Initial Ideas generation (Crazy Eights)

 

Crazy Eights

The first task of the "crazy eights" is to spend 2 minutes each square to quickly draw all the ideas that I could think of related to the themes. Most of the ideas focus on the 'earthly delights' theme like the fast-fashion issue, 'texture of nature' and the 'organic and natural' garment design. As for the mixed media theme, I came up with idea of using different materials to put into the garment such as buttons, yarn, crochet, and handwoven fabric. I would also like to use a fuzzy and abstract silhouette for the overall garment design . Besides these ideas, I also came up with using asymmetrical geometric shapes for the expressionism themes. As for 'bauhaus' theme, the only ideas that I could think of is using the simple shapes like circle, triangle and square combine with the red, blue and yellow color that 'bauhaus' is known for. Although my ideas are mostly made for the 3d projects, but I also thought of making a fashion magazine to showcase my digital design and in the magazine I will also discuss fashion-environmental issue that have been going on these past decades.

In the next task, we need to pick 2 of 8 square that have the most potential to be developed further. For this case I'm choosing the 'texture of nature' and mixed media because I already have a vision of how I could develop these ideas relating it to my subject area. For my first idea, the reason why I choose to take different texture of nature is because I have always wanted to try experimenting with several fabric manipulation techniques I saw on social media, and I thought that the unique texture and silhouette created from the fabric manipulation technique could be an inspiration to recreate the texture of nature. For example sticking rows of ruffle horizontally could create a wave effect to mimic the ocean 'texture'. For the final developed image, I drew a top with all the different textures created from the manipulation technique. 

Moving on to the next idea, I drew several example of the media I would like to incorporate for the mixed media theme like vintage accessories, jewelry, patchwork, yarn and scrap fabric. To further develop these ideas I drew a top and skirt design of how I could use mixed media to create a 'unfinished' look corset made with plaster which then will be covered with woven yarn on the unfinished side and making patchwork from scrap fabric on top of the corset. While for the skirt I plan to make an abstract line by sewing rope on the skirt. Developing these ideas with a short time given is the hardest task for me especially because I haven't done any research before and it's challenging to develop raw ideas without any reference or inspiration.

After getting the big picture of what how I would like my ideas to be developed, I then moving on to make the mind map of further details with the example pictures. When searching for inspiration picture, I was thinking that mixed media could be combine with fabric manipulation technique to create 'texture of nature', so I decided to combine those ideas into one garment design. I really like how the mixed media garment below gives a unique and rough silhouette with yarn hanging off and layers of embroidery covering most of the fabric. 

Looking back at the project brief, I realized that we can only choose one out of the four themes, so I need to decide whether to choose the 'texture of nature' or the mixed media ideas to use for my project. I still think that combining these ideas could be a great chance for me to experimenting with the technique I would like try and also challenge myself to turn my design sketch and ideas into a wearable garment. 

Japanesse Fabric Manipulation Technique

Japan are known for their creativity and smart ways of giving used and broken things a new life, like 'Boro' mending and 'shibori' technique. "Boro boro” means “Rags and tatters” in Japan and is the collective term for all of the clothing and bedding made from scraps of fabric by the poorest farming people in Japan"(Designs, 2014). Most poor farmer in Japan doesn't have the luxury to buy new fabric so they had to make their own using scrap fabric and these pieces would be mended through several generations and may have valuable woven piece on it. For scrap fabric that are worn out and could be hard to mend, Japanese people would do a running stitch over it to add density and balance to the other piece. 

Designs, R. (2014a). Boro Mending. [Digital Image] rumordesigns.com. Available at: https://www.romordesigns.com/about-boro-mending.

Another famous textile manipulation technique from Japan is called 'shibori' technique. "Shibori is the Japanese word for a range of ways of transforming textiles by shaping cloth and dyeing it. The word comes from shiboru – “to wring, squeeze, press.” (Fashion the future now, n.d.). This bubbly effect could be achieve by wrapping, twisting and shape the fabric using a thread and then boil it. Once it dried out, the fabric will maintain the bubbly shape.

Fashion the future now (2025). Shibori. [Digital Image] fashionthefuturenow.org. Available at: https://fashionthefuturenow.org/2019/05/28/shibori/.

References:

Designs, R. (2014b). Romor Designs. [online] Romor Designs. Available at: https://www.romordesigns.com/about-boro-mending.

Fashion the future now (n.d.). Shibori – Fashion the Future now! [online] fashion the future now. Available at: https://fashionthefuturenow.org/2019/05/28/shibori/.