S/S 14 trend- Coated Hems.

 According to top trend forcaster WGSN, an upcoming trend for the following season is for hems to be in a contrasting colour, fabric or have detailing on them, setting them apart from the rest of the garment.

The image, left, shows a red sheer dress with a contrasting metallic pinky purple leather trim.

I feel that this could be a trend that I might follow when considering my own collection. I have already began to develop embellishment samples using hardware products and feel that this may be an appropriate place to put them.

I also feel that I could follow the trend in applying the metallic colours from the hardware fixtures and fittings along the bottom if I decide against applying the embellishment.

I feel that adding a flash of accenting colour to a more reserved and plain garment may help to make it look more high end and would add a feeling of expense to the outfit on the whole.

Shop task research trend boards.

For the shopping task exercise, I decided to create two boards clearly showing the trends that I had identified whilst in the high street and high end stores.

I found that an upcoming trend appeared to be a luxurious approach to sportswear. This has clearly filtered down from the upmarket designer level from fashion houses such as Jonathan Saunders, Stella McCartney, Michael Kors and others and has then gone on to influence the high street, from topshop through to H&M.

You can also see from the board that Maison Martin Margiela's latest high street collaboration with H&M has allowed the designer's take on 'Sport-Luxe' to be obtainable to those with less disposable income.

Another emerging trend on the catwalks this season was Monochrome. Black and white were key in collections by Lanvin, Jil Sander, Victoria Beckham, Haider Ackermann and many of the other top end designers.

This trend could then be seen in high street stores such as Zara and Topshop, featuring in everything from footwear, right through to coats and outerwear. Similarly, upmarket high street brand The Kooples had many pieces of black clothing, hallmarked with black detailing in a contrasting fabric.

Design Council- What is Design?

To me, Design is an important process that requires you to take ideas from your mind and transform them into tangible, visible objects or drawings that will propose your new idea.

It is all around us and it is undeniably one of the most important and often uncosidered industries, which is quite humourous seems as the very chair that I am sat at and the keyboard that I am have been designed. Features such as the shape of the back of this chair have been painstakingly researched and studied anthropometrically to ensure optimum comfort and yet it wouldn't be widely considered as a designed product.

Even though design is all around us, designers take a unique approach to how they would like to convey their ideas. Some may begin with looking at the work of others, which can be highly important in discovering what the market already has to offer, what works, what is popular and why. It also allows you to decide what materials are widely used within your target market as well as looking for new and innovative materials/product ideas that have yet to hit the market, allowing you to fill a newly identified gap.

Some designers may begin with drawing. Drawing is such an important way of communicating your ideas to manufacturers and fellow designers. Fashion designers use the aid of illustrations and flats when designing in order to determine what they would like their new garment to look like. On the technical side, they use flats and technical drawings to allow a manufacturing techinician to see how the garment will be put together and created.

I find that designing is a time consuming process and inspiration can be drawn from absolutely anything that inspires you. Projects can begin with looking at something so far removed from the product that is designed, but I think that this is one of the most interesting aspects of design.

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-design/What-design-is-and-why-it-matters/

ZoomInOnFashionTrends- issue 24

I spent quite a great deal of time looking at current trends and I wanted to test the longevity of my work, I decided to look at a previous issue of ZoomInOnFashionTrends from 2003 to identify any similar trends that have reoccurred recently and that keep coming back into the forefront of contemporary textile trends.

 

I was pleased to see that the "metamorphosis" trend, featuring bright colours and brave prints was quite similar to the "join the circus" and "playhouse" trends that are currently in circulation. It shows that the use of colourful and clashing work is nearly always on trend and shows a certain degree of longevity to my current practice.



 

Textile View Magazine- Issue 99

I wanted to look again at some more trends for the near future to establish my position within the current textile market. I decided to read the current issue of Textile View Magazine, as I know that they cover a large range of disciplines within textiles such as Haute Couture, menswear, womenswear, knitwear etc.

The overall layout of the trend board sections of the magazines allows me to identify immediately the colours, silhouettes and general feel of the trend and it means that at one glance I can immediately identify or disregard myself with a certain trend. For example, I could automatically see aspects of my own work with the "Join the Circus" trend, below.

This particular trend identifies bright colours, creative and exciting use of print and colour as well as a keen use of repeat pattern that I can associate myself with.

I also identified some similar attributes within the "Playhouse" trend, which focuses on colour, odd shapes and bright prints. All of which appeal to me and are reflected within my own practice.

Colour analysis

I decided to look at WGSN again, this time for colour forcasting and to see what trends are immerging for colour in the coming seasons.

Whilst looking at some new trends, I came across the "Interruptive Brights" trend.

The title itself indicates a similarity to my own work, identifying the use of clashing and contrasting colours together to create interesting pieces of work.

I think that my work is extremely relevant to this trend and links to some of the imagery provided by WGSN which can be seen above.

Prada AW12

I am keen to keep up with fashion trends and I endeavour to familiarise myself with the latest collections. On reflection of my own work, I immediately noticed that there were immediate links with Prada's AW12 collection, featuring geometric and quite solid prints. The colours are quite striking and appear to be quite optical.

 

The way that Prada have used geometric prints as well as a strong use of colour is interesting in itself, however the cut of the garments is quite an important statement within this particular collection.

 

The simple straight trousers temed with long flowing jackets and tops allow the print to be showcased to it's true potential. The movement of the garments whilst the models are walking down the runway accentuates the busy nature of the prints.

 

 I also find the way that the print has been applied to the floor using a suaded carpet and it allows the audience to be completely immersed in the prints that are included within the range of Prada's clothing. The jackets and trousers are also embellished with Rhinestones and jewels which also adds yet more depth to the prints.

WGSN

I luckily have gained access to Trend Forcasting website WGSN, which is allowing me to identify the key colours, trends, silhouettes etc for all areas in textiles which will mean that I can develop work that will be relevant if it was to be made into a product and it would be on trend for it's release.

Before going into knit within the Construct textile "world", I wanted to identify what would be on trend for knitwear in the coming seasons. I looked at this trend report entitled "Knitted Cooridnates" which automatically appealed to me and appeared to be relevant to my own methods of working.

WGSN analysis

• Silhouette: sweaters are fitted, skirts are pencil or A-line shaped
• Colour: monochromatic pattern or primary brights work well to maintain a retro feel, in keeping with the 1960s mood. Alternatively, use a darker palette of burnt reds, ochre, sage and navy for a more autumnal feel
• Yarn & stitch: simple yarns and subtle knit-stitch completes this look. Use micro-geometric repeats, contrast-colour border placements, traditional cables and Fair Isle patterns. A play on variated scale and openwork or pointelle stitches look newest for this trend
• For further 60s inspiration, view the recent 60s Modernist: spring/summer 2013 women's catwalk capsule trend

The analysis also allowed me to look at these images that give a general feel for the emerging trend

These outfits that the Trend Analysis provided shows clear use of geometric shapes and repeat pattern which are a point of interest in my own work. It would be a good idea for me to persist on using these patterns as it fits in well with this particular emerging trend.

There is some clear evidence of colour blocking, simplifying detail down into clear and quite structural shapes. I could take my own colour pallette and take shapes from drawings etc within my sketchbook.