Wanderlust Hotel in Singapore

I found these pictures and just loved them. Wanderlust is an experimental boutique hotel in Little India, Singapore. It has 29 rooms and was designed by some of Singapore's award winning design agencies given complete creative control over four floors. It used to be a school in the 1920's.

claridges

gallian for dior designed under the sea theme xmas tree

Peclers

Twitter

So today I joined Twitter.

Royal Fashions

http://www.itv.com/meridian-west/royal-fashions82528/ ITV Meridian

Fashion's Dirty Secret

I watched a documentary on sweatshops running out of Leister.

Plagiarism

I was reading in drapers the other day Hells Angels the motorcycle gang are suing McQueen, Saks Fith Avenue and zappos.com for using their logos on clothes. After plagiarism was mentioned the other day its interesting to see that even the highest levels of fashion still struggle with the concept. The retailers have been ordered to take all merchandise with Hells Angels death head off of the shelves.

I also found this video of a women giving a talk about creative copyright and how you can't really copyright clothes. It's 15 minutes of her talking about how she thinks its ok for designers to just copy designs. To me this is pointless, why would you want to become a designer if you just want to copy what's been done before?

lessons from fashion's free culture

Final Collection

I've been having a little think about what I want to do for my final collection. And since we made the jackets I have really wanted to make one out of chiffon. I think it will turn into more of an oversized shirt than a jacket but thats ok. I think I want my collection to be quite nudey, I want to use lots of lace and chiffon. I have a friend who is from the Philippines and her mum always asks me if I want any fabric, so today I have ordered 12 meters of black close knit lace, and 12 metres of black chiffon. It costs about 50p a metre in the Philippines so £12 on 24 meters of fabric, even if the quality isn't very good at least I can use it for toiling and I haven't lost much. Very excited about this!!

First Day of Draping

I've been looking forward to doing the draping today since our summer project. I've taken out loads of the books from the library and had a good look through them. I haven't really started our final booklet yet but I'm hoping I have plenty of time, according to my learning agreement timetable I should be fine. Although I do need to add in some quality blog time.

When I started draping this morning I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Then I realised I didn't like it at all, it wouldn't really do what I wanted it to, but I didn't really know what that was. But after an hour or so I realised I was really enjoying it. A day at uni has never gone so fast! And I can't wait to take my design off the stand tomorrow and turn it into a pattern. It did get quite confusing because I didn't cut much of the fabric off, so parts were attached to other parts that you couldn't see, and I have to find room for a zip, and I had to add a seperate bodice pattern in. But I really like it, and think it will be useful for designing for the final collection.

H&M unveils Lanvin collection

Placement Presentation PUT PRESENTATION IN

I liked giving my presentation. I felt people were quite interested when I was talking. I don't think people had given construction much thought as a career path. At the beginning of last year, nearly everyone wanted to be a designer. With a couple wanting to be pattern cutters. Now everyone seems to want to be a pattern cutter. And I think a few people have chosen sample seamstress as a future career.

Since doing this work experience, I have also got the possibility of going to a couture sample shop on Sloane Street in London. And Burberry!!! Both very exciting, I just hope I have enough time to fit them both in within my workload as I'm not doing the third year.

Group Project PUT PICS OF DESIGNS AND SKBOOK

For our group project we got given a bed warmer from MoDiP. I think we had the best object. We took it down the accessorize route with dressing gowns and hot water bottles. I did a lot of research for the sketchbook and created some designs. I was pleased with the designs as I felt they could be marketed well. As a group we worked quite well together. There were some issues with everyone meeting up at the same time. This meant that although I had done work at the beginning I couldn't really do anymore until I had seen what everyone else had done to make sure we were still on the same page and I wasn't doing anything someone else had already done. It took ages for everyone to meet up and it meant the designs had to be done the night before so although they look good, I ran out of time to stick them down and position them properly. Which is a shame because I spent ages creating the designs and the presentation really let them down at the end.

Pockets PUT PICS OF JACKET POCKETS IN

I liked making the jacket pockets. I love making anything really. The workshops are by far my favourite bit of the course. I'd be happy if all we ever did was workshops.

Kaledo PUT KALEDO DESIGNS IN!

I have never used Kaledo before but I'm really enjoying it. I find it much easier than Illustrator or Photoshop because when you think about something you need to do it is much easier to figure it out than other things in the creative suite.

Learning Agreement

I've been working really hard on my learning agreement, I went to 3 tutorials and have re written it about 5 times. I'm hoping to get a good grade as I've put in plenty of effort. It was the first time I have written a learning plan. I love my time plan!

 

Learning Agreement

Name: Gemma Dugan

Course: FdA Fashion                        Level: 5                        Year: Two

Unit: Specialist Practice Preparation

Reference number: FSN510

Credit points: 15

Tutors: Sarah Charles, Patricia Grice

Synopsis of study

For this unit I will be undertaking a project aimed to demonstrate my ability to utilize various skills. I will be making both a ring bound booklet on drapery and create a ladies fitted jacket. I plan on doing this by attending all classes and completing all of the work set. Along with any extra work I can think to complement it. For example creating the jacket pattern on Lectra as well as a paper pattern. This project will be beneficial to me because the jacket and the draping are so varied it will allow me to display a variation of talents.

The professional ring bound book will document the evolution of my drapery journey from start to finish. Within this presentation I will be including research, development and a written evaluation.

My research will consist of historical influences. I plan to go to Baths Fashion Museum to collate primary research. Two Madeleine Vionnet dresses are currently on display, which should be a great inspiration to the draping element in my work. To complement this I will also explore past and present trends by using trend forecasting books and journals, including Peclers and Bloom.

My development will comprise of experimentation with drapery. I am going to use one picture as my inspiration. I am also going to try out using different types of materials to see what distinctive effects can be created. Along with this I will experiment with how I drape in correspondence to the grain line. Madeleine Vionnet has inspired me to do this, as she was the first person to cut fabric on the bias.

I think there could be many challenges to overcome. My biggest concern will be assembling the book. I want it to look professional and seamless but struggle with more advanced computer skills such as Photoshop and Illustrator. I plan to overcome this problem by doing the things I struggle with by hand and scanning them in. Although I want this project to look as good as it can I do not intend to shy away from processes I am unsure of or unfamiliar with. I intend to construct some of the illustrations in Kaledo. I haven’t used Kaledo before but think that the outcome will look very effective. I will triumph over this difficulty by allowing myself time to practice the diverse techniques that can be achieved with Kaledo. To arrange the layout of the pages so the book looks professional I am going to gain inspiration from magazines such as POP.

The second part of my assignment is going to take the form of a ladies fitted jacket. For this I will create a paper pattern with eighteen pieces. Once this is done I will cut out the pieces in the appropriate fabric, lining and interfacing before sewing them together using the industrial machines. Although it sounds very simple when put like this, it is easy to make mistakes. I will overcome this challenge by concentrating and checking to make sure all of the pieces fit together and I follow a 1cm seam allowance throughout the sewing process.  Throughout the project I want to remain as meticulous as when I started. To ensure my collar is aligned and comes together in all the right points.

These two projects are very different. I think this is one of the main attributes they hold. The jacket is very regimented and instructions need to be followed step by step where as the draping can have as much creative direction as I deem it to need. Completing these projects will demonstrate that I can follow instruction and use my own intuition. Both qualities will benefit me in future careers.

Aims

During this unit I propose:

A1    To provide the opportunity to apply intellectual reasoning and practical knowledge to      an increasingly advanced level of attainment within the context of fashion design principles.  

A2    To promote learning, an increased independent judgement and to further increase critical thinking and self-awareness.

A3    To provide opportunities for developing communication and organisational abilities.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit I will be able to:

LO1  Identify and analyse project requirements within appropriate contexts through self awareness and judgement.

LO2  Demonstrate the initiation and creative application of reasoning and practical research.

LO3  Demonstrate effective work planning, time and resource management and professional levels of project realisation, communication and presentation.

Assessment Requirements: 

Learning agreement to include clear work schedule, time planning, methods and possible outcomes, plus evidence of research enquiry and sources.  100%

Each assessment requirement must be passed at a minimum grade of 40% to successfully complete the unit.

Students may work independently or choose to instigate teams consisting of various roles in order to illustrate further the varied roles and partnerships within a fashion organisation.

Assessment criteria (specific criteria related to the learning outcomes and linked to the statement of generic assessment criteria matrix):

Evidence of knowledge of contextual and theoretical issues – Knowledge of the conceptual and contextual issues relating to your individual project (LO1)

Evidence of understanding through research and analysis – Research from a variety of sources informs project development and decision making (LO2)  

Evidence of understanding through critical evaluation and reflection –

Evaluation and reflection informing the development and management of the project (LO3)

Transferable skills

To be successful, graduates need to be multi-skilled, responsive and adaptable people who are innovative and flexible enough to operate in a fast-changing world. During the course of undergraduate study, you will of course develop specialist skills and knowledge in your subject area. However, you will also develop a range of skills and behaviours which prepare you for employment in a wide range of fields. These skills and behaviours are variously known as “transferable skills”, “graduate skills” or “generic skills”, and employers expect all graduates to possess them; indeed many employers value these skills more than subject-specific knowledge, given the rapid pace of change within the creative disciplines.

There is no summative assessment of transferable skills on any courses at the University College, although you may need to demonstrate your mastery of them in various ways through your course.

In the first year of your course, transferable skills will include academic conventions and good academic practice (such as the avoidance of plagiarism); information retrieval; and general skills which support academic study within higher education. As you progress through the course, you will increasingly be expected to demonstrate advanced skills in communication (verbal, visual and written); an ability to apply knowledge to new situations; critical reflection and self-evaluation; an ability to research, evaluate and analyse information; team-working; and higher-level problem solving. You will also be expected to develop your organisation and time management skills, and to demonstrate through your work the professionalism required of a graduate.

You will be encouraged to reflect on your development of transferable skills throughout the course. Ability to research, evaluate and analyse information; team-working; and higher-level problem.

References

Books – Fashion, textile and photography. Specifically:

Cutting and draping special occasion clothes: designs for partywear and eveningwear – Cloake, Dawn

Draping for fashion design – Jaffe, Hilde

Integrating draping, drafting and drawing - Maggio, Kathleen

The art of fashion draping – Amaden-Crawford, Connie

Fashion Forecast – Bloom, Peclers, etc

Fashion Journals – Drapers, Mudpie, Pop, etc

Journals – Guardian, Sunday Times, The Telegraph etc

Websites – Fashionising.com, Style.com, WGSN.com, etc

Student ………………………………………………                         Date ………………………………

Tutor     ………………………………………………                    Date ………………………………

Learning Agreement Timetable

Learning Agreement            Group Project            Jacket                        Booklet and Draping            Garment Technology            Other

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Week 1 Commencing 4/10/210	SPR briefing	Create pattern for jacket	Finish pattern for jacket				Write 1st draft for LA
Week 2 Commencing 11/10/210	Group Project brief	Lay plan by hand and diamino Cut out pattern	Construct jacket Fashion Show meeting – goodie bag ideas	Learning agreement tutorial Show 1st draft	Show moodboards to Karen Meet group for project – 12.30		Write 2nd draft for LA
Week 3 Commencing 18/10/210	Learning agreement tutorial Finish LA Research and knitting samples for group project	Construct jacket	Finish constructing jacket	PPR Lecture	Design workshop Meet group for project – 12.30	Group Project Research	Make Presentation Re-do jacket draft Group project research
Week 4 Commencing 25/10/210	PPR Lecture Show finished LA Research past and present trends in peclers and bloom	Lectra and pocket samples	Lectra and pocket samples Read POP for layout ideas Research Tracey Emin and Natasha Kerr Tweek LA Research street knit	Make jacket pattern on lectra (double breasted?) Research Francoise Dupre, Rachel John and Donna Wilson	Deadline – Learning agreement Kaledo @ 11.00 Design Workshop Put stuff together for jacket book!!
Week 5 Commencing 1/11/210	Practice on Kaledo Do book jacket!	Lectra and finishing off Finish book jacket	Deadline - Jacket Peer assessment	Group Project Start skbook – possible target markets	Intro to garment technology Finish possible target markets
Week 6 Commencing 8/11/210	Do title page and historical influences Start putting research into sketchbook	Recreate photo in draping (take photos!) Finish putting research into sketchbook	Experiment and develop draping IT with Jamie	Trend and contemporary design influences Group project	Garment tech – high street shop analysis	Go to Bath Fashion Musuem
Week 7 Commencing 15/11/210	Fabric sourcing in London Group project Kaledo – do front page Go to MoDiP	Pattern for drape	Make drape toile IT with Jamie	Kaledo page layouts	Garment tech – the fashion tree Lessons cancelled Kaledo page layout	Research of drape and selected design? Booklet pages	Finish any drape stuff from this week? Booklet pages
Week 8 Commencing 22/11/210	Develop chosen designs and influences into additional ideas/mini collection Booklet pages	Draping – further development – finish dress!! Group meeting	Draping – further development IT with Jamie Dress and booklet pages	Group Presentation	Garment tech - globalisation	Contemporary industry pages for booklet	Start putting booklet together
Week 9 Commencing 29/11/210	Put booklet together	Draping – further development	Draping – further development IT with Jamie	Finish final design for drape Promostyl presentation in main lecture theatre @ 1.30	Garment tech -QC day	Put booklet together	Finish putting booklet together
Week 10 Commencing 6/12/2010			Deadline – Booklet and pattern

Learning Agreement            Group Project            Jacket                        Booklet and Draping            Garment Technology            Other