| SEM 5 | Fashion Design Technology Final Project 1 |

Ting Shi Yann_0348682

Bachelor of Fashion Design Technology (Honours) 

Date: 27/9/24

Week 1: We arrived in class with our research, including a variety of photos in both digital and physical formats. During our first lecture, we focused on determining the direction of our collection and the message we wanted to convey through it. 

Kit then gave us a lecture on how the formula for finding the idea works.

FORMULA OF FINDING THE IDEA

INSPIRATION + CONCEPT = COLLECTION IDEALISATION 

INSPIRATION: BASELINE OF THE COLLECTION, WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

MOOD IMAGES, STORY, NON-FASHION RELATED IMAGERY, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE / TRAUMA, CULTURE, ETC.

Ex: NEW LOOK (DIOR)

1940

EX: DYNASTY (ANCIENT CHINA)

EMOTIONAL INSPIRATION

IMAGINE A WORLD NO SOUND

DEPRESSION 

PHYSICAL/VISUAL INSPIRATION

ARCHITECTURE

SCULPTURES

CONCEPT: VISUAL GUIDE OF THE COLLECTION REFERENCING CATEGORIES OF GARMENTS

EVENING WEAR, WORK-WEAR, SUITS, ETC

NATURE:

DISRUPTORS

-CRAIG GREEN

PERFECTIONISTS

-PETER DO

After the lecture, we had a personal consultation with Kit Woo to discuss our design concepts. During my session, Kit mentioned that my categories were too broad but could be merged. He advised me to select 2 to 3 images from each category, print them out, and assemble them to see how they work together. After doing so, I developed a concept based on how fast-paced everything is today—whether it's high-speed WiFi, faster parcel deliveries, smartphones that instantly connect us, or AI that provides solutions and automates processes without the need for human interaction. In this fast-moving world, I asked: Why not slow down and appreciate the things around us?

My task for this week is to search for inspiration and decide on the look, style, and concept I want to focus on for my collection.

 

Date: 4 Oct 2024

Week 2: The class began with a consultation with Kit Woo. I presented my design concept, and his feedback was that I should start researching the designer behind the collections I’m interested in, exploring why they designed those collections, and delving into their history. The images I had researched focused on masculine and feminine.

After the consultation, we were asked to print out two croquis on A4-sized paper. Our task was to create a technical drawing of a T-shirt on the croquis within 10 minutes. Then, we had to close our eyes and draw the same T-shirt based on our memory. The results were hilarious, and the entire class burst into laughter at our attempts. It was a fun activity, and none of us expected what we would come up with. Finally, we transferred our blind drawings into proper technical drawings, adding design elements to make them look like complete garments.

Date: 11 Oct 2024

Week 3: During the consultation, Kit asked me why I wanted to choose a vibe that related to nature. My answer is that when we see something using our eyes, the beauty can't be recorded by phone, and the feeling and the vibe at the moment can just be felt on the spot. Kit asked me to stop researching the computer, go outside, and take a look around, for example, like a sunset or any other thing related to nature. And I remember that I have some photos inside my phone that are of nature. After that, I try to find more images and print them out. After that, I consulted with Kit again by showing my inspirational photo from my album, and we started to figure out the image and how I related it to the fabric. So for me, next week I need to provide the actual fabric swatches.

Then I go to the fabric shop to find the fabric that I can translate into my collection.

Date:18 Oct 2024

Week 4: Kit gave us a lecture about how to start the design process. He shows us his previous work, like how the inspiration image transferred to the design process by starting from drafting on the dummy or from the image, trying to look for the texture, and from the texture finding the concept of the design. He also shows us his design journal, like how he started to design and what kind of fabric he uses.

During the individual consultation, I showed him my fabric swatch. The feedback I received was that the fabrics I chose were fine to use, except for the lace, which he didn’t like. He suggested that if I use the net, I should consider what it could represent. He also recommended trying beads or crystals and doing the manipulation first.

This are the embellishment I plan to use.

This is the texture sample where I’m trying to create a water drop effect.

Date:1/11/24

Week 6: In Week 6, I brought my sketch to consult with Kit, and he told me that the design could be more raw and unconventional—there’s no need to make it too proper. He encouraged me to manipulate the fabric more to present to the jury next week. He also suggested taking some time to explore different kinds of fabrics to mix and match with the satin fabric. He advised being playful with the design and that the rough sketch could be simple.

Additionally, I need to do range planning, for example: 2 shirts, 2 skirts, 2 tops, 2 jackets, 2 coats, 2 trousers, etc. This will help guide my development process and make it clear what I need to achieve.

Date:8/11/24

Week 7: Feedback from the jury: When I present, the way I speak has to be more clear. Need to do range planning; the research is not strong, still on the surface, more images and stories tell why it is beauty, tell the audience this is the beauty I find, not the audience think it is beauty, refer to mindmap, prepare moodboard, concept board, more research.

This is the sketch where I took the silhouette from an image I selected from my album. I then rotated the shape and added some details.

Date:22/11/24

Week 9: After the Independent Learning Week, I consulted with Kit about the design for my collection. We discussed the message I am trying to convey through my work. The feedback from the jury so far has been that they don’t understand what I am doing, and they are questioning how I plan to communicate the aesthetic I want to showcase. My collection was initially inspired by a feeling, but since there is no physical subject to support my concept, it has been challenging to translate that feeling into my designs.

Because of these challenges, I decided to change my inspiration during Week 9. I began revisiting my design process and working harder to meet my assignment goals. While brainstorming a new theme, I noticed that the Christmas theme kept recurring. Even on social media, I kept seeing Christmas events, which sparked my curiosity about why Christmas is so popular and how it is celebrated.

Through my research, I discovered that Christmas ornaments carry deep symbolic meaning. I found this very meaningful and thought it would be interesting to use ornaments as my inspiration for the collection.

This week, my task is to sketch as many designs as possible and present them to Kit. I aim to have him select Look 1 so I can start sewing as soon as possible.

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Date:29/11/24

Week 10: After showing my sketches to Kit, he approved two pages of my designs and asked me to consult with Mr. Brian, my pattern-making lecturer, to finalize Look 1. During Week 10, I started drafting the pattern and began cutting and sewing Look 1.

Mr. Brian chose this for my Look 1.

Date:6/12/24

Week 11: Since I changed my theme and rushed to start garment-making, I had not selected my fabric yet. So, I brought some fabric swatches to show Kit, along with my sketches, to finalize Look 2.

Kit asked me which design I thought had the potential to best represent the subject matter. I chose this one because the bubble-shaped trousers resemble ornament shapes, and he agreed with my choice. So, I decided to make this my Look 2.

Date:13/12/24

Week 12: When I showed Kit Look 1, I explained the type of fabric I planned to use. Kit suggested I use the actual fabric to test the outcome. I also completed Look 2, but the result resembled a "dumpling," and the ruffles were too small. Kit advised me to make the ruffles larger. I also started drawing the technical drawings and adding fabric swatches to get a clearer vision.

This is the outcome of my Look 1, where I applied the actual fabric that I plan to use in order to test and see the result.

This is the outcome of Look 2

Then, I tried to apply the fabric to the sketch so they could have a clearer vision of what the outcome may look like.

Then, I developed more sketches and showed them to Kit, asking him to choose my Look 3.

Kit has approved these three looks and asked Mr. Brian to choose from them.

Mr. Brian helped me choose the second roll's first design.

Date:20/12/24

Week 13: In Week 13, I started working on Look 3, which consists of a blazer for the top and a skirt for the bottom. While the skirt was straightforward to create, the blazer was a significant challenge for me as it was my first time making one. It took me three days just to draft the pattern because the lapel and sleeve designs were different from the basic patterns I had learned. This process required extra time for both drafting and sewing.

Date:27/12/24

Week 14: I finally completed sewing the blazer, but the lapel wasn’t perfect. This was the best I could manage at this stage. After that, I focused on finishing the pants for Look 1, adding embellishments to the top for Look 2, and hand-sewing embellishments onto the skirt for Look 3.

This is the lapel I have made.

The Look 3 skirt requires hand-sewing pearls between the connecting parts of the waistband and the bottom panel.

Look 2 has embellishments added.

Date:2/12/24

Week 15: Presentation day. The feedback I received was as follows:

• For Look 1, since I used an elastic fabric, the darts were unnecessary and should not have been sewn.
• For Look 3, the blazer's lapel was incorrect and needs to be redone.