The next step for me after doing some design development yesterday was to reflect on how I would make those designs reality, by that I mean what techniques and processes I could use to produce the garment. Prints and Patterns- Hand Painted A lot of my designs featured heavily patterned fabrics, such as vertical stripes, polka dots and stars. I was looking at using fabric already printed for these designs as I want to focus on constructing a structural garment rather than doing surface pattern design; however I wanted to look at alternative ways. A simple way of adding my … Continue reading WEEK SIX- FINAL DESIGN TESTS AND SAMPLES

Now it is week six of the project I have looked back on the tests and samples I have done and produced 6 initial ideas sketches. This was a really good way for me to transform all the ideas flowing round my head onto paper so I can reflect on them enabling me to develop them into my final design.   Look One The design below is a red, white and black colour palette as those are the colours commonly found at the circus and they work well together as they create a good contrast. It features a contrast vneck … Continue reading WEEK SIX- INITIAL DESIGNS

I wanted to test boning as a way of adding a structural element to my garments; I brought 2 metres of covered and non-covered boning to experiment with to see what effects I could create. I did these tests over the Easter holidays, as I didn’t have my mannequin stand I wanted to do very quick tests to figure out how the boning works. Fabric Choice I tested using the covered boning and pinning it onto a piece of thick cotton fabric to create a tube shape, I experimented with wrapping it around which created an almost helter skelter look. … Continue reading WEEK FIVE- STRUCTURE, TESTING BONING

Fabric Manipulation A structural technique that is used in fashion to create volume and depth is pleating, I wanted to explore the different types of pleats and the effects they create. Box Pleats Box pleats are easily recognisable because they create long rectangle, box like, shapes. They are more complex to create than other pleats because you have to map out multiple lines to allow you to get an even pleat. I do like how much volume and definition this pleat creates, if I was to use these pleats I would position them at the top of a skirt. Knife … Continue reading WEEK FIVE- STRUCTURE + SHAPE CONTINUED

Mind Maps I did mindmaps exploring the different ways of creating support and structure through different techniques. I looked at a “construction for fashion design” book and did a mindmap in which I listed different techniques and what they mean, such as using boning. I want to refer back to this mindmap when doing structure samples to see the different techniques I can experiment with.   I also created a mindmap exploring the technique of draping on a mannequin to create structure. I wanted to explore this technique as I think it would be a simple technique that will create … Continue reading WEEK FIVE- STRUCTURE + SHAPE

Collage from acetate studies After doing my acetate studies and using paper packaging to collage underneath I was inspired to use fabric in the same way. I took the approach of cutting out the pieces of fabric and sewing them onto paper using a free stitch foot in a continuous line. I think it was successful because it turns the image into a 3D form, it gives the same effect as doing applique. I can see how I could incorporate this technique into a garment as it was easy to do and could add motifs to a simple garment design. … Continue reading WEEK FOUR- TEXTILES SAMPLES

Mono print continuation   From my successful monoprints last week I wanted to expand and do a large scale print, I used the vintage circus poster featuring a hot air balloon and did an A3 print. I wanted to do it in a large scale to turn my print into an actually piece of art and not a little test. Overall the print was very successful, the shapes and line are very clear and defined, and I also like how the ink marks and irregular lines help to create the feel of the performers swinging rather than a static image. … Continue reading WEEK THREE-VISUAL STUDIES, TEXTILES

The History of the Circus It has been 250 years since the circus began, a British entrepreneur called Philip Astley developed one of the earliest circuses in 1782. It showcased a diverse range of live performance from acrobats, clowns and trick riders. Just over a century later America’s famous Barnum and Bailey circus started, which inspired the 2017 film “The Greatest Showman”. In the late 1920s Alexander Calder unveiled his “Grand Cirque” and from then on circuses became more targeted towards children. Since the circus has been around for 250 years visual artist have drawn inspiration from the excitement, energy … Continue reading THE CONCEPT OF THE CIRCUS

Mono Printing I did lots of mono prints using vintage circus posters, I wanted to use the technique of mono printing because it adds a retro look to the image. I did the mono prints on different surfaces to see the different effects it would create, I used envelope pages, sugar paper and maps. I think the most successful surface was the plain paper because it creates a clearer image, I liked how the maps looked and symbolised circus around the world, however it is a detailed background meaning it was harder to see my circus images. Some of my … Continue reading WEEK TWO- MONOPRINTING AND MARK MAKING

Gandey Cirucs lettering I drew from my Photograph of the Gandey’s sign that I took outside the tent on my visit to the circus, I wanted to look at the different style of text they used on the signs and posters. I used gouache and fine liner in this visual study; I added a splattered paint effect using ink in the style of Sarah Beetson. She uses them as her signature style in many of her art pieces to bring rhythm and texture into her art. I think the paint splatters perfectly represent the energy of the circus as they … Continue reading WEEK ONE- RESEARCH AND VISUAL STUDIES