Yohji Yamamoto Project

I was just updating my online portfolio and came across my year 2, semester 1, Yohji Yamamoto project and have decided to write a blog about it. As the project title suggest it was a collection designed for the Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto, inspired by our own trend created from his ethos.

The trend I and my group came up with was 'Distorted Shadows' an sinister, dark trend inspired by Yamamoto's dark Japanese war background.

Below are pictures of my two final flat drawing and illustration boards. Let me know what you think! 

Zoe xxx

Update On My Current Design Project

For my second design project of year 2, semester 2, we got a brief challenging us to design a 'slow fashion' collection supporting sustainability. At first my interest in the brief was low but as soon as I start to research the topic, and the problems the current fashion industry is creating for the environment, my initial interest changed. 

 Although there are many strategies a company my follow to adopt the 'slow fashion' movement, I have chosen to focus on creating a capsule collection with lasting appeal in style. This focus lead to the idea of minimalist design. Minimalism however has been used as inspiration numerous times, if not consistently, throughout fashion history, so I wanted to tackle it in a different way. I plan to take on the principles of minimalist design however get most of my inspiration from Sol LeWitt, a well know minimalist artist known for his mixture of lines in different directions. 

My final collection is being designed for the brand Reiss. I have chosen Reiss as for my collection make a real difference to consumer attitudes I need to aim it at the problem, the problem in my eyes being the high street. Reiss, being a high street brand, is also perfect in my eyes as their current customers search for quality, elegant designs, both principles my collection aims to achieve  Their current ranges are also simple in design so my collection will mix nicely with them to create a classic, timeless appearance. 

Below is my final mood board to reflect the art of Sol LeWitt and the principles of minimalism. Please let my know what you think! 

Zoe xx

Treats to myself

After months of hard work I am settled in at home with a cup of tea and a bag of new presents... To myself.

I have wanted to buy myself Dior makeup for years but have always been too tight to part with £25 for a lipstick. Today, however, I finally gave in and bought one... And a lip gloss .. And an eyeliner ... Oh and perfume,  but my high expectations were not let down and it was the motivational treat I need to keep me going

Zoe xxx

Studying Fashion Comes In Handy

As you probably know from my previous blogs I volunteers to design two outfits for the Leeds University, East African society's charity fashion show. Not only did this opportunity promote my work but it also gave me the opportunity to make myself a new dress and on Friday night I put one of my outfits to the test. 

Studying fashion really does have its advantages! and here is the picture to prove it 

Zoe xxx

My Final Damart Dress

On Friday the 15th it was the final deadline for our Leeds University Damart project. Throughout this project I faced numerous problems, however putting these troubles a side, I am really happy with the final outcome. 

I fully pattern cut my design myself however some unforeseen problems arose. These problems were very minor, shoulder seams too long etc etc, and I believe only one more toile would be needed to created a finalised pattern for my design. 

So here are some pictures of me in my final toile. Enjoy and please let me know what you think

Front view

Side view

Attached under shorts 

Zoe xxx

Tribal Instinct 3

Last night was the night that all the hard work and effort came to a head. The models, organisers and designers all put so much time and effort into the charity fashion show and it was more than a success. 

Being one of the designers I manged to watch all of the first half and most of the second half of the show. The models were very entertaining (not just walking down the runway but dancing) and they really did look like they were having a great time. The audience were loving it too, as most of the East African society members were there to shout on their friends and join in with the fun. 

I really enjoyed the night and I loved the feeling I got when my designs went down the runway. Unfortunately  I missed my part in the show as I was back stage getting everything ready but loads of photographs were taken, which I can not wait to see! 

Hopefully by the end of next week I will be able to share the professional photographs of my designs however for now I will leave you with a couple I took. (I apologise  for the very very very poor quality!) 

Seri, one of the performers at Tribal Instinct 3

One of the dance routines by the models on stage

My dress design on one of the models

Thanks for reading and I promise that in a couple of days I will post better photographs. Please leave any comments below, I would love to know what you think 

Zoe xxx

An update on my Damart Project

So on the 22nd of February I blogged about my latest, Garment Technology, project, which has been sponsored by Damart.

The Challenge was to design and construct a thermal garment which could be used as an under and/or an outer item. To recap, my final design was a day dress with a draped right hand side and tight fitting under shorts to provide the thermal requirements.

My final flat drawing 

So hows my design looking at the moment? 

My dress up to present

Well with just one week to the deadline my dress is beginning to take shape. I have fully pattern cut the whole design and all pattern pieces have been cut out in a stretch jersey, Damart fabric. I am now nicely within the construction stage and my top, shorts and skirt have all been constructed and attached together.

I have hit a few problems along the way but with only the centre back zip, sleeves and bindings to attach the dress is coming along nicely

Below are a couple more pictures of me in action. 

Measuring the mannequin for my patterns 

Me wearing my toile skirt pattern and holding my final design

Pattern Cutting 

Tracing around a block pattern

Drafting my desires fashion lines and taking their measurements to apply to my pattern

Cutting out my sample dress top and sleeve

Finished sample with necessary adjustments 

Lay planning my final patterns in Damart fabric

Checking my grainline is correct

Cutting out

Final shorts made up

Drafting my binding pattern pieces

Me over locking the dresses seams

A close up of one of the dresses over locked seams

My final gathered sleeve

Thanks for reading my update and please leave any comments below 

Zoe xx

Sneaky peak at my Tribal Instinct 3 outfits

On the 9th of March Tribal Instincts is holding its third charity fashion show and, like last year, I have volunteered to get involved. 

Tribal Instincts is organised by the University of Leeds, East African Society, and each year raises money for people in need. This year the money will support the Education Programme of the Tumaini Children's Home in Nyeri, Kenya. (For more information on this brilliant charity please follow this link). 

This year I have designed and created 2 outfits to be sent down the runway. These outfits will be showed together with 5 other outfits designed by 3 of my close University friends. Our inspiration was Africa in general and their style of mixing heavy geometric, repeat patterned fabrics in bold, bright colours. 

Here are some sneaky pictures of my two outfits

Draped Dress With Tucked Detailing. Pattern and  Construction Made By Myself. 

Draped Top With Side Ties To Create Shape. Pattern and Construction Made By Myself 

Please let me know what you think! and to buy tickets or to find out more about Tribal Instinct 3 please have a look at their facebook

Zoe xxx

Amazon: What were you thinking?

As I am a student, and unfortunately do not have a TV licence, I tend to live in a little bubble. Newspaper websites are regularly visited by myself to try and get out of my naive environment and reconnect with the world. 

This morning I visited the Independent website and was horrified at one of the main articles. The striking headline read "'Keep Calm' rape T-shirts Taken Off Site". I was interested and continued to read. 

Amazon have been selling fade T-shirts that promote sexual violence and at best try to make a joke out of a very unfunny topic. T-shirts reading 'Keep Calm and Hit Her' (pictured below) were being sold and I personally find the T-shirt disgusting.  Questions such as who has designed that? and who thinks that was appropriate to sell? are running through my mind and I am shocked that such a influential and popular online store agreed to sell, and in affect, support the design. 

An example of just one of the offensive T-shirts Amazon agreed to sell

I am happy to report that they have in deed been taken off the Amazon website and a full scale backlash and investigation into Amazons products is underway. Be my guest and read the full story here.

Zoe xx

Interview no.3: Molly Limpets

Yesterday I had an interview for a placement with the Theatrical Company Molly Limpets in Sheffield and I was more than nervous. 

All ready for my interview. I was going for a very monochrome look which was teamed with a black, biker leather jacket. 

Molly Limpets have a fancy dress store at the bottom of my road and for years I have been trying to get a placement there, but more experience was needed first. After being at the University of Leeds for over a year now, meaning over a year of intense garment technology training, Molly Limpets kindly offered me an interview to discuss what opportunities they could offer me. 

They are currently in their third factory and as soon as I walked in a mass of fancy dress, musical theatre and pantomime costumes jumped out. There were rails upon rails upon rails and I just found myself starring at them all while I was waiting for Scott, the owner.  

During my interview Scott was great and we had a great chat about the company and the things they do. It really does sound like this unique company is expanding, which personally I think is fantastic as we all know how poor quality and frankly horrendous fancy dress costumes are online and in some stores. Molly Limpets however pattern cut and construct all their own costumes from perfectly sources material. As soon as a new film is out or a genre is becoming popular, they respond to the market and straight away get sewing so that in no time the costumes are ready to be hired. 

I really enjoyed the day and found it more than interesting to learn how the company works and whats involved. I am also happy to say that I got the job! We have not decided on all the fine detail and other employees need to be informed about the opportunities they can offer me however Scott said he would be more than happy to let me join the team.

If you want to know more about Molly Limpets or want to look at their fantastic range of musical theatre, pantomime and fancy dress costumes them please look at their website

Zoe xx