Sunday, 25 October 2009
Deadline approaching!
Its nearing the end of the project now, we have just over a week to finish everything off and get everything together.
I am pretty much there with my research/design/branding sheets. I am just putting the finishing touches to it... adding fabric samples, adding photos, and creating swing tags and deciding on my final range.
We still have quite a lot to do on our presentation, it’s become quite difficult with timing, because we have our elective this week (which we also have to do preparatory research and work for) and it doesn't leave much time for us to get everything together and have time to practise and make it presentable.
This week as a group we went to take photos of the garments that we had made. I think that the shoot went really well, and the model that we had for the shoot was really good and I felt that she really fitted the image we were going for.
Even though the photos have come out really well, I do think there a bit too pretty. I think we could have made them more intense and used a stronger background. I think some of the poses look a bit catalogue and could have been better if they were stronger which would have made them more high fashion.
I was worried before the shoot that the garments wouldn’t fit together well as a collection, but they really look good together, with the colours really being bought out.
We have also now decided on the final fabrics for our collection, I think we have a good balance of fabrics, and they suit the Autumn/winter season. Some of the fabrics are really interesting, and give the collection an injection of energy.
I have started the research for my jewellery elective, and I think that this year it’s going to be a lot more interesting because we have more of a choice of which path we choose to follow. I am going to work in softer and more appealing materials this year, I think I will enjoy it a lot more this way and won’t be complaining about hurting myself!
I am pretty much there with my research/design/branding sheets. I am just putting the finishing touches to it... adding fabric samples, adding photos, and creating swing tags and deciding on my final range.
We still have quite a lot to do on our presentation, it’s become quite difficult with timing, because we have our elective this week (which we also have to do preparatory research and work for) and it doesn't leave much time for us to get everything together and have time to practise and make it presentable.
This week as a group we went to take photos of the garments that we had made. I think that the shoot went really well, and the model that we had for the shoot was really good and I felt that she really fitted the image we were going for.
Even though the photos have come out really well, I do think there a bit too pretty. I think we could have made them more intense and used a stronger background. I think some of the poses look a bit catalogue and could have been better if they were stronger which would have made them more high fashion.
I was worried before the shoot that the garments wouldn’t fit together well as a collection, but they really look good together, with the colours really being bought out.
We have also now decided on the final fabrics for our collection, I think we have a good balance of fabrics, and they suit the Autumn/winter season. Some of the fabrics are really interesting, and give the collection an injection of energy.
I have started the research for my jewellery elective, and I think that this year it’s going to be a lot more interesting because we have more of a choice of which path we choose to follow. I am going to work in softer and more appealing materials this year, I think I will enjoy it a lot more this way and won’t be complaining about hurting myself!
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Making my jacket
Pattern cutting and making
This week feel like I have really achieved something. This week we have been focusing on, drawing and cutting our patterns, making our toile and then transforming this into our final garment.
I have always had trouble with pattern cutting and have always dreaded making my own patterns. I find it hard to look at books and actually be able to understand what they are saying and how to create the pattern. I find it a lot easier having someone explain it to me and work through it with me so I know that I definitely understand. I don’t like to go and do things again so I would prefer to get it right the first time.
I was lucky with my pattern that I had spoke to one of the technicians about how to create pointed shoulders from a basic bodice block, I then adapted the bodice pattern rather than use a jacket block to create my pattern.
As I knew what I was doing with my pattern and the rest of it I was making up to my specification , I felt like I could just get on with it on my own and just make head way with it independently.
I think because I was able to do this it gave me a real confidence boost and I was feeling like I had achieved what I wanted and actually from this I have a lot more understanding of pattern cutting and how things change to create different shapes and styles.
I then went onto make my toile which turned out really well and you can see the photos above.
I was really pleased with what I was creating and after I had finished my toile, I was really looking forward to actually making my final garment.
I think that challenging myself with the construction and the materials that I had chosen for my jacket really made me want to make my jacket well and make it something that I would be proud of.
My main material is like a stretch waterproof PVC so the material is quite thick and the stretch tends to give in the direction I was sewing in, so I had to be careful with where about I was placing pattern pieces together – if they needed to be central I had to put them slightly off central so be in the right place.
I did find it tough actually sewing my garment, especially when there were a few layers together, the fabric kept slipping against each other and it was quite hard for the needle to actually manage to get through the layers. Pinning it was the hardest thing and really started to hurt my fingers, but I was pleased that I didn’t get frustrated with it and just kept myself focused on creating something good.
I have now learnt about facings and how to fit them into a jacket, so I have learnt a lot from this project. I also fixed the facing into the lining, which was another challenge. Especially sewing the lining into the garment, there were so many layers, that it actually took about 6 times for me to get it in because the sewing machine just kept un-threading because it couldn’t handle the amount of layers.
I have now pretty much finished my jacket; I just need to hand stitch the opening of the lining so that everything is concealed.
I now have to focus on the photographs that I am going to take of my garment and my groups garment and really work on a brand image. I think that I have found a really good place for the photos to be taken; I just need to find a model that will be suitable for the type of shoot.
Also now as a group we have to start focusing on our presentation and how we are going to go about promoting and selling our brand. I think this could be tough as everyone will have different ideas. Also I am not too keen on presentations so I want to be really good so I know that I will feel confident when delivering it.
This week feel like I have really achieved something. This week we have been focusing on, drawing and cutting our patterns, making our toile and then transforming this into our final garment.
I have always had trouble with pattern cutting and have always dreaded making my own patterns. I find it hard to look at books and actually be able to understand what they are saying and how to create the pattern. I find it a lot easier having someone explain it to me and work through it with me so I know that I definitely understand. I don’t like to go and do things again so I would prefer to get it right the first time.
I was lucky with my pattern that I had spoke to one of the technicians about how to create pointed shoulders from a basic bodice block, I then adapted the bodice pattern rather than use a jacket block to create my pattern.
As I knew what I was doing with my pattern and the rest of it I was making up to my specification , I felt like I could just get on with it on my own and just make head way with it independently.
I think because I was able to do this it gave me a real confidence boost and I was feeling like I had achieved what I wanted and actually from this I have a lot more understanding of pattern cutting and how things change to create different shapes and styles.
I then went onto make my toile which turned out really well and you can see the photos above.
I was really pleased with what I was creating and after I had finished my toile, I was really looking forward to actually making my final garment.
I think that challenging myself with the construction and the materials that I had chosen for my jacket really made me want to make my jacket well and make it something that I would be proud of.
My main material is like a stretch waterproof PVC so the material is quite thick and the stretch tends to give in the direction I was sewing in, so I had to be careful with where about I was placing pattern pieces together – if they needed to be central I had to put them slightly off central so be in the right place.
I did find it tough actually sewing my garment, especially when there were a few layers together, the fabric kept slipping against each other and it was quite hard for the needle to actually manage to get through the layers. Pinning it was the hardest thing and really started to hurt my fingers, but I was pleased that I didn’t get frustrated with it and just kept myself focused on creating something good.
I have now learnt about facings and how to fit them into a jacket, so I have learnt a lot from this project. I also fixed the facing into the lining, which was another challenge. Especially sewing the lining into the garment, there were so many layers, that it actually took about 6 times for me to get it in because the sewing machine just kept un-threading because it couldn’t handle the amount of layers.
I have now pretty much finished my jacket; I just need to hand stitch the opening of the lining so that everything is concealed.
I now have to focus on the photographs that I am going to take of my garment and my groups garment and really work on a brand image. I think that I have found a really good place for the photos to be taken; I just need to find a model that will be suitable for the type of shoot.
Also now as a group we have to start focusing on our presentation and how we are going to go about promoting and selling our brand. I think this could be tough as everyone will have different ideas. Also I am not too keen on presentations so I want to be really good so I know that I will feel confident when delivering it.
Friday, 9 October 2009
Second week of the project
This week is over all ready!
The time seems to be going too fast. We are half way through our first project and I feel like I’m lagging already. I thought the way that this timetable was going to work would be better, but now I’m not so sure.
I feel like I am churning out work, just because I have to, and I have so much more that I want to do but there just isn’t the time to do it. I also feel like my work is not how I want it to be, but I don’t have the time to go back over it and make it perfect and exactly how I want to present it.
I feel that my design development has gone quite well, but I think I am going to struggle with making my garment. I have chosen to make a jacket, but I want a big double collar and layers on the bottom half, which I am going to have to figure out how to do, without it becoming quite big and bulky.
I have selected the fabric that I want to use for my jacket; I just need to get the lining material and then some yellow cotton/polyester to go on the underside of my layers.
I feel that working in a group was ok to begin with, but I am now starting to feel the strain. When someone wants one thing and you want something different, it’s hard to compromise when you know that It will affect the designs that you have done.
I am trying hard to compromise, but it is very difficult, because I know how I want things to look and you always see your way as the best way (even if it isn’t)
I haven’t felt to well this week either, so it’s been really tough completing my work and making it into college and getting everything don. It has also turned very cold and I don’t like it one bit, because it makes you so tired and dreary.
I am aiming to over the weekend, to complete my design development sheets and finalise exactly how I want my jacket to look and also start and practise some flat drawings ready to put into my look book.
The time seems to be going too fast. We are half way through our first project and I feel like I’m lagging already. I thought the way that this timetable was going to work would be better, but now I’m not so sure.
I feel like I am churning out work, just because I have to, and I have so much more that I want to do but there just isn’t the time to do it. I also feel like my work is not how I want it to be, but I don’t have the time to go back over it and make it perfect and exactly how I want to present it.
I feel that my design development has gone quite well, but I think I am going to struggle with making my garment. I have chosen to make a jacket, but I want a big double collar and layers on the bottom half, which I am going to have to figure out how to do, without it becoming quite big and bulky.
I have selected the fabric that I want to use for my jacket; I just need to get the lining material and then some yellow cotton/polyester to go on the underside of my layers.
I feel that working in a group was ok to begin with, but I am now starting to feel the strain. When someone wants one thing and you want something different, it’s hard to compromise when you know that It will affect the designs that you have done.
I am trying hard to compromise, but it is very difficult, because I know how I want things to look and you always see your way as the best way (even if it isn’t)
I haven’t felt to well this week either, so it’s been really tough completing my work and making it into college and getting everything don. It has also turned very cold and I don’t like it one bit, because it makes you so tired and dreary.
I am aiming to over the weekend, to complete my design development sheets and finalise exactly how I want my jacket to look and also start and practise some flat drawings ready to put into my look book.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Lectures!
Business and enterprise
We had our first lecture for business and enterprise the other day; it was quite a weird situation, as we have never really had the lecture /seminar structure before. It was packed full of people too, all different people from second year.
I found it quite hard to concentrate in that sort of environment and I prefer being in smaller groups and being able to discuss things and ask questions, rather than feeling silly if u wanted to ask something and all of the other 399 people looking at you.
I found some of the information quite interesting, but I did know quite a lot of what was being talked about already. Just from general marketing and business discussion had on our course previously.
We were set a task by our course, to create a hypothetical business, and to choose what product/s to sell and where to set up. We were again put into groups, but this time we were able to choose who we wanted to be with, which I think is a good idea, because you can go with people who you feel comfortable with and are able to work with.
We have some rough ideas at the moment, we are thinking of being a photo shoot and makeover stall as part of the vintage fashion fair. We will tour around with them going to different parts of the country, the clothes would be loaned from the stalls for the photo’s and then these photos and make up tips would be produced in a magazine. The stalls then get there business name printed by the clothes and we were also going to use student makeup artists and photographers so it also gives them a chance to have their name published.
We have to have a group meeting after our lecture next week, so that we can finalise our ideas and start to think of our business plan.
We had our first lecture for business and enterprise the other day; it was quite a weird situation, as we have never really had the lecture /seminar structure before. It was packed full of people too, all different people from second year.
I found it quite hard to concentrate in that sort of environment and I prefer being in smaller groups and being able to discuss things and ask questions, rather than feeling silly if u wanted to ask something and all of the other 399 people looking at you.
I found some of the information quite interesting, but I did know quite a lot of what was being talked about already. Just from general marketing and business discussion had on our course previously.
We were set a task by our course, to create a hypothetical business, and to choose what product/s to sell and where to set up. We were again put into groups, but this time we were able to choose who we wanted to be with, which I think is a good idea, because you can go with people who you feel comfortable with and are able to work with.
We have some rough ideas at the moment, we are thinking of being a photo shoot and makeover stall as part of the vintage fashion fair. We will tour around with them going to different parts of the country, the clothes would be loaned from the stalls for the photo’s and then these photos and make up tips would be produced in a magazine. The stalls then get there business name printed by the clothes and we were also going to use student makeup artists and photographers so it also gives them a chance to have their name published.
We have to have a group meeting after our lecture next week, so that we can finalise our ideas and start to think of our business plan.
Second year has started.. full speed ahead
Second year... what a lot of work.
We are now fully underway with our first project of the year: application of design. This consists of us being in groups with people from our selected pathway and bringing our ideas and concepts together to create a designer diffusion collection for the brand that we researched over the summer – Comme des Garcons.
I was worried about working in a group because I am very independent when I usually do my work and I like to just get on with things. I am also very organised so I am usually ahead of the session schedules when it comes to work and deadlines. However it has not been to bad so far, we have collaborated well as a group and produced a really good group story board to carry on our research with.
The people in my group offer suggestions and ideas, which I am glade about because sometimes you just get the people that like to float along and agree with everything else that you say.
So far we have decided that the main theme for our collection will be geometric shapes, we have all decided on an area of fashion that we are going to design- mine section is tailoring. I wanted to do this as I felt that it will really work with the theme and concept and I feel that I can bring the Comme des Garcons style into this range. Whilst choosing a section and a theme we have all taken a different sub theme under this, my sub theme is layering.
I have now completed my research, and at first I was really struggling to get to grips with to how I should structure my pages and the ideas that I wanted to follow. Also with the way that our timetable has now been organised so that we do one project solidly until it’s finished, it means that you have less time tom complete certain tasks so there isn’t really enough time to even have a creative block.
Hopefully today I will start my design development, I have got some pretty good ideas of where I want to start and I am trying to bear the fabrics that we have chosen in mind whilst I am designing.
I am going to try and complete my design development by the end of Wednesdays sessions so that I can spend some time thinking about my look book and also making sure that I have selected the right design to make for my garment.
We have named our brand emergency reaction, quoting from something Rei Kawakubo said. (head of Comme des Garcons) We have chosen this brand to be a reaction to the current climate so that The Comme des Garcons brand can still be seen on people but it will be at more affordable prices. It will also be based in a pop up shop saving on costs, and will only be available just before and then as sale item at the end of the autumn / winter season.
I am really looking forward to making my garment, we are going to take a trip to Dewsbury Fab works to buy our fabrics as a group, so that all of our collections can be miss matched together to create an entire range.
We are now fully underway with our first project of the year: application of design. This consists of us being in groups with people from our selected pathway and bringing our ideas and concepts together to create a designer diffusion collection for the brand that we researched over the summer – Comme des Garcons.
I was worried about working in a group because I am very independent when I usually do my work and I like to just get on with things. I am also very organised so I am usually ahead of the session schedules when it comes to work and deadlines. However it has not been to bad so far, we have collaborated well as a group and produced a really good group story board to carry on our research with.
The people in my group offer suggestions and ideas, which I am glade about because sometimes you just get the people that like to float along and agree with everything else that you say.
So far we have decided that the main theme for our collection will be geometric shapes, we have all decided on an area of fashion that we are going to design- mine section is tailoring. I wanted to do this as I felt that it will really work with the theme and concept and I feel that I can bring the Comme des Garcons style into this range. Whilst choosing a section and a theme we have all taken a different sub theme under this, my sub theme is layering.
I have now completed my research, and at first I was really struggling to get to grips with to how I should structure my pages and the ideas that I wanted to follow. Also with the way that our timetable has now been organised so that we do one project solidly until it’s finished, it means that you have less time tom complete certain tasks so there isn’t really enough time to even have a creative block.
Hopefully today I will start my design development, I have got some pretty good ideas of where I want to start and I am trying to bear the fabrics that we have chosen in mind whilst I am designing.
I am going to try and complete my design development by the end of Wednesdays sessions so that I can spend some time thinking about my look book and also making sure that I have selected the right design to make for my garment.
We have named our brand emergency reaction, quoting from something Rei Kawakubo said. (head of Comme des Garcons) We have chosen this brand to be a reaction to the current climate so that The Comme des Garcons brand can still be seen on people but it will be at more affordable prices. It will also be based in a pop up shop saving on costs, and will only be available just before and then as sale item at the end of the autumn / winter season.
I am really looking forward to making my garment, we are going to take a trip to Dewsbury Fab works to buy our fabrics as a group, so that all of our collections can be miss matched together to create an entire range.
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