week seven: neo...

Neoprene or Polychloroprene is a family of synthetic rubber that are produced polymerization of chloroprene. Neoprene is an oil and water resistant material that was designed as a alternative to natural rubber. This stretchy rubbery material is encased in nylon that offers incredible flexibility, support, warmth and insulation. Neoprene is primarily used for wetsuits, but has also found its way into many types of active wear and other everyday item, reflecting its utilitarian style.

Working with neoprene is a entirely new 'stretch' experience. It's thick and solid structure makes for a temperamental sewing experience, as seams slip under the machine foot with the slightest movement. Neoprene fabrics has two facets not only physically but metaphorically. Its dense composition provides both intense stretch and control on the form, as well as volume and structure from its firm handle.

week six: image development

This image that I used in my project presentation summarizes my generic investigation findings in the way that it captures a moment of movement where the garment is responding. It shows the extension and length that the nylon spandex has reach simply by force or energy. The power that the body has to form unique and unusual shapes when confined by a fabric will always manifests a novel silhouette. Here the model progresses inside the structure of the swimsuit, as she tries to cover or even hide herself within it, intensifying its prime form. The distinct points of pressure that her fingers have create are highlighted by the contrast of black and white extremities within the photo. My approach was to strip all colour and tone in order to simplify this image to present it in its rawest form, exposing the effortlessness of this particular stretch fabric and its initial reaction to the body.

Not only was the presentation of the five images which best portrayed my generic investigation beneficial for me, but I enjoyed taking in the design concepts and course of others. For each person to voice their individual hypothesis on the hub of 'stretch generics' and therefore generic garments was personally a motivating moment. The disparity in the theory of each students was absorbing along with their chosen visual aid which validated and exhibited those notions that they were articulating.

week five: swimmers...

A swimsuit, bathing suit, togs or swimming costume is an item of clothing that is tight-fitted and designed to be worn while participating in water sports of leisure activities. For women, the swimsuit is either a two-piece top and bottom ensemble or a one-piece maillot style. The first swimsuits concealed most of the body, women wore bloomers, black stockings, and a dress with short sleeves or shirt. Today women's 'bathers' are generally bikinis, one-piece variations or thongs, with the intension to reveal as much as the body as possible without actual nudity.

The concept of developing my own design approach for experimentation with the swim suit seemed challenging. I was drawn to follow up on my recently explored performance enhancing fabrics, as I found that this could become a strong approach for this weeks exercise. Unlike regular swimsuits, which are designed mainly for the physical appearances, competitive swimwear is manufactured for the purpose of aiding athletes, increasing their efficiency . Parallel to this is the utilization of wetsuits produced from foamed neoprene that insulate the wearer and provide them with buoyancy in the sometimes harsh sea conditions.

With all this in mind I had the idea to incorporate neoprene into my design, but not as proficiently as it is intended for. The type of design I want to form may not be wearable for water purposes or even practical. This 'Avant-Garde' approach is something that I want to explore in the next project, especially as I will be carrying out the construction of the experimental swimsuit from week 7 onwards. It will assist me in launching into a new design direction as the foundation can be extended further than one weeks work, giving me strong support to initiate more toile's from.

Russh Magazine Issue 32- Swimwear Shoot (January. February 2010)

This album of images featured in this Russh photo shoot merges athleticism and femininity together to form a powerful compilation of swim and sports wear that has inspired me to

After speaking to my friend grace in 3rd year about my project direction, she guided me to a designer called Lisa Marie Fernandez. Once I had viewed her recent collection it was evident that it related to my design direction, with its blocked colours and of course fabrication. As a designer reference she follows the same fundamentals that I am wanting to attain in the way she uses an innovative fabric that is made to perform, molding the body's form whether creating curves or supporting them.

'The collection takes its cues from the bold, colour-blocked suits of the eighties but the look is totally modern. with their chunky zips and taut silhouette, there's a strong sexiness to them thats bonafide Bond girl. But the clean design of the various styles subtly adapted to each wearer's individual aesthetic, from the sunbather to surfer. LMF bikinis can be directional, sporty, sophisticated and glamorous. The modular collection has various colours and styles that are made to endlessly coordinate.'

(above image http://www.lisamariefernandez.com/main.html viewed 2/4/10)

week four: beautify me...

To decorate is to make something more attractive by adding ornament, embellishment, adornment or even colour. Decoration is something intended to increase beauty or distinction within a specific object or space. The act of decorating is something that may involve the addition of flounces, frill, ribbon, trimming, bows, puffs and other forms of texture. In other words the process of attaching decoration can be described as 'garnishing,' especially in relation to fashion items thats base shape has already been established.

Fashion in the 18th Century in European and European-influenced countries reached heights of fantasy and abundant ornamentation, especially among the aristocracy of France. Specifically the Rococo period dating from 1715-1774, which was marked stylistically by the same convoluted detail and elaborate decoration, which characterized the Baroque period immediately preceding it. Rococo style was highly dominated by classical feminine taste and influences. This Fashion century proves as an ideal reference in my attempt to expose the subject matter of decoration. Producing such influential characters as Marie Antoinette, who in many ways has been inspiration for designers and artists in the creation of new and contemporary work for century's.

During my findings I stumbling across a book out of my collection named 'Style Deficit Disorder' which is devoted to Harajuku street fashion in Tokyo. It highlights the neighborhoods dizzy combination of street-level fashion, outre couture, and re-mixed, fashion-forward youth culture which has made it an international style capital. Within this the specific, but popular style of the Baby and Lolita movement was revealed to me as a significant influence in my approach to this decorative task. These styles were influenced by designer Isao Kaneko and his romantic Victorian-meets-Little house on the Prairie style outfits that could only be described as lovely, pink and ruffled. This clothing found a silhouette that was a playful and abundant contrast to the form-fitted, sleek aesthetic that was popular at the time. This particular Harajuku style is not afraid to deliver that over-the-top element that was required for this weeks design task, therefore stimulating me to resolve my toile with the same approach.

My decorated Nana is simple in terms of construction, but very laboring when it came to the creation and placement of the frills. The frilling is positioned in rows over the entire back pattern piece and create a bustle-like flounce of fabric.To highlight the use of multiple layering, I used a sheer nylon (fairy floss) net to generate a subtle variation in tone as well as incorporate a 'fresh' texture in the design. The choice to not go down the path of predictability and produce this garment using girly, feminine, powder pink fabric came from the theory to remain sophisticated and even mysterious through the use of a dark and moody fabric. The Nylon Lycra I used embraces a certain level of intensity which I wanted to achieve, not only through its high stretch qualities, but its lustrous and sleek surface, which reflects with every shift in movement. Experimenting with such high tenacity fabrications has allowed me to further explore the concept of the body conscious garment and its power to control and mold the body, especially being that the brief sits so intimately to the bodies figure, having a stronger influence. The combination of the front design lines and the thick off white elastic that frames the briefs outline engages a masculine side in the way that it evokes a traditional men's Y front underwear. This observation only came after the completion of the garment, as its symmetry and shape almost mocks or imitates the simplicity of conventional underwear with its excessive and impractical adornment.

(above images http://www.dirjournal.com/info/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/1.jpg, rubypr.com/.../2008/ 11/fruits-umbrella.jpg viewed 3/4/10)