Unit 1 - Reflective Statement

Since starting the course I have progressed and learnt a great deal, particularly during this unit where I have completed a lot of research, analysis, knowledge, communication, presentation and development.  I have always enjoyed textiles but I feel that this course has really stimulated me, helped me progress and become even more passionate about textiles.  It is difficult to explain why, but I think the main reason behind my progress is the energy within the creative environment at Chelsea, especially whilst learning alongside others who are also driven to learn about the techniques, processes and problem solving in textiles.  Working with others who are also creative allows me to bounce ideas around, and the amount of contact time with tutors means that I can refine my work, debate new ideas and learn new skills.  I have learnt to time-manage myself better; I think this has been influenced by the way the course is taught and laid out.  At first, the idea of creating a blog concerned me as I am not a confident writer and posting my work onto the internet for people to see put me off.  So I kept pushing my blog to one side.  It is also time consuming and I have previously preferred to write reflective notes in a journal.  However, with the deadline approaching I had to start my blog and, in spite of everything, I actually quite enjoyed creating my blog; it’s not as bad as I thought.  But, I realise that I might have a couple of weaknesses; I must keep reflecting on my work on the blog, by evaluating more frequently, I should get straight to the point rather than writing too much and I mustn’t just add progress of my work but also my research, including visits to museums.  So, starting this blog has been a learning curve that should be very useful, motivating and thought provoking.   This is my first time blogging, so I have a real sense of achievement.  I have posted everything onto my blog that was needed for the assessment, thought about the presentation, evaluated my work and included all the appropriate research and gallery visits.  I must now use my new found enthusiasm for blogs to keep posting updates.

Object/Image Analysis Proposal

Object/Image Analysis Proposal - 200 words

Writing up Research ideas and Electronic Research Portfolio Project for Unit 1 & 2

A 200-word statement about what my initial thoughts are on what I want to research and reasons why.

After the course lecture on how fashion can create an identity, I thought I could base my research around how a different culture displays its identity through clothing.  My family has been living in Oman for over a year now and every time I visit the country I find the way Omani women dress very fascinating.  My initial project thoughts are to research and understand the cultural, religious and historical reasons why Omani women dress the way they do.  It will be interesting to find out the exact reasons and values why they cover up and conceal themselves so fully when in public (from head to toe) and what dress styles they have in the home.  I will also investigate how Omani men have influenced on the way the women and their wives dress.  It seems to me that men hold a more superior position than women, almost like a hierarchy.  The dress traditions appear to come from a long time ago, such as wearing the abaya, black cover dress, and the birka facemask.  But, are changes likely to the traditional dress styles due to modern, western pressures or the influences of technology and available raw materials? 

Royal Academy of Arts Visit - AWARE Art Fashion Identity

Theory 21.1.11 – Royal Academy of Art Visit (Exhibition AWARE)

Questions

What does the exhibition teach us about people’s motivations for consuming fashion?

Visiting the exhibition, “Aware” – Art Fashion Identity at the Royal Academy of Art (21.1.11), it teaches us a great deal about people’s motivations for consuming fashion.  Factors such that clothing marks a person’s individuality and social identity, whilst also clothing can form a purpose, being practical and have a specific function.  Also from the exhibition you can see that clothing can be a means of communication, revealing personal and collective identities.  People’s consumption of clothing in a way illustrates individual’s way of life and identities, it shows a status.  Fashion changes from day to day, year to year, so fashion is constantly reinventing itself, which keeps the consumer intrigued.

Pick one piece and reflect on what it says about the production, consumption or marketing of fashion.

Hussein Chalayan’s installation piece, ‘Son’ of Sonzai Suru (Sakoku) October 2010 stood out and fascinated me within the exhibition.  I found it really interesting and thought I would explore more into the piece and reflect on my own thoughts.  This installation is based on Bunraku theatre, a traditional form of Japanese puppet theatre.  I feel that the puppets that support the dress create and state some sort of movement.  From researching into the designer, Chalayan, I found that he was exploring the concept of a moving image, “I am trying to embody a feeling and an idea with the clothes”.  Also they translate this idea that they are puppeteers behind the production and the industry the dress was produced.  Such that the puppets are people behind the garment that we have consumed and portraying the idea that we don’t know what has gone on behind the history of the making of the garment.  

Block 2 - Print

Print Sample - screen printing from a design I created on photoshop
This is two samples put together, the top layer was silk viscose dyed  and then discharged to
take out the colour, to show the design. The bottom layer is printing the design onto cotton.

Block 2 - Print

Print Sample - screen printing onto cotton

Block 2 - Print

Print Sample - a different technique of screen printing
Dyeing the fabric, using discharge to take out the dye to show the image
and printing the image normally

Block 2 - Print

Print Sample - from the design I created on Photoshop I could screen print
different techniques onto various fabrics