Dawn Hurry up!

So I now know how to moulage and then pattern cut my moulage! I dunno if I'll actually be using this technique but its good to know. I think I have a final design now and I'm trying out some different samples with knitwear and dropping stitches etc etc. As regards for my 3rd year things are going well but I still feel like I'm really slow and if anything I'm holding her back!I had to trace some of Jennifers patterns last thursday and it was such a struggle and took me about 3 hours-oh well!Hurry up Dawn!

More timed tasks!

Here are some of the photographs from the Hussein Chlalayan exhibition I went to see at the Design Museum.

I absolutely loved seeing Mr Chalayan's work in the flesh, I think he's a really talented and unique designer.
Today we were set another task, to create one side of a garment from our design pages. At first I was thinking “oh dear, how an earth is that even possible?!”, but after I got started I realised that a lot of it is just logical thinking. I managed to get it done in the time allocated but I feel if I could I would do things slightly differently in order to create a better effect and save time.

If I was to re-do this garment I think I would stuff the arm slightly instead, as I found it difficult to find wire or boning that would support the shape I wanted to acheive. Although, in the end I used both boning and wire I feel it is far too delicate and could only be worn for a short period of time.

It was a brilliant exercise to do though and I learnt a lot about translating drawing/designs from 2D into 3D. Tomorrow we will be continuing to work on developing ideas but I think I’m going to try out one of my other designs and see how and if it works successfully.

Bank Holiday Weekend

Jennifer Read is the 3rd year I’m working with every Thursday until the end of May. I think we were put together as we both came to Leeds from Exeter and I think she may have been in my life drawing class. Anyway, I absolutely love working with the 3rd years, I imagine it’s a bit like being a studio assistant. On Thursday I had to go and find 5 pairs of white denim trousers and then unpick them, I felt like I was really slow it took me nearly 2 and half hours!!! It’s all good practice though and I really enjoyed it.
On Friday (our private study day) I went to London with Ella and visited the design museum to see Hussein Chalayan’s exhibition, he’s one of my favourite designers so it seemed only right to go! I thought it was amazing it was quite small but I suppose that’s because there was a lot to take in. I’ll upload some photographs once I’ve found my camera!!
So it’s been quite an eventful weekend so far and I’ve also been working on the metamorphosis project and now I feel I’ve got my head round it. Everything seems a bit clearer!
The rest of this bank holiday will be spent doing more samples and designs for metamorphosis...well that's the plan anyway!

Hardcore, but almost over!

This first week back has been so hardcore and it’s only Wednesday! Yesterday was our first proper day back (as Monday was hand-in for Fashion, art and culture), and we were all set a task to complete by 3pm. I found it difficult to get started at first but after a while I was alright, I feel I work better under pressure. Some of my research pages for “metamorphosis” are quite poor so I’ve decided just to push the good ideas! But I’m finding this project quite difficult, I’ve done more research on the concepts I’m interesting in, so hopefully this will help me out. I like that we are being pushed to the limits, I feel its more realistic for the fashion industry, and it makes everyone work a lot harder and quicker!

This is some of the work I've been doing for the latest project

Tomorrow we will be meeting our 3rd years!! We will be acting as there assistant helping them with their final collection-I’m quite excited about it all!
I can’t believe how quickly the year has gone! All that’s left id metamorphosis and PPD and then we’re done!

Catch up!

Yes, yes I know I've been neglected the old blog a little....well lets get on it then!
I researched the role of a fashion PR all quite interesting really, it’s a busy job then what job isn't?! The roles of this job include getting samples and outfits ready for studio shoots, magazines, clients etc. Also arranging meetings and may include dealing with the press it’s basically the organization behind a company-well that’s what I like to think anyway! Very office based. Working along side senior Pr, Directors of the company, visual merchandisers, fashion photographers and press. Everyone relies on you to get jobs done promptly...the pressures on! The pay starts at about £14 k, and the hours are normal office hours but obviously you will have to do the occasionally extra like any other job. I’m quite interested in going into PR work-well at the moment anyway that would change, after all I’m only a 1st year! I’ve still had no luck with the work experience and few have been interested and offered interviews but then never got back to me-oh well their lose I’m sure. That hasn’t stopped me though I’m still emailing companies but I’ve changed my covering letter and altered my CV a little incase that’s what is causing the lack of interest. I doubt that’s it though-I’ve contacted about 25 companies; someone is bound to take me up on my offer of FREE LABOUR!! We are experiencing a recession after all!

I decided to use this image (above) for my final, I saw it as the strongest out of my favourites.
One company that did take me up on a day of free labour was Arrogant Cat, I worked a trial day of 9-5:30pm for nothing and didn’t end up getting the job! I’m quite disgusted actually, not only that I didn’t get it but that they didn’t have the courtesy of contacting me to let me know! Unbelievable eh?!
Since then, I have nearly finished my fashion, art and culture and I have to say I’ve really enjoyed it, it’s a shame all the ones I love are only 10 credits!!! I’m just finishing my evaluation and struggling a little with it- but I’ll get there eventually! The photo shoot for my final image went well I changed it a little to my original idea but it worked all the same.

We’ve been given a new project called “metamorphosis”, well we were given it before Easter and have to have 15 sheets for Tuesday….yeah about that-so many distractions at home…but I am on it and I’m sure I’ll be ready for Tuesday! One hopes so anyway. Better get on with it!

PPD1

So we've recently started PPD lessons and in the last session we had to research jobs within the fashion industry. I found it all quite useful as I realise that I had misunderstood some of the roles within the industry and so this session put me straight.
If you were to become a Fashion Photographer your job role would be photographing for magazines, advertisements, catwalk shows etc. The money isn't great and varies depending on who you are working for, how professional you are and whether you are self-employed, which many fashion photographers are. You can't just become an amazing fashion photographer over night either, you have to work as a photographers assistant before becoming an actually photography and then you're only a low end photographer. You have to be really good at what you do to become a professional photographer and if you do it right, it can pay well. Working hours are long and most likely going to take up you're weekends and evenings on the plus side you may be able to travel depending on the type of job you're on but this is strictly a "worked based holiday" no time for sight-seeing. You would be working with a number of people-models, stylists, designers, photo touch up department, photo assistants etc.
I really enjoy photography and I took it at A-level but I wouldn't like to take up a career in it. It seems like too much hard work to me and I doubt I would enjoy it all that much.
I'm still researching jobs in the industry and am quite interested in PR work at the moment. Once I've finished my research I'll up date you on my findings!

With £5.05 in my purse I can take on the world!

The Arrogant Cat interview seemed to go really well, it was so relaxed and we had loads in common-oddly! Anyway, I got asked to do a trial day which I did yesterday 9:30-5:30! I managed to survive-just, but I’m feeling quite doubtful about it because there have been trial days for the past 5 days! I did my trial with 2 others, who were looking for full-time work-thankfully, but they both had so much experience and had both worked for Harvey Nics! I feel like if I don’t get the part-time position I’m looking for it will be because of my lack of luxury work experience. I should know by tomorrow though. There’s nothing I can do now-what’s meant to be will be I suppose. I just really want it because there’s scope for me to transfer to their London store and work in the marketing department-once I’ve finished my degree of course-which would be really good for me….we shall see eh?!
As for getting the grades back-well I was surprised as I got 65% a lot better than I thought I would do….thank god because I was considering ending it all if I carried on getting 57%.
I’ve carried on researching for crit and have a tutorial tomorrow which I think will help me to make a start on my essay.
Fashion, Art and Culture is going well I’ve started to play about on the stand a bit which has got me thinking a little more about my final garment.

I want the garment to show restriction and look uncomfortable, so for the moment I've just looked at pinning it and manipulating the shape.

Overall everything is going well-apart from having £5.05 in my purse life is fine and dandy!