Vogue’s DIY Section

 

Reading the June Issue of Vogue I was so excited to see several features on”customising fashion”.

This issue features a guide by fashion designer Ederm showing “how to” customise a jacket. The step by step guide is  beautifully illustrated with photographs which breaks down the method and process. 

I think a high fashion magazine like Vogue adopting DIY methods reflects the rise in Make Do and Mend movements. Sewing machine and haberdashery sales are on the increase and people are seeking out innovative ways to engage in fashion.

In this current economic climate and with a growing concern around environmental issue’s we are asked to question our consumption. People are beginning to be a little more creative with their money, effort and time. I find the concept of collective creativity really inspiring. 

I have attached some photos from Vogue and I cant wait to see if their are any new articles in the new issue!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading the June Issue of Vogue I was so excited to see several features on”customising fashion”.

This issue features a guide by fashion designer Ederm showing “how to” customise a jacket. The step by step guide is beautifully illustrated with photographs which breaks down the method and process. 

I think a high fashion magazine like Vogue adopting DIY methods reflects the rise in Make Do and Mend movements. Sewing machine and haberdashery sales are on the increase and people are seeking out innovative ways to engage in fashion.

In this current economic climate and with a growing concern around environmental issue’s we are asked to question our consumption. People are beginning to be a little more creative with their money, effort and time. I find the concept of collective creativity really inspiring. 

I have attached some photos from Vogue and I cant wait to see if their are any new articles in the new issue!

Grass Roots Event

 

Grass Roots was an event organised for postgraduate students from Chelsea, Camberwell and Wimbledon. The two day site specific project was based at Crystal Palace on subjects around being and making. 

I attended with Clara from TED and several Chelsea MA students. We organised a fashion workshop called “Closet Confidential”. Our workshop introduced the concept of emotionally durable design to the participants. We then asked each to select a piece of clothing that they were wearing and answer three questions:

1. Where did they acquire it?

2. What do they like about it?

3. How do they care for it?

The workshop was really engaging and I loved hearing every ones fashion stories. Some pieces of clothing were mended, some were found and reclaimed, others represented special memories… Everyone really cared about each item they talked about and would seek ways to “make do and mend” if they had the know how.

The event hosted a whole range of workshops and activities around climate change through being and making. We picked herbs and flowers within Crystal Palace and then brewed our own tea with a little help and guidance from the Tea Bike… The day closed with a chat from a speaker from Climate Camp who talked about lots of different ways to get involved. 

Grass Roots was an event organised for postgraduate students from Chelsea, Camberwell and Wimbledon. The two day site specific project was based at Crystal Palace on subjects around being and making. 

  I attended with Clara from TED and several Chelsea MA students. We organised a      fashion workshop called “Closet Confidential”. Our workshop introduced the concept of  emotionally durable design to the participants. We then asked each to select a piece of  clothing that they were wearing and answer three questions:

 1. Where did they acquire it?

 2. What do they like about it?

 3. How do they care for it?

 The workshop was really engaging and I loved hearing every ones fashion stories. Some  pieces of clothing were mended, some were found and reclaimed, others represented  special memories… Everyone really cared about each item they talked about and would  seek ways to “make do and mend” if they had the know how.

 

 

   The event hosted a whole range of workshops and activities around      climate change through being and making. We picked herbs and flowers  within Crystal Palace and then brewed our own tea with a little help and  guidance from the Tea Bike… The day closed with a chat from a speaker  from Climate Camp who talked about lots of different ways to get  involved.

Slow Textile Workshop

I recently attended a “Slow Textiles” workshop by Dr Emma Neuberg.

I arrived with an embroidery hoop in hand at a lovely studio space in West London. Emma introduced Chinese Floral Embroidery and showed us some images to introduce the theme and provide inspiration.

An intro to the historical context gave me a greater sense of purpose and I began to associate a deeper symbolic association with the craft and process. After being introduced to satin stitch I attempted to apply the technique to upcycle some fabric. It was great being in a nurturedenvironment to sew collectively. There was lots of discussion around slow textiles, symbolism and sustainable thinking.

All participants were encouraged to bring a garment or piece of cloth with them for discussion and I really enjoyed this part. Some vintage clothing was used and each piece had a story or detail which reflected something special. 

I left feeling inspired and continued to sew all weekend. I loved working within a shared space and it sparks all kinds of conversations. I think this is a great way to share knowledge, skills and expertise in an interactive way.

Dr Neuger will be hosted a series of new workshops and forming “The Slow Textiles Group” visit her blog for more info.

 

 

 will be continuing a series of workshops and forming the slow textile group, visit her blog for more information.

Digital Textile Design

I have just received a new book from amazon: Digital Textile Design by Melanie Bowles. 

This book is beautifully illustrated showcasing students from Chelsea College of Art & Designs work. It provides expert knowledge and “know how” with detailed instructions for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I loved how there is a balance between the process and the practice as it presents a sense of how each technique can be applied.

Being from a Constructed Textile background I think this will be a great tool for my practice and research. I can’t wait to work through some of the methods!

Digital Textile design demonstrates how printed textile design is evolving through new technology and would be a great tool for designers, students and lecturers. There is a bloglaunched for the book with further details and examples…