PROJECT– TRASHION
SPECIALISM: FASHION & TEXTILES
TIME: 6 Weeks
UNIT 6: An integrated approach to 3D problem solving n art and design
MATERIALS: Mixed Media
RESOURCES: Sewing Machine, Computer, Camera, drawing media, Photocopier, basic hand tools, 3D workshop and an object……
ASSIGNMENT OUTLINE:
With the current threat to humanity of depleted natural resources and global warming due to overuse of resources and mishandling of waste etc, the idea of make do and mend is becoming more relevant if not essential!
Fifty years ago the earth was populated by half the number of people it is now, and by 2050 this number is expected to increase to 10 billion. Simply, there won’t be enough resources to go round!
In the U.K. each year, we throw away an average of two million tonnes of fast fashion clothing that was probably only worn six or seven times a piece. A large percentage of clothing is made from non biodegradable products such as nylon and viscous. Something has to change…. Products on the high street and the catwalk are beginning to acknowledge that this needs to be addressed. Few things touch as many people as fashion; therefore, the continuation of the new consciousness beginning to emerge through the production of sustainable and recycled clothing, rests firmly on your shoulders.
Using just a single object which may be commonly found in the home (clothes peg/ coke can etc., etc.) and an existing item of clothing, you are being asked to create a hybrid piece which uses the idea of recycled fashion. Furthermore, you will be working alongside other individuals in the UAL groups to develop the idea of a collection.
GUIDELINES
Week 1 & 2
EXPLORATION OF YOUR OBJECT IN YOUR GROUPS
It is very important at the beginning of this project to work within your groups delegating jobs and discussing your findings all the time. You may well be working closely with someone you currently know very little about. And in order to achieve a believable and successful result you will need to communicate effectively and get to know them well to get the best result for your group!
Focus on exploring your object: Think about weaving, stretching, melting, burning, adhering, scoring, rolling, wrapping, dissecting, reproducing, representing and smashing as considerations for getting the most out of not only your object, but your imagination too.
You should gather examples of your material:
- sourcing of the various varieties of your individual objects
- examples of how these may have already been used in fashion
- a range of careful studies of these objects, both as photographs and illustrations.
You should be thinking all the time about how you will combine them together to create something new and exciting. How flamboyant or understated your ideas/designs are is up to you, but keep in mind that you will actually have to create one of them, so be realistic!
With your allocated garment:
- Find as many examples of this as possible
- Think about ways that you can adapt your own.
GROUP MOODBOARDS, POWERPOINT AND THE PRESENTATION
What you collect/produce is going to be presented as both moodboards and a powerpoint, so at this stage it is advisable not to stick anything into your books…Sketchbooks are not always practical for expressing your ideas to a large group so you will need to work on a grander scale! You will create a series of moodboards which will explain your ideas and concepts so far. A mood-board is an important tool in the design industry and is used at the start of projects in order to maintain a constant flow of ideas. Yours will be instrumental in helping you get the most out of this project and you will need to photograph them as they develop, so do make sure that you have a camera. These images will then be used to create a powerpoint presentation, guidelines will be given on how to do this. This slideshow will be your first collaborative piece and will require good communication and a well organised plan of action as you work together on the same presentation. You will also be asked to undertake some sustained investigations into what a ‘collection’is
Weeks 3 & 4
FASHION ILLUSTRATION, YOUR OWN DESIGNS
- You will be asked to select two different fashion illustrators’ work and document these in your sketchbook, providing analysis on both their work and how you think their style of illustration might be appropriate to your own designs.
- Produce a design idea of your own in each style. You will be asked to produce further design ideas and start to physically gather more of the same object, and get stuck into manipulating them, seeing what works and what doesn’t work in order to apply it successfully to your garment. Remember to collaborate with your group throughout. You may need to compromise on things so prepare to be open minded. You may also wish to look at www.art-dept.com for further fashion illustration inspiration.
Week 5/6
CONSTRUCTION, PHOTOGRAPHING WORK AND CATWALK
Following your investigations, you should now be able to come up with the definitive design – it is now time to make it…Photograph every stage as you go so that you can continue to update your power point appropriately.
Take a series of well styled photos of the final outcome in studio . Even the best design can be completely ruined by a lack of attention to detail in its final documentation…… Use www.art-dept.com to help you in this too – someone like Rankin is really worth looking at, as is showstudio.com & Tim Walker.
You will all be showing your work in the studio or on location after Christmas.
Write a 500-1000 word evaluation of the project – guidance notes will be given.
MINIMUM SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- 1 COMPLETED SKETCHBOOK.
- CONSIDERABLE EXPLORATION OF OBJECT
- A SERIES OF MOODBOARDS – PHOTOGRAPHS AS EVIDENCE
- 1 COMPLETED POWERPOINT – EACH GROUP SHOULD HAVE IT
- GROUP PRESENTATION – EVERYONE TO SPEAK
- FASHION ILLUSTRATIONS RESEARCH AND RESPONSES
- SERIES OF OWN FASHION DESIGNS.
- FINAL GARMENT AND STUDIO AND LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHS
- WRITTEN EVALUATION
Look specifically at individuals like Hussein Chalayan the late Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Gareth Pugh and Commes des Garcons, for the more alternative in ideas! Sustainable fashion heroes are Gary Harvey, Martin Margiela, Junky Styling, Ciel, and From Somewhere, and this one is just interesting if you want to get a bit more into the magazine side of things – good for layout etc….http://magculture.com/blog/
The library also has some amazing books – check out Maison Martin Margiela, Skin and Bones, A century of fashion, Techno textiles volumes 1 & 2, Extreme Beauty: The Body Transformed, Fashion at the edge, Fashion: Concept to catwalk, to name but a few!
Use the internet.
Use the library.
Use your imaginations
Remember the visual imagination is fueled by what you see.
Link on google classroom to see the powerpoint you were shown