another day, another challenge...

Topic: defying gravity. 

This.

Is.

It.

The countdown has begun.

Today I finished my last classified 'garment' of my graduate collection, with the exception of my anticipated couture gown that waits JUST around the corner.

Nevertheless, friday marks the end of our 3rd term so I thought Id give myself something to remember  this week by, and I did!

At the start of my collection I took the approach of buying all my fabrics in advance, to maintain coherence of my range and to  rule out disappointment. One such fabric was a synthetic fur of which I bought, a not so shy, 15 meters.

Needless to say I am left at this late stage with a lot more then I had assumed. 

So I am doing everything to ensure it is used up entirely.

So my final garment, a floor length cloak, was slightly modified to help with this, just slightly.

It is now not only fur, but fur lined and it trails for a good 1.5 meters behind the model. 

Whilst my intentions where right on target my assumptions weren't. Never did I foresee the weight and inconvenience of such a garment. Yet with a mind of its own, myself and 'baloo' (the furry mammoths nickname given to it by my classmates) got on just fine, and whats a last garment without a good story.

I dont want to ruin the images of my range until they are all systematic and consistent but heres a little look into the 'behind the scenes of the week.'

Below is the most compact version of the cloak!!! Folded about 6 times and after being excessively weighed down.

Fun fact for the week:

Sometimes the most rewarding challenges are those we don't see coming, the ones that take us by surprise and remind us we are in control.  

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

Image Source:

http://weheartit.com

all good things come to an end.

Topic: The anticipation of a new adventure.

Although their are many ways of saying it, and many experiences to define it, the simple truth remains...

Its not about where you are going, its about how you get there.

I remember the intimidation of the expectations placed on our third year class at the start of the year. In a talk we were referred to as graduates but in practice we were and are just students. Whilst doing patterns yesterday I was struck with the realization that I have found a confidence in myself, my work and my ability that I never before had, nor thought I could achieve.

Never did I expect to be able to complete a process start to finish with mere guidance, rather than instruction.

We all either doubt or support the process of evolution, but as a third year student, a graduate, a small fish in a very very big pond,

I have evolved.

We are on the seventh of our eight collection garments,  and next friday we will be only a couture gown away from a final collection.

Whilst the desire to celebrate is bursting from each and everyone of us, the nervous tension is just as obvious.
Over the year our conversations have progressed from,

"What fabrics are you using?"

to,

"So what are you doing next year?"

Reality is setting in and its our choice to embrace it or shy away from it.

The future is inevitable, so allow your journey to where ever it is you are going to be indescribable.

   

We've got an interesting assignment approaching on the impact of designers on fashion coming up, Ill be sure to post some interesting facts about Roy Halston Frowick soon.

Who knows, maybe one day a FEDISA graduate could be the topic of another generations assignment.

      Lets wait and see . . . 

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

Image Source:

http://weheartit.com

fedisa, fashion is a statement.

Topic: The new FEDISA campaign.

Be bold - <3 F

Pushing the boundaries and defying conventions, everyones digging it!

grasping onto humor.

Topic: Finding joy in creativity, finally.

So as my third year class has without attempt continued to remind me,

we are officially in our final visual studies week of our degree.

This means, never again will we submit lengthy storyboards, testing illustrations, finger piercing small scale drapery or anything art related for that matter at a specific and almost unachievable deadline.

Now that I have got that off my chest, this last week has been more than entertaining, allowing comedy to overrule the drama and tragedy.

Apart from being unusually cheery by the surreal atmosphere generated by the above mentioned fact, the irony this week lay in the content that we covered.

At the cost of repeating myself I have to just say that in the last art week of my varsity career I learnt by far the most with regards to stylization, rendering techniques and the beauty of simplicity as well as consistency.

It goes with out saying that at FEDISA you don't just play, so here is a little of the lot we have been doing...

Valuable Lesson 1:

A fashion figures face is important, but relatively simple in comparison to how its perceived.

At first I didn't believe it, at all!

But a ball point pen, some tipex, a couple of watercolor pencils and your lecturers guidance, and what do you know, its achievable after all!

Valuable Lesson 2:

Pro-markers.

Have you ever-they are amazing!

Not only are they the closest comparison to the benefits of CAD but they allow for so much freedom and development.

FunFact- Play around with a colourless blender. 

Valuable Lesson 3:

When you lacking in inspiration don't dry out trusted resources, design by music.

An enticing exercise we took for granted initially but by number 3 of our 6 designs we had almost all been converted.

Designing is about a place, a time and a mindset,

treasure that. 

Valuable Lesson 4:

Make a to-do-list.

You avoid procrastination, workload and they pretty fun when you a designer, you can write them anywhere, with or on anything and because of our industry,

we can!

My most valuable lesson this week,

don't wish these days away, we have held our breathe waiting for the last visual studies friday and now that its here, only when we exhaled did we actually enjoy it.

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

Image Source:

http://weheartit.com

just. keep. going.

Topic: Its not about the finish line, its about the race.

After a trying two days and a loss of 9 class mates,

reality has set in.

Being a graduate is not a pre-requisite to life, or to the industry, nor is it a right, 

its a challenge.

We win some and we loose some, just wish it wasn't this far down the road.

What is to come of the rest of us?

Lets wait and see . . . 

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

Image Source:

http://weheartit.com

challenge intentions.

topic: "fashion is a change of attitude" - Yves Saint Laurent 

Not a play on sexuality.

The latest fashion controversy leaves me questioning the value of contemporary design direction.

We have all dwelled on exaggeration and elaboration, even on fashion mayhem but never did I expect such lack of creativity to the point of humiliation.

Since the 1970's woman's liberation movement there is no doubting that androgyny is a timeless and well respect trend, but that was before it was overwhelmed by the extremities of designers such as John Galliano and Commes des Garcons.

Just because we have all taken to and adapted the women's tux and the mens satchel it does not give just cause to designers to undermine societies conventions?

Getting to the point, a man in a ruffled skirt, gold sequined tights or a fuchsia bomber jacket is not socially correct!

Whilst I don't condemn androgyny in sub-cultures nor as a fashion influence I find it demeaning to strip a man of his masculinity and dress him in woman's clothes!

Androgyny refers to the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics and it is clear that over time fashion has been attempting to blur such exteriors. It goes without saying that for the most part, this movement has been successful and influential but I cant help question why this way of styling has turned into mens dress up and stand up comedy!

Is a grown man strutting down the runway in a wedge heel, wait sorry, in a medge, classified as powerful? Im all in favor of gender equality and females taking a stand against passive stereotypes but I'm yet to meet a man that will voluntarily strip himself of his manhood.

The goths, punks, hippies and rockstars have it down, they have perfected the art of androgyny, but I don't see an average joe who follows mainstream fashion rocking a crop top any time soon!          

And as the industry does, if thats not enough, why not push the boundaries even further.

Meet Andrej Pejic.

Who, at only 19, is one of todays top paid models on the grounds that he can be whatever his designer wants him to be, literally.

He passes off as both a man and woman dependent on the clients requirements, double the chances of booking a job means double the income I guess.

Whilst I admire his courage and his evident self-esteem, I cant help question the intentions of our clearly unrestricted industry.

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

Image Sources:

http://www.theurbanapparel.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Mens-Skirt2.JPEG

http://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/fashion/08/07/28_skittedmen_lg.jpg

http://www.teampeterstigter.com/uploads/2009/12/BARRETT_MCFS10_055.jpg

http://www.anneofcarversville.com/storage/Andrej-pejic-damon-baker03.jpg?

http://socialitelife.com/andrej-pejic-blurring-gender-boundaries-02-2011/andrej-pejic-02222011-02

attracted to the parallels...

Topic: Déjà Vu.

Deep in thought with regards to the latest look of my third year collection I was left questioning my intent.

My one and only men's outfit is revolved around a pair of dropped crotch, fur pants that are used to tie together the fabrication of my range, yet the further into the them I get the more I feel like I could be sending a human bear down the runway! 

Nothing like an unflattering assemble of the unknown?

To make myself feel better I indulged in a little calorie overload and some much trusted research! Needless to say, some of my findings were more of a laugh than inspiration,

take a look...

Human road-kill?????

So to tease my negative inclinations...

Introducing the Chanel Fall range of 2010.  

After reading up on the range the most acknowledgeable factor I could grasp onto was that Karl Lagerfeld had made an active effort to use faux fur rather then a genuine alternative, the first step in the right direction. But apart from that, this look is a an oversized, over heated avalanche.

The irony behind this post is that our most recent communications and social studies lecture was revolved around PETA, and the movement either towards or away from real fur. 

Cruelty is inexcusable, fashion should not take preference over life-faux fur is made available, there is no excuse to not use it!   

If we cant compromise we will never co-exsist. 

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

Image Sources:

http://

weheartit.com

http://artifactgoods.blogspot.com

http://styleblog.ca/tag/faux-fur/

Learning something new, everyday.

Topic: Bam!

So after a solid 4 months of battling through a collection riddled with impossible leather, one of my highly knowledgeable classmates introduced me to the Bernina foot, 52.

A pretty normal looking foot encased in plastic made my day-it doesn't stick, it doesn't slip, it pretty much doesn't do anything you don't want it to. 

For leather fanatics, in fact anyone who likes to challenge themselves with a thick, heavy weight textiles, do yourself a favor.

If only I'd found it sooner, but rather late then never!

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

coming up for air.

Topic: a fresh breeze of culture.

An abundance of work and a brief lapse in time management is the result of my lack of updates.

Caught in the hustle of workload I forgot to give in to a little reflection time, but here goes.

This week, amongst other things, we've been working on a set of designs, entitled 'celebrity weddings', drawing inspiration from the media and celebrity hype I focused my designs on Katy Perry and Russell Brand,

Everybody needs an escape from conformity sometime!

I've developed two wedding looks for the couple based on an Indian tradition, playing with eccentric cultures.

For the love of diversion...

Here are some of my inspirations, the colours and the silhouettes are proof that a picture is worth a thousand words.

I am enticed by cultures, trends, twists and traditions ...

Never a boring day in fashion?

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

only appropriate.

Topic: Caught amazed.

Still deep in thought on the topic of my last post, I found myself dwelling into the presence of other bloggers. 

People with knowledge and insight into not only the world but their own being and existence.

I came across the fashionable Elena Vasilieva , a blogger, a designer, a label founder and a passionate  photographer.

To reference her description of her line, and herself, in her words: 

"VASILIEVA fashion is not about just clothes, it’s about lifestyles, about uniqueness and personal identity of every garment. It is about the VASILIEVA girl who can often be seen in the streets of a megapolis. She is innocent and pure. She is different. You want to follow her. You want to get to know her. She will become your muse, your inspiration. She will possess your heart. She is so effortlessly chic. Mixing different trends and styles she is not afraid to express herself. Each day she is unique.."

A mission statement, I as an aspiring designer 'go weak at the knees' for.

I found myself in ore of her imagery, her photography and her style.

A name, a face and a blogger worth remembering.

Dabble in her life and style at:

http://elenavasilieva.blogspot.com/

http://elena-vasilieva.com

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3

silence the masses...

Topic: why not let their voices be heard?

'To blog or not to blog?' A topic hot on the tip of everyone's tongue,

more specifically a concern for my third year class.

The statement was raised in a lecture last week and left open for discussion and opinion,

a contradiction?

We were left to give our opinion on giving an opinion?

Or potentially not?

The question up for debate was whether or not to give into the voice of today's fashion bloggers, to condemn or to encourage the freedom of speech?

The topic has been raised by many in the fashion industry with reference to the hierarchy...

Some feel bloggers, as such, have arrived and risen in the world of journalism so rapidly that there has been little chance for evaluation and as a result the exclusivity of the media is diminishing.

Others however, feel that the voices of fashion bloggers, their opinions and their insight is held in such high regard that its they have become irreplaceable and cherished.      

Slightly transparent that as a result top designers and design houses are forming personal relationships with the most respected bloggers of the industry, pampering them with front row seats to the biggest shows and first class sneak peaks into the their latest collections.

Famous to the ever growing fashion industry - 'its not what you know, but WHO you know." 

Its our right as society and opinionated designs to speak out minds, voice our ideals and be true to our verdict, its just convenient that blogging and tweeting is at our fingertips.  

So BLOG - judge and convince, embrace freedom of speech remind the industry that life has become fast paced and whilst it invades the privacy of secrecy and knocks down the tower of suspense, no one can stop our ever evolving mechanics of life.   

Why fear the take over when you can embrace the change...

Ashhhhhhh

FOREVER and FASHION <3