Samples, Experimentation's and Design Ideas
Week 1- 31/03/2014
After completing the first stage of the 'Global Threads' which was research, I moved on into second stage which is development. In this stage I will be experimenting with ideas and developing a proposal for my final pieces which will be submitted for the end of the year exhibition.
I will also include illustration of 'Global Threads' fashion collections of few garments and acessories, I will show how my textile samples are being link into the collection.
The developments for my designs will include textile samples, digital designs, illustrations, patterns and toiles.
In this sample I took a body of reserach from my powerpoint and produced a sample. As part of their culture the beads necklaces are used constantly, so I interperted in my own version, by creating a neck piece by using calico (cotton) as it is a natural man made form, and a piece of card to get the right shape. The two images are link as, the initial round shape and texture was inpired in the body of research. In my opinion this sample was a good start to get my ideas flowing, I like it but I wont't be taking to the next stage, as I realise that the sample is not at the real size that I wanted to be, and also by gathering all the edges the fabric gets in even smaller size. It was unsucessful because I didnt make it enough for the whole neck piece, therefore I won't be taking to my final piece.
With this experimentation of sampling, I took a step further by actually dying the fabric, as in my secondary research they have a lot of color that is related to the tribe secondary and primary colors, which is part of culture. Before I dyed the fabric, I used a textile technique batik which was the most suitable at the time, because I wanted to bring out the different shapes that it is showed in the research. The sample is link it to the secondary research, as I used similar shapes and colors in my own version. In my point of view this sample worked very well, as I experimented more by making my own fabric, as well as using textiles techniques for example; batik and machine embroidery. At the end the materilas worked well together, therefore it was a sucessful sample that I will be taking further to my final piece, in order to make the body adornment.
As the experimentation of sampling carried on, I tried a few more samples and collected more research. This time, I still worked with the necklace piece, made it by calico fabric and form board to get the shape and also tried skirt a sample of the shuka a traditional piece of clothing from the tribe, I got inspired by the mass collection jewelry which consists of necklaces and bracelets made of beads, which it links to the tribe that I am researching. In my opinon this sample, was lacking a little bit of colour even tho I added a bright fabric underneath, as the maasai tribe is consisted with a lot of brightness, beads and I didnt really apply that into was plain, it wasnt as scucessful as I thought it would be, but I still will take the neck piece idea forward to my final, but only work in the designs that will go with it.
This sample was created, with dyed cotton fabric with different colours, as well machine embroidery. As I went over the design with batik technique, the designs weren't getting through, so I decided to add straight stitch on top of it, to experiment which was unsuccessful.The sample was inspired by the maasai campaign, where they advertising their cultural accessories as the model is wearing a big necklace piece made out of beads, in other to help the country to get the basic needs (i.e food, clothing and hygiene products). By finishing this sample I come up with good ideas of how I will elaborate my neck piece and what materials and techniques I will use after trying on in this sample. It was sucessful indeed as I could structure of what will it be done first and how to do it, I definetly will take this further by using in my final piece.
Week 2
In week 2 I started with design ideas, leading to illustrations and final designs ideas, to be implemented in the garments and body adornments.
The designs are based on my research, are simply ideas implemented in my own way, to make it unique and distinctive.
In this experimentation I tried to create a sample of the maasai tribe, traditional clothing, which is the shuka. I used dark stretching cotton to create the cape and slashed both sides, leaving the middle plain. I also added a collar made of plain and dark cotton to create the neck piece. I wasnt completly happy with the creation of this sample, because I didnt really use colours that related the tribe, and the way that I manipulated the fabric wasnt link into the tribe at all, it was unsucessful and I wont be using in my final piece.
Design ideas
The designs ideas were mainly, from my secondary research which is the image display from my body of research. I decided to recreate this sample their traditional clothing which is the shuka with my own touch and version. The designs implemented in the dyed fabric, are from the maasai tribe. I used the domestic machine to create the embroidery designs. They are mainly lines, squares and circles to represent the necklaces designs. In this design I putted the shuka over the shoulders. The dyed fabric, as well as the machine embroidery worked very well as the designs were really standing out, as I applied different techniques. I liked this sample, because even tho it was time consuming to get the machine embroidery and tie dye done, it related to the the reserach that I previous done and it is almost the idea that I had in mind to do in my final garment which is briliant, it was indeed a sucessful attempt and I will use in my piece by using similar embroidery details in my fabric.
With the same sample above,I created another way to wear the garment, which represents the shuka. This time I tried to wear the garment under the shoulders, just like the way as the warrior is wearing in the photograph. They also have a little bit of the head which it is part of their traditional clothing. As the temperatures are very high, they have to protect their heads. This way of wearing the garment also works well, because it is a way that they where and it holds well against the body.
Another sample that I liked, as I position the fabric in a different way to give me more ideas of how I could use in the manequin. It was sucessful even tho it was at small porpotion and difficult to stay up, I still manage. I will take the ideas to use for my final piece for example the shuka over the shoulder, which works well.
This third sample I decided to cut the fabric in the middle, and try another way of wearing the fabric, this time I added on a head piece, as it shows in the image below of the maasai warriors. They use very bright colours, as part of their culture, and that is what I attempted to do it in my sample. I liked the way that it worked pretty well and it is visually linked to my secondary reserach, therefore it was sucessful and I will definetly will be taking the ideas forward into my final piece by using the designs and link it.
maasai
In this 4th sample with the fabric cut in half, I decided to create a more challenging by having the fabric both over the shoulder and the rest covering the bellow. Another way of maasai warriors wear their traditional clothing. By displaying in the mini manequin all the embroidery designs areas are standing out.In my opinion the sample worked well as it directly links to my secondary reserach by the shapes, colours and texture that is represented in my garment.It was sucessful as the samples and materials worked together, I will be using in my final piece as I like the machine embroidery and the effects.
In this last sample I played around with fabric to achieve the all wrapping fabric, that is traditionaaly worn by the warriors. The attempt was good as I achieve various ways, shown above. In my point of view it has worked very well, and was sucessful in every way, the ideas behind will definetly will be used in my final piece.
Week 4
The pattern paper helped me to get the measures and proportions for the base of the neck piece, but thinking throughly I dont think I will use it as I decided that the fabric and the neck piece will be worn together, as it more appropriate for the exhibiton and looks better.
The base of the neck piece display just plain, without any techniques/processes applied. This will be the initial progress into the final development. In my opinion it works well as it is the shape of the neck piece already and can be worked on. So far it has been sucessful and will give me more ideas into further developments.
Week 5
The images below are final development ideas of my body adornments the neck piece and the clothing.
The designs are mainly circular lines, as they represent the beaded necklaces that they wear, so I implemented in my own version. I like this sample because it gives me ideas to be more experimented and adventures, and also visually links into my reserach development. It was successful as it work well the embroidery and the calico fabric. I will be using this piece as base of my neck piece and then add on the dyed fabric and stitch on.
This is the reversible side of the piece, I produced the two sides so it can be worn in different ways. On this side the designs are still the lines which is represent the beads and necklaces and squares which are the inside designs.
In my opinion it was a good idea to do both sides as it is not as plain and I could change whenever I desire, it alsos visually communicates with the audience through the desings, colours and the shape. It was sucessful as it works just how I wanted down and up, and it will be used in my final piece.
I made the fabric and then applied the tie dye to get stain effects, I then played around to get in different ways. The way that is displyaed could have worked if I didnt add the neck piece together, as there is too much going on in the neck area, so if I use the piece it wont be seen, therefore I need to create a way that will work together with the body adornment. I like the way that fabric lays in the manequin, which means it works well and it is sucessful. After finding the best ways that could work, I will work in my empty spaces where I will add different types of embroidery, this will be used in my final garment as the main garment.
