SHEI FASHION SHOW

Today I exhibited 5 looks on the runway on live mannequins/standing models. The collection was the opening exhibit for the show and my work will be featured on the Shei Website. Here are a few pictures of the rehearsal. To see more, come to our offsite exhibition reception THR3E on April 16th, 7:00pm.

About the Fashion Show

This Sunday is the Shei Fest Fashion Show. Instead of having a runway show exhibiting 3 student designer collections, the Fashion Director of Shei decided to have our Collections exhibited on human mannequins instead. She said that she wants the show to be cohesive- showing all clothes in one run, which means we designers would not be distinguished amongst one another. Therefore, she asked me if I was interested in exhibiting my clothes on the human mannequins during the intro before the runway show and I agreed (this will highlight my work separately). The show is this SUNDAY! but I don't know the other logistics yet (time, entrance fee, etc). Grace Cassell (Fashion Director) and I will discuss that today and I will post an announcement on here separately.

Other updates about my progress include that I've had an editorial fashion shoot for each garment, which will be exhibited April 16th at the THR3E Exhibition and while I may have created 7 different looks, I will most likely only be exhibiting 6 of them in our Offsite Space. I believe these 6 looks make a more cohesive collection than the 7.

Here is a sneak preview of the Fashion Shoot.

Pieces Coming Together

5 Pieces done, still working on 2 more. Some photos here. Shei Editorial Photoshoot of my work this Friday.

Near the End

As of right now, I have a total of 5 pieces done. Just one more closer to my goal of 6. If I find time, I might attempt to do 1 more, total of 7. I've also been trying on my clothes on size 0-2 girls and they fit well. Aside from the collection, I'm also working on the graphic price tags for each piece and will shoot editorial photos of my work throughout this week with Shei (to be exhibited in April and used on my personal website). 3 different models will be featured, each wearing 2 of my pieces.

Other News: Shei Fest Fashion show will be held in the Michigan Ballroom.

Here are some photos of the work coming along. 

Checklist

What's to come:

- I'll be meeting with Shei Magazine this weekend to do some editorial photography of my work and figure out the details of the show. i.e. location, models, styling, etc.
- Photographs of my work will be up on my website and possibly used for exhibition.
- Following that, I'll be working on price tags for the garments.
- Also, begin looking for mannequins to temporarily borrow/rent for exhibition.

Here are a few photos, showing the way a garment looks on a size 2 body and also exhibiting Erika and I taking a breather before getting back to work.

Changes

I exchanged one of the previous garments with a new one. I felt that "Georgina" wasn't going to match the collection regardless of how it was altered. It was really a conflict of material. The Suede texture didn't have the same tactile quality as the other garments, nor did the pattern of the dress (holiday themed floral) seem to work with the other florals I'm working with. Other than that, the name "Georgina" will remain the same for the replacement and this is the dress I'm currently working on. Here it is prior to alteration.

Goals: The full collection finished by the time we return from Spring Break because I want a good amount of time to work on my presentation.

Linda Loudermilk Sustainable Fashion Designer

A few days ago Shaun & Prof. Rodemer both sent me an e-mail about a lecture at Taubman College of Architecture about Linda Loudermilk, coined by W Magazine as one of the top 20 innovators to watch. She's considered to be a visionary couture and eco-designer and her claim to fame is her becoming the first designer to create luxury, eco-lifestyle fashion. All her clothes are made from sustainable fabrics that she herself researched and developed. She targets luxury consumers and her mission is to inspire change within ourselves as consumers.

Her textiles are woven from natural sources like bamboo, Seaweed, Corn, etc. She collaborates with scientists and companies that create fibers without pesticides or other toxic processes and leverages manufacturers that do not poison the water supply.

I'm excited to attend her lecture today and will report back on the experience. For anyone that reads this and would like to come, the lecture's at 6:30 at A+A auditorium.

This Week's Standing

I'm currently still sewing garments. I have 3 more pieces to work on and my personal deadline for the collection is early March/Spring Break (6-7 Pieces Total). Right now I'm also considering five showcase methods:

1) An Independent Gallery Exhibition (Featuring myself, Erika Cross, and Eric Harman)
In this case, I would have to figure out the details of how my clothes would be displayed depending on the venue. I'd also like photo display stands by each of my garments that feature a photo of the original garment and brief explanation of its history.

2) Shei Magazine Fashion Show Mid April
I'm really rooting for this option and hoping it comes together. Shei Magazine would provide the proper models, venue, and documentation of the event.

3) Michigan Theatre Fashion Show Early April
Marianetta presented this idea to me. Since the Michigan Theatre will be featuring student films and animations, some free time could possibly fit a fashion show?

More in Progress

Four garments completed by Tuesday, starting to work on the 5th one now. I tried on all the garments on a model and encountered one complication with one of them, but I'm in the process of fixing it that right now. Here are some images, but more images to come by Tuesday.

Progression

Three pieces of the collection close to complete - currently finishing up the detailing - details being seams, button holes, pockets, etc. I'm also at the start of my fourth garment. Photos of the garments on a model soon to come. Other recent work: research on the history of each garment (age, make, and purpose)

On a side-note, I've decided the final presentation format. Shei Magazine offered to find models and host a runway show for me, as well as publish an article on my work, so I will be having a fashion show afterall. However, I'm still considering the option of exhibiting the clothes in a gallery space even after the show.

Display Ideation

Thinking about the display of my work.

Display Options: Clothing Rack, Economic Hangers, Torso Injection Mold Hangers, Mannequins, Wall Hooks, Stop-Motion Film, Illustrations, Editorial Spread/Photography, Framed Before/After Photography of the Metamorphosis

After weighing the pros and cons of all these options, I've decided that the mannequins, film, and framed editorial photography will NOT be part of my final display. I will not have enough size 2 mannequins for the display of 6-8 garments. As for the stop-motion film, documenting 50-100 different alterations of one garment would slow down, if not completely impair me. Instead of concentrating on design and construction, I would be running back and forth between sewing studio and photo studio trying to document every small step in the process. Though I would love to capture metamorphosis in this way, it's too complicated. Perhaps I can still document the metamorphosis in a simpler way. Lastly, I've discussed why the editorial spread is a no-go in my last blog post.

Now here's an image I found interesting. Displays how construction workers hang their clothes at the end of a day's work. Perhaps my clothes can be hung from the ceiling?

And another similar reiteration below.

More common ways I could display my clothes below.

And if I hang my clothes in any which way, should I display them on common hangers or torso hangers that give form to the garments? Here's an example of what I've considered ordering.

For the Record: BEFORE

Since Thanksgiving Break, I've collected 4 more garments, making my amount of garments a total of 10 now. I suppose I'm done collecting, but that's subject to change according to process.

Anyway, I've finished photographing all the garments - making note of each item's brand name, material, handling, country of origin, size, and original price. I believe it's important for me to keep an organized record of everything prior to alteration. It will come useful for later comparison. More importantly, it's the introduction of the narrative.

(Note: The garments have assigned names. The intent is cut down any excess in narrative. Specific garments can be readily identified with names. No need for mundane, detailed descriptions. e.g. "that shiny, swirly, peach colored dress over there is..")

Mood Board

The visual narrative of these series of photographs inspires me. They set a similar mood I'm trying to embody in my garments- an air of sophistication, allure, charm, glamour, and whimsy, wrapped up in a modern/vintage twist. I'll be reflecting on these photos throughout my work.

That aside, the concept of creating an editorial, fashion spread like this was something I considered initially as part of my final format. I realized, however, that creating a narrative, finding a model, making the setting, getting equipment, photographing and editing would all require much more time than this project allows. Nonetheless, it's something to keep in mind for the future... should I find the time to execute this successfully, I would.

(Photos by Camilla Akrans for Vogue Nippon March 09 styled by Sissy Vian)

Research and Resources

Read the following resources on fashion history in order to find what speaks to me. I wanted to dissect my taste in fashion and identify who/what inspires me to create the way that I do. Given my research, I've realized that my current aesthetic will be reminiscent of Lanvin, Moschino, and Miu Miu.

Here are some examples of Lanvin:
French Fashion House. Noted for dresses. Trademarks are trimmings, virtuoso embroideries, beaded decorations, and floral colors. Best described as a combo of femme and tough.

More examples of Moschino:
Italian Fashion House. Famous for innovative, colorful, and eccentric designs. Fashion known for rebelling against the fashion industry. Best described whimsical, cheap and chic.

And lastly, Miu Miu:
High Fashion Brand from the Prada Fashion House. Known for juxtaposed prints and conflicting youth/adult silhouettes. Best described as questioning innocence and youth.