Fashion Innovations 2
Fashion Innovations 2 is the follow on module from Fashion Innovations 1.
Fashion Innovations 2 focuses primarily on design in comparison to technique, although both are acknowledged in grading.
The criteria for this brief was to explore the space around the body as well as explore different techniques and technologies to create fashion. The scope for creativity on this specific brief was large; therefore we were able to create and take inspiration from whatever we desired.
For this module I took inspiration from the Swan Lake ballet costumes as well as the ever growing fear and concern of global warming. These two inspirations combined to create a skirt and a pair of interlocking shoes. The openness of this brief meant that I could take risks in the universities safe environment.
The skirt constructed for this module is made from white Duchess Satin. An elastic waistband helps to grip the skirt onto the wearer, with the elastic adding more support than a standard fabric waistband would. The techniques featured within the skirt are more traditional fashion techniques; using boning to create structure and tension, combined with loose wadding to enhance the silhouette and channels within the garment. Four white ribbons hang from the hem of the skirt, two at either seam. These ribbons are designed to be tied to the wearers thighs to create a second silhouette.
The aesthetics of the 3D printed shoes were inspired by oil slicks on the ocean and how damaging this situation is to beautiful creatures. Combined with the skirt I wanted to portray a swan (typically portrayed in social environments as a beautiful creature) stuck and locked into an oil slick, weighted down by plastic. The soles of the shoes are made from semi transparent black acrylic that has been laser cut to look like a pool of oil that interlocks when the wearer walks. The shoes have been 3D printed from a design I created using a mechanical engineering computer software.
Overall, the design was successful and the garment has created an impact since its creation being exhibited on a catwalk in 2019 and being on display at the university since.
