I started the sampling process off by analysing my exsisting samples, seeing which ones work well and why? questions like, whats the aura of the sample? what do the marks do? why was this sample so effective? in what way did the techniques benefit this sample? these questions provide a thought process which starts the sampling process. by assesing it gives you time to identify and bring forward key aspects of the samples.

personally I chose three of my favourite samples from project one that i felt confident about taking forward. i liked the energy of the embroidery sample, the fight between the calmness of the plastic bag to small detailed areas of the chaotic embroidery clusters. I also choose two weaves, the weaves have an array of techniques that work in a really interesting way together. the conversation between the calm manipulated lighter materials to the arratic clunky manipulated tape measures and chunky knotts is something I want to further explore.

I made a viewfinder out of paper and started to isolate specific interesting areas. having the view finder really magnified techniques, fabric qualities, colour ways and allowed me to question this in a thought provoking way answering the question why did these samples work?

I started to annotate them, isolating key descriptive words which I could use to sample further. this really is an essential part of the design process and it forces you to analyse your work. Taking this into sampling I can look at the most effective techniques like colour ways, material exploration, manipulation techniques e.c.t. This then gives me a basis to start off whist still leaving a lot of room for experimentation.

Sustainability not only being a massive trend but it becoming essential within the sampling process of textile and fashion design industry. Not to mention the fact were in a global pandemic!!

Having never been in a pandemic the worlds upside down. A positive to taken from this however is a rise in alternative material textiles! which I love. The pandemic has brung an uprise for locally sourced materials e.c.t. this is important as my first project was focused on alternative materials which were sustainably sourced and also locally sourced. This is important to recognise as it gives me a focus to start on, using only locally sourced materials also brings an aspect of personality to the project.

Theres a consumer issue on the rise within fashion, the “need is more” concept and how this is affected by the pandemic. the idea of a de-growth has been a discussion for most fast fashion brands for a while but being in the midst of a pandemic this has esculated, making sustainable thinking become a trend. brands are now thinking more sustainabily, adding in re-designed products with an element of sustainability. this is something which is essential when sampling.

after looking at my recent projects I had established that i work well with alternative materials. I love print so i knew this had to be involved within this project. When looking back at my samples I saw that the first project really stood out, it was innovative and different and as this was embroidery and fabric manipulation I also wanted to use this skillset further. I choose to enter the mixed media catagory as i feel i can create something really unique and individual and use this to my advantage!

I started to look on the WYGSN website at current trends. from the self evaluation i was able to identify that my strength definetly lay in project 1, thew mixture of fabric manipulation, embroidery, print and alternative materials worked in my favour. So regarding this brief I started to look at alternative material trends. I found a really interesting article about the use of materials and how this is essential through the pandemic as materials have become sparse, meaning we need to be more resourceful.

what caught my eye was the use of cord and laces, in project one I used shoe laces to create a fun tactile feel to the weaves so seeing this become a trend was amazing! the concept to this trend is really interesting from the WYGSN they speak about “survival mode” and its extra fitting due to being in the midst of a pandemic.

PRINT AND PATTERN 

whilst using alternative materials is important for this project so too is adding in print. Looking at the current trends print and pattern is trending on the runway.

I then looked into print types, to see which catagory I fit into. I found “painterly handwork” and it was just me! expressive mark-making, super fun and irregular. This printing style was really in, it was a coming trend which really benefitted me. I also feel adding in an expressive fun print also relates to the pandemic, by adding in a fun element to your life not allowing yourself to be trapped in a covid bubble.

i also stumbled onto a really useful article on the  joyful expressive trend, it really got me excited to start sampling as it was exactly how I felt and something i was dying to explore!!

The indiviualists 

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/fashion/article/87908#page_5

The individualists is a trend that really speaks to me. For my S/S 21 I will be designing a garment that is fun, youthful and maximalist. The individualist push fashion to the limits with their innovative and fun approach, they create their own trend with their exaggerated shapes, quirky pattern and fun outlook on fashion. Avant Guarde fashion plays a big part as everything is over the top for that shock factor on the runway. This year I want to create bold, fun textiles with a sustainability element, reusing and repurposing alternative materials just with a quirky and maximalist approach for the quirky youths.

Nov 25, 2020