiments and experiences. After all, I did get a few colour almost right, which are highlighted in the images, I take it as an encouragement to keep exploring my colour story.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

SHOES

I have just briefly checked out some gorgeous shoes, from which I was seeking some inspiration or ideas of the shoes and other accessories for my collection. I have not really worked out the concrete features, but something should be elegant, delicate and have a sense of the art form.

JIMMY CHOO

Images from http://www.jimmychoo.com/Collections/icat/collectionsrw, accessed 19-05-10

MANOLO BLAHNIK

Image from http://www.manoloblahnik.com/, accessed 19-05-10

Image from http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/galleries/happy+feet,9451, accessed 19-05-10

Image from http://fashionwomenshoes.blogspot.com/2009/03/ladies-high-fashion-shoes-design.html, accessed 19-05-10

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Spirals, Details, Volumes and Engineered Draping

My focus for the collection is to add value to garments by utilising textile manipulation to transform fabrics into not only clothing but also a wearable art form, therefor it is valuable for investment and friendly for environment.
At this moment, I focus on the shirring technique stitched in a random motion. Because shirring configuring fabric with rolling folds released between rows of gathering, the pinched, puckery stitching lines form the art-look patterns in big and loud volumes. One of my stitch lines is a perfect spiral, for which I was looking for tools or some method to achieve. There we are, the first art work by Tauba Auerbach solves my problem. The second drawings by Robert Horvitz depicts the story and feelings of my manipulation, which give viewers the sense of static and movement, random lines in deliberated patterns. The third drawing by Tara depicts the effect of the fabric fall I am aiming for by using shirring manipulation.

Drawings and title by Robert Horvitz

Image from http://butdoesitfloat.com/, accessed 19-05-10

Drawing by Linn Meryers

Image from http://butdoesitfloat.com/20385/Get-me-away-from-here-I-m-dying , accessed 19-05-10

Sculpture by Tara Donavan

Image from http://butdoesitfloat.com/7345/The-question-of-integrity-will-get-finer-and-finer-and-more-delicate, accessed 19-05-10

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Toile

Finally after the hard work, I did get a positive result and satisfactory feedback for the first jacket toile. Whilst the memory of this suggestion was still fresh in my mind I started my second toile, this is now more accurate in terms of measurements. It took me a long time to transfer the first toile onto paper and refine it, this was because of the manipulation detail. I guess I am not a big lover of pattern making at this moment.

Fabrics Sourcing

I am still searching for some interesting fabrics in all aspects, such as colour, texture, weight and special characteristics. At this stage, I haven’t really found exciting ones, but have discovered some good ones.

Draping Process and Work Space

For my collection project, I initially created a few large complex pieces of manipulation on fabric and then draped them on a mannequin to explore the potential of the ideal silhouettes , which is a bit different and the opposite way of comparing my previous work methods. By this process, I can visualise my design idea/concept then developed more body forms, this worked very well on my designs. At the same time, I try to drape in different fabrics to experiment and find a better solution. That’s why my work space is a bit of a mess even when I tidy it up.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Australian Fashion Week CONT

By using Rorschach blots as a print, Dion lee gave his looks an artful touch. The beautiful bright colour palette, especially the blue and violet range, in soft tones is also part of my colour story.

Dion Lee SS2010/11

Images from http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion+shows/australian/dion+lee+2010+11,s4971, accessed 06-05-10

Australian Fashion Week CONT

The focus of my collection is the dramatic and engineered draping as depicted in Bianca Spender’s show, who also used seductive make up and charming fluid silhouette, they sent modernised goddess on the catwalk.

Bianca Spender SS2010/11

Images from http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion+shows/australian/bianca+spender+2010+11,s4961, accessed 05-05-10

Therese Rwsthorne SS2010/11

--- Very stylish and cool leggings

Images from http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion+shows/australian/therese+rawsthorne+2010+11,s4955 , accessed 05-05-10

Australian Fashion Week CONT

I have not followed the events of fashion week every day as I did last year. Compared to the first day, the second day had more diversity of fashion style on the catwalk. The geometric and soft floral prints in pastel tones from Zimmermann, the simplicity with sharp cut form Friedrich Gray and the futurist or Scifi make up from Ellery certainly bring an element of fun for the spring/summer season.

Zimmermann SS2010/11