7th December 2020

Design

I’ve started to create the lining of the jacket using my original pattern, however because I changed the neckline, I'm finding it challenging to get ensure the pattern is correct. I need to give myself a bit more time to figure it out and maybe sew up a few practice pieces to check that it fits well.

My sketchbook has been neglected the last few weeks, so I really need to start printing off my stand work, drawing ideas and making notes. I honestly don’t know why but this project is not going smoothly, my mind feels all over the place, I'm making lots of silly mistakes and putting off doing my work. Next year I need to plan things a bit better and stop procrastinating, so hopefully I won't feel as stressed. Another thing which I'd like to improve on in the next projects is my design drawing. Because I'm creating one garment, I'm not sure whether to spend time on working out how to style the design. At the moment I'm just drawing simple garments and shoes, but I feel this makes the drawings look a bit bland. At the same time, I don’t want to waste time drawing other garments which aren’t the main goal of the project. I’ll discuss this with my tutors to see what they advise.

Today I read the white paper called the Value Shift (WGSN), it outlines the key consumer drivers and recession-proof strategies for a post-pandemic world. I thought it may help me with ideas for my final project proposal, as even though I've handed in a draft I'm still not 100% happy with the idea. I would like the project proposal and my future work to be relevant to today's market and be what the consumer wants. I definitely feel a huge sense of uncertainty for the future, but it's also exciting that the pandemic is changing product priorities, service needs and shopper strategies. The five main drivers are outlined in the image below. I am particularly interested in driver two which is health concerns/delivering wellness, this links to my research of positive fashion in my draft proposal. I know like many that I'm feeling more anxious and stressed at this time, physical and mental health has also always been something I'm passionate about. Keeping this paper in mind will help me design relevant fashion and help with creative pattern cutting ideas. Our next project is a collaboration with gym shark so developing ideas for this project could link with the shift towards wellness, home workouts and positive design.

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Research

After further thought and research I've chosen to change my proposal again. Maybe looking more at including craft techniques which would be part of positive fashion. My pre-collection included weaving techniques which I really liked and I could develop these ideas further. When looking into how design can be more sustainable, I learned that personalisation could be a way of creating clothes that are loved and kept. Personalising something means the wearer can make design choices that are suitable for them. Making the garment fit their aesthetic, lifestyle, function etc. Maybe the weaving technique could be a way of personalising the garment by doing different patterns or tying/ removing different pieces from the garment.

During the sustainability lecture we learned about the sustainable design cards, one was aesthetic lifetime. Producing a garment which has longevity reduces waste in the long run. This would link to sustainability and craft which are two areas of positive design. So, I researched more about weaving and came across Anni Albers and the Bauhaus movement which could inspire design ideas. Craft lead me to Art Nouveau and how they combined workmanship, natural forms, innovative materials and craft. The Victoria and Albert Museum has lots of examples of this so I could take a trip to gather research when I do the project (see image below). Taking inspiration from nature then lead me to the fashioned from nature exhibition a few years ago and how fashion takes from nature but doesn’t give back. Maybe my work could help/benefit nature in some way as well as be inspired by it. But I'm not sure how this will link in to weaving as it may be too much.

I'd like my work to feel special and luxurious so carried out research about Haute Couture. Whilst researching I learned that Haute Couture was one of the earliest examples of slow fashion as its about making a limited number of pieces on demand that are made to last. Garments are repaired and handed down, sold or displayed in museums. It questions what being fashionable really means and doesn’t follow the fast-changing trends. It's about good quality and fit over newness and consumption. Even though very few wear or can afford couture these ideas could help inspire sustainable fashion. This could be another topic to include within my project proposal.