Creating Garments Using Everyday Objects:
Plastic Cutlery Standing Collar
This garment was made my avoiding all traditional sewing techniques. I fused multiple plastic forks, spoons and knives together by hot gluing them together. First, I decided on a layout that was both visually appealing and structurally sound, then I began to glue the pieces together. The standing collar was intended to be a stand alone experimental object for encouraging myself to think outside the box and I found it very beneficial.
Plastic (latex) Glove Cape
This Glove Cape was made using latex gloves and an industrial (small) heat press for plastics and transfers. I chose to use the blue, semi-transparent latex gloves because the latex content allowed for some melting and grip between gloves, and the semi-transparency showed the structure of the cape. I liked how the transparency of the blue caught the light and highlighted the wrist portion of the gloves. The way that they were flattened in the press created an almost abstract look that added character to the garment. To make the garment I measured my model from nape to ankle, and cross back, the lower width of the cape was a personal preference that allowed the material to drape in a way that I found aesthetically pleasing.
Experimentation with Alternative Latex Gloves
An additional composition that I experimented with was using latex gloves in a neutral colour to imitate a more period appropriate accessory, the ruff. I noticed that the gloves, when layered, developed a lot of body when draped, although heavy. For the sake of experimentation I gathered them by piercing a wire through each glove and arranging them. They reminded me a lot of ruffles and gathers used in period fashion and costume as well as ballet costumes. I think that they can be used to make an Elizabethan ruff in the form of wearable art, or alternatively as a decoration for a main garment.
