Inidgo Project

I have started my first collection of hand painted prints for Indigo, which were going to be simple front shapes showing the conversational print. However, after doing the 6 prints, I have decided I am not happy with them just as they are. I feel they are not very strong as a collection, and need more excitement in them. This could be due to the fact that the colours are all quite toned down, but I also like more detail in my pieces, which you dont get the feel of in these.I am happy with some of the designs, so I will be leaving these as they are. For the others, I have decided to combine them with the constructed and embriodered elements that I have been experiementing with for collection 2. I will now have 1 collection of 12 garments, combining the 2 collections to make a really exciting, detailed combination of colour, construction, beading and embriodery.

Below is one of the prints which I am going to keep as it is, maybe adding some detail at the neck with subtle beading.

Below are some of the pieces I have been working on for collection 2, which will now be combined with some of the prints. I will have some fronts where the top is printed and the bottom constructed and visa vera. I am now much happier with the whole collection, as I think it represents me more, and my style.

Warner Textile Archive

We had the Warner Textile Archive in college yesterday which was a really inspiring visit. They hold the second largest collection of textiles in the U.K, and document these so that designers can access them to use for inpiration. We were shown some of the textile pieces from the archive including paper print designs and printed fabrics from the 18th century through to the 20th century. I found the woven fabrics from the 18th century particularly inspiring, with small scale repeat florals in bright colours. it was interesting, however, how much of a variety of different techniques would be used in a certain period. I was also amazed at the bright, rich colours of the woven silks from the Victorian period.

They said that we can go to see the archive in Braintree, and request to see certain designs that interest us, which is exciting, and it could form inspiration for my final collection. They also have some embroidery and beaded pieces, which I would love to see, as this is what really interests me. I am really glad that they came to college to show us some of thier pieces, as I wasn't aware of what they had there and that we could visit, which I will now be taking advantage of.

We had a really interesting talk from Studio G yesterday, who showed us some of their print designs, which they sell at Indigo Paris and New York. They showed us some mood boards, which show how they look at catwalk trends for inspiration which they translate into thier own prints. They design for the high street, so thier prints are very commercial focused. I found it really useful to see how the industry works and what is involved in working for a studio such as Studio G.

We have to opportunity to design a collection for them, which they might be willing to take with them to New York, which is a really exciting opportunity. It would be done on photoshop, as this is the technique they use, so I am thinking I will do a collection of digital prints, taking my inspirations from collection 1 to deveop furthur, and maybe using the theme of tropical, or anaimal?

Mood board collection 2

Inspiration is taken from 18th century pleasure gardens and nature, with bird wings and reptile skins an influence, creating a delicate, detailed collection of constructed fronts for spring/summer 2011. Embroidery and screen print will combine with cutaway elements, appliqué and beading and light, soft colours of ivory, gold and spring green form the base with accents of black, cinnamon red and a rich green creating an authentic theme. Soft silks and sheer chiffon fabrics create a seductive, feminine tone.