FMP PROPOSAL

PROFESSIONAL FASHION AND TEXTILE PROCESS - EMILY IVES

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT PROPOSAL

Brutality. Violence. Fear. These are words that spring to mind when Hells Angels is discussed. For my FMP, I hope to capture the essence of biker gangs, with their morals, dress, and tattoos, while challenging the concept of beauty and femininity.

The collection will suggest the grimy nature of the biker gangs teamed with a feminine element- introducing a more tailored/ cropped approach. The outfits will be made up of deconstructed garments (leather jackets/denim jackets/jeans) and material found in charity shops, off cuts etc. The found materials will then be taken apart, aged, manipulated to create panels, details, and reconstructed garments for the overall jacket.  This second-hand approach will give the collection a vintage, aged feel. The idea of using material from other garments to create new is much like the process a shed built bike would be built in- taking old parts, revamping them and creating a new more exciting outcome. Rough and ready. Through doing this and reconstructing typically male garments, I will be able to play around with the silhouette and create something more typically feminine, but still including the grungy, edgy feel.

The main elements of the collection will include deconstruction, tying and knotting, and garments made from scratch.

I hope to be able to develop my own drawing/ painting style throughout, from primary research, to then be painted onto the back of jackets, with the inspiration coming from biker gangs and their patches on the back of their jacket. The artwork for painting onto jackets will be explored through drawing and developing, such as blowing up images and drawing and painting only a section large scale on the garment. This is where the tattoo element comes to play. I want to use tattoos as a way of suggesting the modern change and evolution of beauty, how it’s now seen as beautiful or sexy for women to have tattoos. But can their beauty be disrupted by how many tattoos they have? I will intend to suggest that they have evolved from being a biker/gang symbol, to something that can be more accepted within today’s society. The tattoo idea will take place in the form of painting on the back of jackets- more is more- I will go all out, painting extravagantly, studding, embellishing and embroidering. It will be mixing pretty paintings and battered leather.

Embroidery will be used in a creative and exciting way, perhaps by exaggerating stitches found on biker wear, using different materials to embroider with or building up a more solid image with embroidery. I could even consider creating patch style embroidery. Found embroidery may also feature, with it being cut up and stitched back on.

My primary research will stem from the Tom Brannigan ‘Everlasting’ exhibition at the Minories, in which he created typical tattoo groups using 3D objects. I will explore form through drawing skulls and roses, things typically seen on biker gang members, however take a different approach using different inspiration for the tattoos. Detail and shape will be explored through drawing big skull jewellery, chains, biker wear and details on existing garments, and motorcycles (shape, engines, text etc), but contrasting it with the feminine floral shapes found from tattoo inspiration.

Secondary research will stem from Biker gangs, the Hells Angels, particularly in the 1960s when the gang was especially well known. The element of rebellion will be explored, but also their loyalty to the gang. It will also come from tattoos, and the stigma attached to them. How they are now becoming more accepted and seen as art forms, seen as beautiful. These elements, teamed with florals and flower shapes to suggest garment ideas, will be the starting point of my collection.

Through experimentation and developing on the skills already learnt, I will be using embroidery and embellishment. Different materials to embroider will be used, thicker thread, leather cord, string, to create a more exciting approach. Pushing the boundaries as to what can be used for embellishment, keeping in with the theme of bikers- bolts, keyrings, eyelets, studs. It will be about building up the garments, and for the dramatic look I intend to have, the more on the garments the better, it can’t be halfhearted. Trims, lacing, frills, tassels. New skills will include reconstruction, and having a vision to create a new garment from old. Styling will also be key, it’s going to be a lot of hunting for garments and fabrics that could potentially work together, and adding embellishment, painting and embroidery to really make the collection stand out.

The idea of deconstructing may be more difficult than first thought. It is difficult to design a finished outcome without already deconstructing the garment, but through experimentation an idea of silhouette and the nature of the garment will be explored. It will be very much a hands-on project, and ideas of final outcomes will be gained from actually doing, and then recording the process. It will also take imagination when sourcing the vintage materials- I will have to have vision and idea as to how the garment could be transformed and the boundaries pushed. It will be a completely different way of working, but one I am excited about.

Budgeting will be considered throughout FMP. Fabrics purchased new for the made garments will be at a lower cost (still maintaining quality), however the vintage garments sourced will hopefully be kept cheaper. This is down to a personal choice, but the use of second hand and vintage clothing to be transformed is one that fits with the running theme. I aim to spend around £250-£300 on my final collection – a fraction of what other collections could cost. It will not affect the quality of my final pieces, I believe it will enhance my collection as everything will be thought out and considered.

My audience/ target market

-    Female

-    20-30

-    Grunge, vintage style, but also has a passion for dressing up extravagantly. Has a unique style but likes to push boundaries.

-    Prefers second hand to shop bought, they are one off but it is also a more conscious approach to buying clothing.

-    Loves her music, gigs, festivals

-    Lives life to the fullest, dreams big, has no fear, risk taker

-    Motor head

My Market

-    AW17

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN_

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN_

Upon reflecting this year and my progress, successes and failures, I will consider my goals and create a development plan to help me achieve my potential.

SHORT TERM GOALS:

• Concentrate on time management: create time plans and use my time effectively to finish my studio and support module to the best of my ability.
• Present confidently my M&S athleisure brief to industry
• Develop my skills ready for next year
• Continue to build on contact list 
• Finish my second year successfully with a 2:1 or higher

MID TERM GOALS:

• Use my contact list to secure a work placement with the design industry
• Continue to develop on my unique style 
• Show my FMP collection at GFW and New Designers
• Graduate with a first, giving me the stepping stone to employment within my chosen industry

LONG TERM GOALS:

- After completing this degree, I am hoping the path I wish to take will be clearer. I am still keeping my options open as there are so many opportunities to learn new skills, but I am more inclined to fashion construction as I feel I am stronger at this. Gaining experience and insight from industry will help me tailor this decision, so work placements are key.

After working in retail for a few years, I realise that working for a fast, high street brand is not for me, however high up the company I progress to. Ideally I would like to own my own fashion company working with leather and furs and incorporating painting, as I am a strong drawer and painter. I have the determination to have my own company, and am more of an independent worker so it would suit me well working for myself.

ACTION PLAN_

SWOT_

HATTIE STEWART & ANDY WARHOL @ FIRSTSITE_

HATTIE STEWART and ANDY WARHOL @ FIRSTSITE_

For colchester, this was pretty big news. They are currently exhibiting work from the textile artist Camille Walala and illustrator and graphic artist Hattie Steward. They both have taken inspiration from the work of Andy Warhol, and first site have created a really exciting exhibition. 

I really enjoyed the work of Hattie Stewart, who was originally from colchester. It was very striking to walk into- you are surrounded and almost intimidated by the 5 or 6 famous faces repetitively placed from top to bottom around the room. Her work consists of manipulated magazine covers displayed alongside originals. They were created using a technique called lenticular printing, so as the images are viewed from different angles, new information is revealed. This give the work different qualities and depth.To me, I feel she was getting across the idea that we are constantly surrounded by images of celebrity daily.

This is really relevant to the fashion industry. With social media and the addictive lifestyles we now all lead, we are constantly able to spy on celebrities lives, and are constantly bombarded with imagery and stories. It often shames celebrities, and with this generation constantly on social media, its hard not to be influenced by it. It was a really thought provoking exhibition with a deeper meaning- to me Stewart was getting across the damaging effects of celebrity endorsement.

Andy Warhol’s work was wonderful to see in person. The bold, striking pop art pieces were eye catching, and on a large scale. There was something eerie about his pieces, often using repetition as key to suggest an underlying political reference. The electric chair screen print was what I was drawn to. The way he had used the photo and printed over the top with colours that do not fit the mood made me feel uneasy, as if he was trying to make light of a serious issue.

I found this exhibition relatable and engaging, and was really successful. It is promising to have such wonderful artwork at such a local gallery.

CONTACTS_

CONTACTS WITHIN INDUSTRY_

Building contacts is a very important and essential part of this course. It will help to ease the transition from university to industry work, enabling us to secure work placements and even jobs after graduation. As I am approaching the end of my second year, work placements and internships will help me develop and give me valuable experience to enhance my own work. 

Over this year, I have sourced some valuable contacts, but haven't dedicated the time to confirm an secure work placements. I feel it is necessary for me to now apply and talk to the contacts, especially now as the summer is coming up, and that period of time out of uni would would a great opportunity to learn new skills within industry.

I feel i take street really badly, so it would benefit me to wait until after my hand in to apply for internships. To start with that process, I will reevaluate my CV and make it specific to the job role I wish to pursue, so its really tailored to the skills within fashion and textiles. I also want my portfolio to show the best of my ability, give me a wow factor that a work placement couldn't say no to.

For me, its all about actually committing and putting myself out there. I am always nervous I am not good enough, or do not have the skills necessary of the role. It will be my aim over the summer to apply for work placements, and see if I receive a response. This may then lead to something, but for me it would be an achievement applying and selling my self as potential designer.

FUNDRAISING_ END OF YEAR SHOWS

FUNDRAISING_ END OF YEAR SHOWS

The end of the degree is fast approaching, so as the second year comes to a close, its a good time to start thinking about and organising funding for our 3rd year end shows. Our year group have to collectively raise money for new designers, GFW, a fashion show, photoshoots and printed brochures. It is estimated we have to pay around £600 each, so starting now gives us plenty of time to raise that amount. The first amount paid into an account set up especially for fundraising this money was £100 from each student. This coincided with our student finance so it was easier for people to have the money ready. The rest of the money will be staggered, and some will be raised by fundraising. As a class, we brainstormed some ideas to raise money, such as colouring books, christmas cards, calendars, raffles. The idea we are working on is a fashion based colouring book. We each chose a page from a Vogue magazine, or a print from a textile book, and traced it using a fine liner so each drawing was a line drawing, and had a consistency throughout. These drawings would then be put together to produce an A5 colouring book for adults or children, and will be sold for £4. Colouring books are really big at the moment, and have been proven to reduce stress, so I think this is a really good idea. We worked out that by selling 1000 copies, we would easily be able to reduce everyones total by over £100, so thinking of different ideas is essential to raise this money. Its important that we get to show our work to a professional level, so taking an active role fundraising is essential.