Bluebird AR: an online drama

In an effort to make my concept richer and more.. complete (at the moment if somebody asked me to describe it in a sentence, I would NOT have a single clue as to where to start), I tried developing a story that may or may not help me find some much-needed cohesion in my collection. At the moment, my collection is envisioning a future reality where our clothes become so much a part of our everyday lives, it's almost like a walking shelter. I want to communicate this through pieces that are able to transform and/or demonstrate more than one function. What I've been trying to develop is this future reality: what's it like in this world? How are people's activities different to now and how can I design a collection that communicates the way people's behaviours and activities have changed when compared to today's society?

During my research, I stumbled across a new ABC show called Bluebird AR that has just recently aired a couple of weeks ago. What's fascinating is that the 'show' unfolds online, in real-time, and is a little bit like alternate reality gaming where the viewers participate in the viewing and development of the show's plot.


I was a little confused at first, so if you guys are, you're not the only one. But viewers can register to be part of the show by solving clues that the director has plotted, and in a way hold some control in the way the show unravels. The characters are all fictional, but viewers can interact with these 'characters' online through portals like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Flicker as if you were really part of the show. It's an innovative project that explores new avenues for audience interaction. This inspired me to project futuristic scenarios where we not only 'watch' a TV show (if TV is still the most ideal platform for entertainment? Perhaps online will take over?), we participate in the drama, contribute to the plot and ultimately, we viewers become the directors.


Not only was this concept stimulating, the plot of the show itself was particularly interesting. It centres around a secret geo-engineering project (deliberate manipulation of the Earth's atmosphere to counteract global warming). It made me think of how unpredictable the weather will continue to become over the years and how this will affect the style of the clothes we wear. Will we dress to accommodate extreme weather changes throughout the day? How can I use this idea to assist my design work?


Bluebird AR will continue to play online for app. six weeks.

Menswear Details: JULIUS

JULIUS was created by Tatsuro Horikawa in Tokyo in 2001 as an audio/visual project. He treats his recent collections as an extension of the project. I came across them after my tutor told me to investigate the designers stocked at Atelier New York so I can see where my designs should sit with. The website can be visited through here.

The label's aesthetic is not really what I'm inspired by, rather it's the clever little detailing that can be found in many of his pieces that has helped me refine my own design work.

Here are some interesting pant details from the SS 2010 collection. His use of zippers and pockets are exactly what I've been exploring: combining aesthetics with function. Naturally, all menswear design should consider this, but his playful approach is what I find most appealing.

Photos courtesy of the official JULIUS website

Courtesy of JJJJound

Menswear Details: BURBERRY PRORSUM

So I was advised to look at menswear details more closely to assist my design work. Topstitching, zips, flaps, pockets, cuffs etc etc etc..
My tutor knows all.
I am now obsessed.
All images courtesy of GQ.com

Burberry Prorsum

Spring 2010

Fall 2010

Patchworking with Colour

Cool, eh?

The balance of the different shades work so well!

Image from here

Yum.

Mmmm.

Is it just me or is there something so delish about a perfectly pressed, clean shirt with beautiful topstitching detail and the most perfectly sewn button and buttonholes?

Divine.

Image from here

Image from here

So. Clever.

Wearable Shelters: So Re Fa 2009

Following up on my previous post on wearable shelters, I came across a project by 3 students from last year's So Re Fa (Socially Responsible Fashion) eco-fashion show in Philadelphia. Similar to Lucy Orta's work, Jin Hong, Sebastian Brauer and Jackie Starker explored the idea of clothing as emergency shelters for a hypothetical post-disaster scenario in a metropolitan area.


Their designs are very conceptual, regarding both the durability and wearability of these pieces to be able to be worn as an 'all-weather' gear during the day as well as act as an insulating shelter at night. The garments were constructed from sleeping bags, exercise clothing and performance jackets found from thrift-stores.
Images courtesy of Ecouterre

Wearable Shelters: Lucy Orta

After much deliberation on this idea of a 'functional' design, the concept for my major work has developed into the idea of wearable shelters, and how clothes are becoming increasingly important in our daily lives. It doesn't just clothe us, cover us, it also supports our lifestyles.


Lucy Orta has definitely become a newfound mentor. She trained as a fashion designer but then began working as an artist in 1990's to create works that “respond to a critical and constructive gaze on the most sensitive areas of society, evoking the need for change, poetically prefiguring reality and suggesting alternative life styles.”


Using sculpture, public installation, video and photography, Orta presented prototype structures of tents and sleeping bags that transformed into overcoats and backpacks to represent issues of survival and emergency 'situations'. She "investigates crucial themes of the world today: the community and the social link, dwelling and habitat, nomadism and mobility, sustainable development, ecology and recycling."

Quotes and images courtesy of Symposium C6



Connector Mobile Village IX, Cholet, 2002
Photo: Studio Orta

Materials: Aluminium coated polyester, reversible Solden Lycra, open cell polyurethane, silkscreen print, zips.

Body Architecture - Foyer D, 2002
Photo: Studio Orta
Materials: (Dome) aluminium coated polyester, 3 telescopic aluminium armatures (6 Units) Clerprem Solden lycra, various fabrics, silkscreen print, zippers, 6 armatures.

Refuge Wear Intervention London East End, 1998

Photo: Studio Orta
Materials: Refuge Wear: Microporous polyester, PU coated polyamide, silkscreen print, transformable rucksack, zips, transport bag. Photo: Original Lamda colour photograph, laminated on Dibon (ed. 7).

Functional Fashion.

What is considered functional when it comes to fashion?

There's the cultural aspects of clothing, where fashion is considered as a mode of gender differentiation, social status, identities...

But on a physical level, clothes are meant to cover the body, which can also mean protect the body from external environments. They are also meant to be comfortable, because we live in our clothes, perform many different tasks, and in a way, successful clothing design is meant to make the wearer forget they're wearing any clothes at all; so their clothes become a part of them: a second skin.

I've been looking into performance wear for sports like windsurfing, sailing and para sailing to feed into my design work. One thing my tutor has told me to keep in mind is that we students are fashion designers, and not sportswear designers. Even though I've kept telling people I want to design a collection with a sportswear aesthetic, it's still fashion, and is not meant to function and perform exactly like e.g. a professional sailing suit.

However I think for menswear, function is still incredibly important. I remember a particular menswear challenge in one of the seasons of Project Runway America where a contestant made a pair of men's trousers with no pockets. Michael Kors thought it was laughable, because menswear is once again, all about functional details!

My tutor's also reminded me that it's also about being smart with these details. I had told him I was worried my designs weren't exploring enough shape; especially my pant designs. However after showing me examples from the most recent Dries Van Noten and Raf Simon collections, it's not always about creating shapes that we haven't already seen, or being NEW; because nothing is. It's about being innovative with what's already there, and using it in smart, innovative ways.


Some great detailing from the RAF SIMONS Fall 2010 collection
Images from GQ.com

ALL MY IDEAS 

ARE IMPORTED

ALL MY 

PRODUCTS

ARE EXPORTED

(ALL MY

EXPLANATIONS 

ARE RUBBISH)

2003 Black vinyl lettering,& white neon. font: Arial Black, Dimension variable. Edition of 3

Stefan Bruggemann
Courtesy of ZOOBEZOOBEZOO

Viviane Sassen

I've recently discovered the works of Dutch photographer Viviane Sassen and fell in love with the vibrant colours and locations of her photographs.
Her play with contrast with light and shadow and brights and dark colours are well-balanced, allowing viewers to be mesmerized by the stimulating mixture of colours and patterns in every single frame.

Photographs from BOOOOOOOM!, Zero1blog and Dagjeweg 

"The photographs do not just portray death, loss and urban life in Africa. They show genuine humanity, cultural clichés, Sassen's personal life story and aesthetics."
Quote from DSM

Colours colours colours

I've tweaked and tweaked and tweaked and have somehow managed to change my colour palette once again.

This is the most recent collection of images that have inspired me.

Comments are encouraged! :)

Fabric Shopping turned Colour Shopping??

Drove around (or rather, SAT around in the car whilst Daisy Jukebox zoomed around in her red Echo) last week in search for fabrics and ended up finding some awesome coloured skins at NSW Leather Co.

Fresh, fun, yet still sophisticated for a S/S men's colour palette? Particularly enjoy the minty green, which is a little unexpected from my end.

Fashion FWD Festival 2010

I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the launch of Sydney's Fashion FWD Festival 2010 last Friday 7th May. The event was held at Paddington Town Hall, and was a mixture of up-and-coming designers, industry professionals, buyers, media and various members of the public. Fashion Forward Festival is held by The Fashion Foundation of Australia (FFA) to support emerging talent in the Australian fashion industry whilst also raising awareness for the AIDS trust of Australia. Hence, I was asked to wear something RED on the night to show my support.
It was a great night that consisted of a fashion show featuring the works of all the emerging designers with a special guest speech by Peter Morissey. A particular highlight of the night was just talking to other fellow young designers (some who have only recently just graduated out of a fashion course last year) and hearing them share their experiences since they've graduated. 
This was pleasant yet overwhelming at the same time, since it made me realise how many creative people there are in Australia alone and it's true that the ones that eventually get noticed are the ones that work hard and just really go for it!

Designers Emma Fitzgerald and Maryanne Edwards were the winners of the Fashion Mentor Grant for their label Wonders Cease.

Oh dear, makes me feel guilty on how little design work I've been doing! Better get cracking if I'm ever gonna get to where these guys are!