Felting brooches and visiting the Shire

On a recent visit to my hometown of Mullumbimby, NSW, I had many creative urges, one of which can be seen below.

Felted brooch, front view.

The first version of a felted brooch, it reminds me of a Triffid.

Plum blossum, Spring comes earlier each year it would seem, not long until the blue berries.

McQueen: Legacy 3 (Shoes)

I'm not sure words can justify these shoes. In fact words fail me. This collection of Alexander McQueen’s was featured in an earlier post. I felt, though, that these shoes deserved a post of their own. They are alien, reptilian and seem to draw on these sci-fi influences with the materials. I'm a little in awe, can you tell?

Theorizing Wearable Art

Photography by Cuba Gallery.

What is Wearable Technology Art? an article by Susan Elizabeth Ryan, co curator of the Social Fabrics exhibition hosted by the LEONARDO Educational Forum at the College Art Association in Dallas Texas. This article was published in Intelligent Agent.

Throughout the 20th century the dialogue between garments and technology is as persistent as the dialogue that particular garment styles also continuously sustain with both their forebears in the past and their imagined counterparts in the future.

McQueen: Legacy 1

I've always adored Alexander McQueen's work. His virtuoso use of materials, from silk to latex and anything in between, it is nothing short of awe inspiring. But enough lyrical waxing. The piece pictured here are a catalogue (in the early stages) of McQueen's diverse use of materials. And a homage to his legacy cut short.

Memorable examples of Wearable Art

You can't deny that Christian Dior's shows are memorable. What I loved about the Fall/Autumn 2003 show was the silhouette, the bold and exuberant use of colour and the fabric details. From stiff and royal to sheer and sensual, this show was about extremes for me, and wearable art, without a doubt.

The way the silhouette is changed by the shapes of the fabric, is just like Westwood, and one of my favourite aspects of wearable art.

Sketch #11

I woke up this morning with an image in my head. A top hat covered in roses, draped in sheer, floating layers of fabric. I set about drawing and this is what I ended up with. Some aspects have changed from my initial 'vision'.

Flowers and wearable art at the Royal Flower and Garden Show, Melbourne

I don't have credits for these individually but all are from RMIT fashion school. As part of their contribution to the show students were asked to make a monument to water. There are some of the stronger pieces in my humble opinion.

Canelli Beans and dried noodles moulded on wire and glad wrap.

Reminiscent of both a ballerina and a reptile, this one is scaly and also feminine.

Lily leaves, bark, onions, berries and dried fruits and beans. The beans again forming a great corset surface underneath.

Australian native flowers, including Proteas, Gum leaves and Ivy. I would readily wear this if made from a more forgiving material, maybe in felt, for example, hand died with natural plant fibre, ooh that does sound good.

Lillies and bulbous plants were very popular at the show, and here they are used to add a definite 'wow factor' to the creation.

Here is a taste of other installation/floral artworks also on display. I think I would quite happily move into this study if I could. I love the Venus Fly-traps on the bookshelf, just brilliant.

Value in imagination

These were the words of couturier John Galliano in January this year, when asked "What do you think about the recession?" he replied, "There's a credit crunch, not a creative crunch. Of course, everyone is being more careful with their discretionary purchases. I am. But it's our job to make people dream, and to provide the value in quality, cut, and imagination". (Via www.style.com)

To provide the value in imagination. What, precisely, could this mean?

Is Galliano suggesting that the imagination should be valued more highly in light of the recession?

I don't think so. I would hope that the imagination is valued highly and continuously regardless of a small thing like the economy. I think what Galliano is hinting at is in fact the idea that the designer's role is to expand our imaginations (in the area of fashion) with their creations. They show us something new each season and its thrilling. Just as a designer gives attention to the quality of fabric, and the detail of the cut, they also push the boundaries of our expectations.

Whenever I have sketched a piece of wearable art, or a design, invariably my aim is to show something new, to improve on what I've done before. To see where my pencil will take me. This is where the thrill is for me. Not having the pressures of running a fashion house, I'm sure my aims are well met. I hope to include sketches here in the future.