INDEPENDENT TROUSERS...

As you might have seen, I designed and manufactured my own trousers using striped fabric and piping to accentuate the seam lines. I enjoyed this process as I learnt another method of pattern cutting - deconstructing a Toile. I feel the darker photography works better than a light grey or white as it relates to my ideas and concepts and way I see things. I could definitely use these in my portfolio to demonstrate the complexity of pattern cutting.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF MY LEGGINGS...

After spending hours on my leggings, I finally have a photo! I took part in a photo shoot on Monday and styled my leggings with an appropriate outfit that would get my style across. I am pleased with the outcome and like how the intense background allows my leggings to stand out. These leggings fit the model perfectly on the legs but I had to take it in a little bit at the waist so it would look flattering. Like them?

SPEC DRAWINGS SO FAR..

I have recently become addicted to spec drawings so I have started to try and create most of the spec tutorial basics. I have found this process quite interesting learning how to insert new features and fabric choices and advance my skills by creating my own designs. I still have a few more to go but will the ones I have completed I am quite impressed by how I have improved over a couple of weeks.

SPEC DRAWING OF MY LEGGINGS...

I have finally completed my spec drawing for my manufacturing brief as it is the final task I had to do to achieve the criteria. First of all I created all the outlines and got familiar to the tools I could use to create my design and then advanced to scanning in the fabrics I used so they would be merged within my design. I felt like my spec drawing took a long time due to the different pieces that made up the detailing on the front. I am pleased that I know more about illustrator and feel more confident with creating spec drawings using this type of media rather than sticking to basic pencil and paper. I am glad I have progressed and will definitely look at using this programme to create more of my designs.

COMPLETED LEGGINGS...

I have finally finished my leggings by attaching the final pieces to the base of my leggings. I had to improvise and create more pieces for the bottom due to the shapes not meeting the bottom so I had yet more shapes to attach but I finally did it. I am very pleased with them except for the crotch area as the piece doesn't quite fit with the stretch in the fabric pulling it away to create creases but hopefully it will look better on the model. That is the only problem with it really but I expected something to go wrong with the shapes as they doesn't go with the stretch of the Lycra. I can't wait now to get them photographed and it's something else to evidence in my portfolio.

WHITWORTH ... DARK MATTERS...

This weekend I went to an exhibition at the Whitworth Art gallery called Dark matters which focused on shadows. One piece of artwork that particularly interested me was a screen that detected people's outlines and envisaged their outlines on the screen. I liked the pix elated effect that it gave and prolonged the transition in which you moved snapping your every move in a slow motion. I also saw some pieces which were used with a florescent media on a cover of dark space to reveal what shape was intended. Even though the shapes were quite basic the way in which they did it was very clever capturing a very eerie mood whilst overseeing the artwork. There was another pieces of art that I found quite soothing with glass objects that deflected the light to create shadows whilst moving around the room in a circular motion. I also found other pieces that I enjoyed which had different concepts which related to my theme in some way using shadows and one in particularly sculpted the form of workers showing the restriction under the ground and mutating their bodies to fit in the working space.

DRAPING ON THE MANNEQUIN TO IDENTIFY A DISABILITY...

To make my concept clear, I sculpted shapes in heavy duty fabrics to identify a disability so the clothes could be manufactured to make it more practical. This idea also allowed me think of ways I could construct the garments to encourage a certain way of walking or changing the posture of an up straight body to get my concept across coherently. I found this quite inspiring as it allowed me to think of how I could adjust and manipulate shapes to make them more unique and have a secretive function. I will be doing exercises like this in the future of this brief as I enjoy it and it gives me a lot more ideas than just research on its own, so look out for them...

FABRIC SAMPLE COLLECTING - NICE AND EARLY...

When I was starting this new brief I thought of possible colour schemes I wanted to go with so I contacted some fabric companies to see what types of fabrics they had in stock and whether they would suit my chosen concept. I found new contacts but also relied on some old contacts in London as they never let you down. The fabrics that I have collected at the moment are quite dark and within a similar colour palette but it's very early yet so my thoughts on colours might change at a later stage of the design process. I still have some more in the post so hopefully they will be just what I am looking for...

NEW YEAR..NEW BRIEF...

Finally I have started my new brief for the final collection and I have chosen to base my collection on DISABILITY. This idea came about last year when we got given individual concepts that related to equality and diversity and I really wanted disability but didn't get it so I thought I would give it ago this time round. I don't know what it is but concepts that have more meaning interest me and I find it more challenging getting design ideas from something that occurs in every day life. I think that this brief will allow me to discover more things about my style and give me the chance to create something that has come from such a sensitive concept. Let's hope I produce something I am going to be proud of...

VISIT RISING TASTE...

I got a surprise request the other day about cooperating with a company to write a bit a bout them on my blog about their new business. I found it quite strange that someone had read my blog and enjoyed it so it put a smile on my face. I had to look at the clothes straight away and see what rising taste had to offer which you can find on(www.risingtaste.com). I found there was a wide selection of different trends and looks suited to a multiple target audience with a lot of stock that needs a nice home. If you ever want a cheap bargain I definitely recommend this store as the quality you get for the money is ridiculous. Personally my favourites are the different designs of tights you can get made with strange fabrics revealing an interesting pattern. I also like the range of pendants that have totally different conceptual influences to suit a wider audience. I would definitely recommend this website for any new stylists or designers that want to take inspiration from a cheap and well run site like rising taste.