Grow Your Own//FMP

Although I am currently working on my "Fashioned Canvas" brief, due to completing my essay with relation to the FMP (final major project) i am starting to look at current trends within the fashion industry that could help give me inspiration towards my final garments and things that will help go into my sketchbook and start testing.

As a starting point for my research, I have created a Pinterest board and have started to look at things that have already been designed and made. Hopefully I will gain inspiration from doing this that can help me look more specifically at certain objects/trends.

Over the Easter Holidays (2 week break) I have been doing some primary along with secondary research. firstly i have dried some fruits and vegetables out by cooking them in a very low heat oven for hours, so they don't cook but come out solid which will preserve the life a lot longer and created a embellishment that will not smell or decay. i found that oranges worked best when drying them out, they created such an intense colour and dried perfect. other vegetables such as sprout and broccoli didn't work so well, as they cooked rather than dried although the heat was low. because of this i am now having to find different ways to preserve the veg.

Garment #1 (Testing)
To start off my testing and project i need to see how long it takes for the vegetables take to decay and see the different fall off/dry up. i will leave this dress in the studio for around two weeks, i think this will be an appropriate place to leave the dress because its nice and warm and its at a constant temperature. also the garment has very little chance of small animals (flys) to land on it and lay ect, as that would cause heath and safety issues. I will try and take pictures if any drastic changes happen, if not i will take a photo of the garment two weeks on. The garment isn't as full and doest have the full variety of vegetables that i would want it to have on it but due to finical costs i have tried to get a variety of different groups of the vegetables.


Progress Garment #1 (Testing) (2 Weeks)

I have left the garment for two weeks and it has decayed a lot differently to what i thought it was, meaning that this testing garment was very informative and very helpful to give me a starting point for my research/developing. At first i thought the vegetable were going to start smelling and going a different colour, but in fact they edges just dried up and created a a dry effect. now after doing this it wont rule out any possibilities when designing and making of using real vegetables.

Doing some Primary research into different prints that are on the current market. this specific top was from Zara on the high street with green printed kiwi's on. i really like this effect and i think it looks really nice on the white background. this is something i really need to consider when deciding my colour scheme.

Reflective Moodboard;

On this page, i have looked at all current items in recent magazines such as Vogue/Elle are things that could inspire the start of my project. on this page i looked at different materials, style of dresses and colours. i found this page very useful because it has shown me what is current with the fashion industry for this season along with different shapes to different dresses that could be interoperated as different foods and vegetables.

Main Moodboard;

This is my main mood-board for this 6 week project. i have chosen these pictures within my mood-board because there are literal pictures of actual vegetables and vegetable dresses and also other dresses that have been made using pictures and sublimation. i really like the bright colours on this moodboard and how certain colours (Yellow, Orange and Green) really strand out from the page. this is something i need to carry on with using (the bright colours) and need to try and stick to these as my key colours throughout as this will link my garments along with my sketchbook together.

Garment #2;

a.

I have started developing this garment due to some general testing of different types of fruit/vegetables, i have specifically enjoyed testing and making the 3D style lemon/lime/orange circular quilted samples (Photograph a). i have developed from this that i can add all different types of quilted fruits such as apples, grapes ect. i feel that this dress will be a fruit style dress rather than a vegetable one. to continue this testing further i need to do more little samples along with start designing different types of garments when i could incorporate this effect.

Design 2/4 development.

Today i have started developing the different types of designing i could use the sample within. i really like the idea of different colours on a plain white background as i want that theme to flow within my garments. i like this designing process but due to them all being circles and placed upon the body i need to sample in a larger scale to make sure the garment doesn't look like its been "thrown together". also i feel i need to develop it because i think it is too literal which is something i didn't want within my catwalk designs. but i think by using my material to create the structure and seeing how i can develop it that way as my designs seem to be very similar within my sketchbook and i feel that on a larger scale i will have more inspiration. i have also used my pinterest account to look at different types of literal dresses, but i feel that it hasn't helped as they are using actual vegetables and as previously tested within this short time scale this isn't possible.


I have cut out circles of different sizes and slightly different shapes to just look out how they would lay upon the body using a mannequin. i have found this really helpful as its made me realise that this is far too simple for a final major project design, so i need to sit back down and evaluate how i could change it. this design hasn't completely been dismissed but i feel it needs to be worked on majorly using other different types of inspiration.

c.

d.

I have accidentally come across a new idea for this dress. i was stuffing the circles to create a larger sample of the lime and realised leaving some stuffing sticking out of the edges it creates a very rough effect of the outside of a cabbage. although i wanted this to be a fruit dress i really like this idea and next i am going to layer them on top of each other to see what they look like and if i could progress with this style of design. (Picture c). Picture d i have added all different sizes on top of each other and to stick them all down i have just used a simple piece of thread and sewn down the middle to create more of a 3D effect and to curve the edges to create a more literal effect to them.

e.

 To continue this design i have added colour to the edges of the white material to signify that they are a vegetable. i didn't just want to use green so i have also added 2 purple ones. this is because the rest of my designs are based around the colour green and i want this to be more of just a catwalk piece rather than a commercial like my others. i have layed them out where i would want them to be on the garment and decided they would make a very good skirt rather than a top. this can also be represented as cabbages are grown underground rather than on the surface. Another reason i have placed them here because within my sketchbook and designing all along i have wanted to create a different style of puffball dress and think this is something very out of the ordinary that can represent a puffball style dress. i really like the way this looks as a skirt and to continue this design i am going to add just a simple bodice with maybe a slight effect on the top but keep the majority of it white. (Picture e).

f.

like previously said today i have made the bodice of the garment, and had to add a slightly longer piece of material to the bottom to stick the "cabbages" onto. also i have create a ruffle style on top of the bodice to create a clear edge. i indented to colour the edges like i did on the cabbages just to link the whole design together. i really like the way the garment is very fitted at the top and comes in at the waist line to give lots of emphasis on the bottom and key part of the dress. (Picture f).

g.

After sewing this all together as i previously said about having some parts of the garments to represent "packaging" and to bring all the garments together and to make them a collecting, using a really sheer clear material i have created a larger square shape just to place over the shoulders. (Picture g). and to finish the garment off i have added two extra panels to the back of the garment and laces it right from the bottom to the top using white lace. i though that this was more appropriate than using a zip and i'm still unsure who will be wearing this garment so it can be easily adjusted. i hope that within the fashion show when this garment is worn its still slightly open so the lace will be upon the back as that is a really good effect that would look good especially on this garment with the sheer material on top so the model wouldn't feel exposed.


Evaluation on Garment #2;
I feel this garment has been very successful. i like they way the cabbages are not too literal and the fact the garment is very "one off/ haute couture". i like the crisp white material with the just the colour around the edges of the cabbages as it makes them stand out. I am also very happy with the way it has evolved into a puffball design dress and i have combined several different research along with designs together. Overall i really like this garment but if i could change anything about it or do something differently i would maybe look at doing a fill zip fastening rather than a ribbon one and i would also make the garment slightly bigger in fit and it is very tight once the model had her fitting.


I have been looking into other artist research where the use embellishment upon a lace/see through type of material and i have found a really nice long black Alexandre McQueen dress. i tried testing through using free hand stitch on the machine. firstly i tried creating a neat effect of fruits such as limes ect but i felt that they all came out looking very different and very unfinished, so i tried creating rough designs of vegetables and fruits like sprouts, i felt like the sprouts were very successful, and if i was to use it within my designs, i feel they would turn out good.

Garment #3;

My Inspiration for this garment started when looking at different and unique ideas in ways i could incorporate Vegetables and specifically this garment herbs. Firstly i looked at create a large skirt out of the herbs but after testing small samples i realised this isn't going to be possible, as there is no ways of creating a large structure. and after looking into printing on a skirt that also didn't work as, as one of my other garments i have planned on making would be too similar. So i have looked into designing more flat ways of putting real herbs into my garments as i want to stick with my "SOI" and use real life herbs.



After looking into using real herbs i have also looked into growing my own herbs and with the short time scale it wont be possible to grown the herbs but as part of my testing i have home grown some cress in long strands as that grows within a week which would be perfect for my action plan.

For the base of the dress i have gone with a up to date modern style of a "midi" skirt, as it very high street fashion at the moment and i have pinned on pinterest many different pictures of this style of dress. also this length will be good for the design as im still unsure what length and what herb will be best suited for this plain white base. To create the base it was two simple steps, and unlike the previous garment i had created using a pattern piece, i specifically chose a model for the fashion show and pinned it to her this in advance so it fitted perfectly.

I have had to plan a few weeks in advance for this garment, as for obvious reasons i wont be able to make the belt until the day of the fashion show otherwise it will wilt and look dead walking down the catwalk. although i can't make the belt i have looked it what herbs would fit best on this design and i have gone with using "chive", as the dark green looked really good against the white, and the size of the chives fitted well.

Evaluation of Garment #3;

Now the garment is finished and complete and has also been down the catwalk, i feel the garment really stood out and was very unique from the others. although the model that was meant to be wearing it couldn't attend the fashion show and it was slightly too small on the model that ended up wearing it, i feel that it looked very unique and individual, yet it could easily be developed into a more commercial outfit. i really like the way that this garment was not just a plain dress, but it was a 3 piece set so if i had changed my mind as to what i wanted on the belt i could of very easily. although i don't think this garment has been one to challenge my making skills, i feel that although its plain, it has really challenged my unique fashion skills and i can take some things forward from this garment, such as precise time management and working to tight deadlines.

Garment #4;

For my 4th garment i decided i wanted something in the shape of general vegetables, so through primary research at supermarkets and the local farm shop, i realised that the garment needed to be larger at the top than it was at the bottom, so like with all my other dresses i started with a plain white base, and designed another midi skirt. the reason behind this was because if it was going to be larger at the top, it would need to come down to a thinner garment gradually.

I looked at different ways of adding a larger effect at the top, and thought through designing and development that maybe using the "packaging" effect i  had used previously it would link everything together, but after several attempts of creating what i had designed i realised the material would of been strong enough and would need some kind of structure. so i went back to the start of designing and look more into the shapes of the vegetables and decided i was just going to focus on a leek.

After creating another mood board, i decided that there was going to have to be structure within my design and some kind of "Wire" to make the strands of leeks. so after testing larger and smaller ones, i bought some thick florist wire that was flexible but could hold the weight of the material. Then by sewing the wire in place around the material it gave me a strand effect. this came out in a belt style, so the dress could be multifunctional, so it could be more commercial and just worn and a ombre effect dress. 

once it was all fixed in place, i like spray painted it with two different tones of green and added the fastening, this is when i uncounted several problems with the garment as the belt was pushing down on the zip so it has to be lowered and then i had to use Velcro on the top to hold it all together, this is something i would look at changing if i was doing it again as the back does look scruffy from certain angles. 

Evaluation of Garment #4;
Out of all my garments i have created, i feel that this garment is definitely my favourite, this may be due to the techniques i explored whilst creating it such as using wire ect which i had never done before, or just the final outcome and how striking it is to look at. i think the sprayed effect adds a contemporary look to the dress. the only thing that i feel could be improved with this dress would have to be the fastening!

Garment #5;

For my 5th garment i have been looking into different types of wrapping, packaging and printing. and looking into the contextual work of Moschino. and i really like the way they print not just realistic pictures and things onto there garments, but also animated style onto them. and in this garment this is something i really want to look into and maybe develop into my garment. so as part of my testing i have been trying different ways of printing by using transfer pictures, along with the heat press and drawing straight onto materials. i really like the outcome of using the heatpress as i think it looks a nicer and more finished than what just drawing straight onto the garment does. yet i can still use my own drawings.


I have decided that i am going to use a few different fruits/vegetables on my garment, but they are all going to be green as i have tried using different colours and they work well on the first print but to reuse them, the colours start blending together making the material look messy. i have chose Limes, Green Beans and Sprouts as my design.

I discovered that when testing my materials to print on that when the clear thin material gets hot it creates a crinkled effect which looks almost like a vegetable skin, so for the top, i am going to use my basic white material (to make the garments all match together and stick to the theme) and add panels of this material i have discovered by mistake of testing. that type of material could also resemble and crushed up bag that some vegetables have been in such as sprouts.
 For my skirt i have just made a basic A-line skirt with the print on it, but i really don't feel happy with how it looks so i have decided today to add some more of the heat pressed clear material to the bottom of the skirt so the outfits flow.

I have come back to this dress 2 weeks later as i am really not happy with the skirt of the 2 piece. the skirt looks really unfinished and the clear material panel around the bottom doesn't suit the outfit and really doesn't look great on a model. so by going back to my sketch book a re-designing, i feel like a skater style skirt would fit the 2 piece better. and i am going to do this so it can be adjustable by using a lime green ribbon down the back of it.

Evaluation of Garment #5;
Now i have edited this garment i feel that garment now really flows and looks complete unlike it did before. i like that way the top is oversized and it creates a layer with the outfit so the skirt brings the garment in at the waist and only a slight bit of skin is shown if the skirt is pulled down. (it can be changed on the waist if no skin is wanted to be shown) if i could improve this garment it would definitely be to spend some more time on the skirt by adding some free hand stitch machine stitching around the fruit and vegetables on the skirt. i am also going to accessorise the garment with fresh green beans around the neck and the relate to the drawings on the skirt and bring the garment to a finishing point.

Garment #6;

For my sixth and final garment, i had inspiration when i was browsing around the local farm shop whilst shopping and i noticed they had carrots with there large leaves left on them. this was very unusual to have them so after taking a picture of them i really wanted to start designing/developing how i could put them into my dress. at this point i don't know if i am going to use the real ones or create something to resemble the carrots. 

From my designing i have decided i am going to create a dress that has a panel in it, so it looks like "The under ground" and some how through testing i am going to see if it is possible to hang carrots underneath so they are visible but due to the transparent material, it creates a under ground vision. After trying several ways and using not only string but two different thickness of wire i don't think this is going to be possible as it looks great on the mannequin but when my model walks in it, they all get caught between her legs making it very difficult.

I have now decided i am going to keep the panel at the bottom as it can still represent where the carrots grow, but due to the carrot leaves being so flimsy the need structure (which takes away the athletically appeal to them) or some part of the body to lean on. so from this i have create a belt with the all clue/wired onto so they are pressed tightly against the body.

Evaluation of Garment #6;
I am so pleased with the way this garment has turned out. the bright orange and green against the plain which stands out so much so and even from a distance the carrots are recognisable. if i was to change anything about this dress it would be to try and keep the carrots in the fridge for as long as possible, as i had the same issue with the chives as they started to wilt and go soggy. (Although this could not be seen on the catwalk) This garment was also successful because i managed my time carefully and made sure i was ready to create the belt last minute.