I feel like I am home… back into the swing of things very quickly!!! Today was the first day back of the year and the first day of second year fashion design.
Workshop was from 9am to 6pm… I can’t believe how much I have achieved!!! Creating variations of bodice darts was just the start of the day before moving on to drafting and pattern making a dress for our first technical assessment.
I am so glad to be back though… I AM ON TOP OF THE WORLD!
I was lucky enough to be contacted the other day by the Southern Cross Tasmanian Young Achiever’s Award team to be informed that not only had I been nominated for the Arts and Fashion Award and I am a semi-finalist!!! How exciting!!!
I can’t wait to see what the rest of the process holds, but even if I go no further… I am just so honoured and proud!
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting me along the way, I hope you all stay with me on my learning journey.
The likes of rapper Macklemore and designer Jeremy Scott, push the boundaries of creativity and acceptance. Both artists use wings in their own way, intricate design and metaphorically. An organism with wings is one of fragile existence…
…you wouldn’t hurt a butterfly.
My design is influenced by this concept of wings. Macklemore and Jeremy Scott have inspired me to create a body with freedom and individuality expressed through the wings seen in my design. Incorporating a mix of masculine and feminine components, i have also created a blur in the lines of gender. My ‘wings’ gives the wearer the freedom whilst also protecting their fragile nature.
Model: Kearna Philpott
Year 1, Semester 2 at the Whitehouse Institute of Design… Our brief for this semester was to design and make a full body outfit of two – three garments and channelling a Spring/Summer aesthetic.
At Whitehouse, the design process is truly treated like it would be in INDUSTRY.
After many sketches and alterations… the images pictured below show my final design. I had to propose variations to my teacher before these final illustrations (both technical and styled) could be submitted to the Head of Design for signing off. After the design was approved I then had to begin making toiles of my each of the pieces.
At the end of the semester, I had to present my body, fully styled, to a panel of judges. This involved organising a model, hair, make-up, shoes and accessories to complement my design. Thank you to Kearna Philpott for modelling and Victoria University students for the hair and make-up.
A toile is a practice calico (cheap fabric) version of the garment you are making to see if it will actually work. It is essential in the design process as it is a true representation of what the final piece of clothing will look like. At the Whitehouse we have to pattern make and sew everything ourselves, so this process is a great learning curve. Once a toile has been made we then have ‘toile checks’ with our teachers. Often changes are made during this time and another toile will have to be drafted up. This process is repeated until the final design is perfect and then you can move on to creating your clothing in the actual fabrics!
These images represent the final toile of my zippered skirt and then the final product!
If you want to see my design process and inspiration for this skirt go to the blog: http://meganrose.com.au/decrypt-skirt/
Me rocking a full calico outfit! This is a friend’s three piece
collection in the toiling process – Ebony Fraser
Year 1, Semester 1 at the Whitehouse Institute of Design… Our brief for this semester was to design and make a skirt using 100% cotton fabrics and channeling a Fall/Winter aesthetic.
At Whitehouse, the design process is truly treated like it would be in INDUSTRY.
After many sketches and alterations… the images pictured to the right show my final design. I had to propose variations to my teacher before these final illustrations (both technical and styled) could be submitted to the Head of Design for signing off.
After the design was approved I then had to begin making toiles* of my skirt… My workshop and design teachers were unsure of the success of making my skirt as it was both reversible and incorporated one continuous zipper wrapping around the skirt and curves. The zipper that I required was so long that I had to get it custom made.
*practice calico version of garment to see if it will actually work
My final skirt was a success with the zipper comfortably sliding around the curves and I was very happy with the end result. However, if I was to make the skirt again, I would shorten the zipper length by 1-2cm and stretch onto the fabric so that it sat completely flat when on the body.
Designer, Alexander Wang targets an aesthetic that I believe is perfect for what I was aiming for with this skirt and styling, with his ‘MODEL OFF DUTY’ motto. My garment encapsulates the essence of the up and coming urban grunge trend. The main fabric is a combination of a bold orange colour juxtaposing against the strong black which encourages one to achieve the edgy street wear grunge look. My complete styled body captures the urban style of pairing higher end garments with lower end items to create trendy distinctive and unique looks.
Trend Inspiration (as featured in portfolio)
At the end of the semester, I had to present my skirt, fully styled, to a panel of judges. This involved organising a model, hair, make-up, other clothing, shoes and accessories to complement my design. Thank you to Miranda Fish for modeling and Victoria University students for the hair and make-up.
After my panel I then did a mini/semi-professional photo shoot with my model in an alleyway to complement the urban grunge aesthetic I had created with my skirt and styling.
Photos by Megan Rose
Model: Miranda Fish
Next year I plan on continuing my studies in the world of fashion at the Whitehouse Institute of Design. I have an interview at the Melbourne campus at the end of November with which I hope all goes well and they accept me to complete a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Fashion Design.
The ‘Whitehouse’ is a private art and design college which is notorious as one of the leading Design Institutes in Australia.
The establishment is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary this year after being founded in 1988 by the one and only, Leanne Whitehouse.
The warehouse like display and work area on the first floor of the Melbourne campus is one of the most amazing spaces I have ever entered. When I walked in I could not help but think of all the opportunities that would be offered to me in this space if I was to be accepted.
