Collaboration Collection

Haute Couture Collection

Haute Couture has always captured my attention, and wanting to push my work further into this kind of sampling, and with some similar interests in mind, Laura (http://laurakenttextiles.blogspot.co.uk) and I decided to work collaboratively in hope of combining the processes of weaving, glass making and embroidery. Through an experimental approach with careful consideration, our aim was to create a couture collection of small samples and inspiring ideas. The purpose for this collaboration was to generate new art directional work, crafting inspirational textiles, which aren’t necessarily wearable, but more ideas based for a fashion Haute Couture context. With this in mind, I found that through this project my work was more research and photography based, also focusing on colour, mood and style.

Developing ideas through photography

We began the project with our own research. Designer’s I found most interesting to take inspiration from were Iris Van Herpen, Lauren Bowker, Elie Saab and Alexander McQueen as well as woven designers such as Jan Garside. As well as being inspired by previous collections, our collection was inspired by natural forms such as ice and frosted glass and bubbles. However, our work mainly focuses on the blending of three processes and combining our own strengths across several disciplines.  We selected our colour palette from WGSN Spring/Summer 2015 forecasting.

From Left to Right: Iris Van Herpen, Alexander McQueen. Bottom: Jan Garside. 

              Essentially, we have made decisions together through our collaborative work, although it was difficult trying to clarify weaving technicalities so some decisions were left up to me. I decided on the use of a double cloth, threading 250-denier monofilament over 4 shafts, on top of a 2’60’s layer of silk threaded over 20 shafts on a straight. Both cloths were threaded at 60 ends per inch. We wanted to use several colours blended extremely well in order to match visuals of iridescence, and in order to do this successfully, I began by making four hanks of silk. I dyed each hank in tiny section of yellows, limes, blues and purples, which enabled us to gain small sections of colour. Following this, I then wound all of the hanks on to separate cones. I laid the cones out to decide the best order for the warp.

Colour palette, mood board from sketchbook followed by yarn dyeing. 

During the making process, we found that a lot of time had to be taken to consider each sample. Each piece would take so long that it required lots of testing first. Samples eventually took a variety of time some samples taking 2 days, others a couple of hours, one taking 4 days to complete.  We found that the joy of making was discovering through the process.

Images of our collection so far. 

At present we have no final images of our collaborative work, however we are booked to photograph them on Wednesday. During this project, we have also been working with Narita Savoor; a fashion photographer and retoucher; http://www.naritasavoor.co.uk in order to produce professional fashion based photographs to portray our work appropriately in its correct context. We have organised a beauty/ haute couture style photo-shoot, which will include a model to enable us to showcase our samples. This will take place on Tuesday 19^th May, in time to make context boards/booklet for the final hand in as well as adding to our portfolios. Currently, we are in the process of selecting an appropriate model, thinking about positioning, styling and make up. Our work is enriched with turquoises and lime greens encasing glass shards and iridescent colours, which we feel may work nicely with a red haired model. This will mean our final photographs will be enhanced, without taking away from the samples. Styling a photo-shoot in this manner is something neither Laura nor I have done before, and so it will be fundamental for us to work together in order for us to accomplish the desired images of our collection.

Potential Styling ideas; images found on Pinterest

Nemesis Modelling Agency.