FABrics!!~19th Feb 2010

First day of presentations! I was all prepared (ish) but I didn't get picked anyway! To be honest I want to get it over and done with and also get some feedback earlier on in the module so then I can focus on the sketchbook work! However it was interesting to listen to others presentations and understand more about their designers. Some designers I have never heard of to be honest but thats what made it refreshing and got to learn something new! In the afternoon we were supposed to go into the West end and do some fabric research. I have to admit I went to the West end but I didn't go fabric shopping ><..... this was because I had to catch up with some marketing work and it was a good oppotunity to do so. Don't worry I still did my fabric research eventually though..doesn't matter if it wasn't of Friday right? Here's what I found: I chose fabrics that I felt related to my concept – colour and texture wise while also keeping in mind what kind of fabrics would actually be used for Alexander McQueen garments.

John Lewis

Printed Silk Chiffon – The colours and random water colour strokes attracted me. Overall it looks fluid, being chiffon and the flow of the pattern but the harsh brown breaks it down giving it a twisted earth and liquid combination.

Abstract silk satin – The blots project a blurry version of the images I took of ‘shattered’ pebbles. The texture of this is lovely – silky, slithering and warm. It also looks like holes/cavities that form on tree barks -again this is in my research. Could work!



Borovicks



^Some leather samples in colours of my concept board and also with slight distressed effects. However I found the back of the black piece more interesting. The worn out areas of the suede like side gave me the impression of splattered paint (graffiti) on concrete or worn off paint on the roads.

^Silk in a chiffon - a butterfly, marble dye effect and shreds sewn on. The colours are intense yet natural. The black piece has a patent effect with green metallic through it in a brick pattern. There are also flower patterns quilted in like an emboss. This fabric looks like flowers immersed in oil. Combining nature and industrialisation.

Berwick St Cloth Shop

Brown peacock chiffon - looks like eyes looking at you! but also effects of wood grains.

Copper leatherette - bronze effect. Would look effective if distressed to depict rusting metal.

Netting with 'copper' crystals' - a mineral/crystal effect. Again looks as if its cavitiy on nature.

-The coloured peacock print doesnt really fit into my concept (more Matther Williamson) but I thought it was a beautiful print so I may use it for something else for myself!

Cloth House (both)

Brown Linen with a plastic matte sheen on top - quite 'natural' looking until you feel it its very plasticy and up close you see the sheen.
more Woven cotton - again natural colours but roughly mixed down grains.

Metallic woven silk - can look like reptile skin but more like intricate brick work up close.

Blue crinkled silk - the actual fabric actually has large blots of dark ink/dye giving an uneven sea wave effect.

Patent leather - looked distressed used wrinkled - cracking.

Polyester/aluminium mix - I thought it was interesting that there was some metal content in there. Black ribbon is stitched all over in a zig zzg pattern. Looked as if it was growing and dominating the fabric.

Mixed wool yarns - effective visually - tangled, communication, trapped.

Maculloch and Wallis

Silk samples:
Silk tafftea

Silk Dupion - has a rough and raw effect