28 April 2011

THE INITIAL INSPIRATION-THE BEGINNING

I thought it might be good to actually post what it was that initially inspired me. I spent most of the christmas break watching and reading post-apocalyptic movies and books which sent me down the road I am on now. I sat and watched them all again in the mid session break and I know why I was so inspired. Some people might think its freaky and scary but this movie in particular is amazing and I could never get sick of watching it. Enjoy!!! and if you haven't seen the movie.....WATCH IT!!!!

26 April 2011

HOW RAD!!

Rad Hourani uses the most interesting and unconventional fabrics to create multi-layered, sculptural garments.


Rad Hourani

23 April 2011

FASHION OF THE APOCALYPSE[VOGUE ITALIA EDITORIAL]

Amazing editorial from Vogue Italia. Whether it is a post-apocalyptic editorial it doesn't matter because its strong imagery can only imply a decayed and almost dystopian sentiment. The bright colours mixed with subdued, rag like clothing alongside the sculptural and heavy shapes is all inspiring and one of the better post-apocalyptic inspired editorials I have seen.



21 April 2011

RICK OWENS[NO TEXTILE IS UNUSABLE]

Looking outside your field for inspiration and unique fabrication.

Thick industrial rubber does what even the thickest leather couldn't achieve!

(http://www.newfashionnews.com/news/5/home.html)

20 April 2011

THE BOARD IN PROGRESS:NOMAD

While the boards are all over my room, this one in particular is everything that keeps me in touch with the mood I need to be in to design. It sits directly in front of me and can never be forgotten!! The war references are not direct links but they certainly evoke a heavy, survival instinct atmosphere which I am always trying to capture in my designs.






19 April 2011

17 April 2011

TOP HEAVY OVERLOAD[COMPUTER GENERATED DRAPES]

Line up of heavily worked individual drapes. I find I get some of my best designs at the end of overworking individual pieces. I don't see the point in moving on completely if something isn't working, I find that it only takes some small changes to get it right.


14 April 2011

TOP HEAVY OVERLOAD[COMPUTER GENERATED DRAPE MANIPULATION]

Some drapes taken further and manipulated with top Heavy silhouette in mind as well as industrial textiles. Getting an idea of where I want my collection to go. Working in quick and rough manner gets my creativity going and I have never been one for neat and tidy approaches






































12 April 2011

USING THE UNUSABLE[INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES 2]

Waxcon Industrial Textile no.2: Moleskin Pants Fabric.
The most amazing thing to drape with and I have never been as inspired by a fabric as I was with this textile. It is multi-dimensional being both structural and yet creating a magnificent drape. It took me to another place where I was imagining a young man or woman in a post-apocalyptic world trudging through the snow completely consumed by a coat or cape and their face is barely visible. Feeling a connection with my fabrics as I drape with them is important in my design process and so this drape experiment was incredibly beneficial.

10 April 2011

USING THE UNUSABLE[INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES]

My collection will rely on the power and uniqueness of industrial textiles to fully engage with the idea of a post-apocalyptic world. Fortunately for me I have sought out a prominent industrial textile manufacturer in Australia who is willing to provide me with any textile I desire and free of charge! The company is Waxcon and they are not only fabulous and durable but they are AUSTRALIAN MADE!!! It is amazing what an industrial fabric can do and just how inspiring they are to work with. This is industrial textile number one (the easiest one to work with) which is an Army tenting fabric which I have done experimental stand work with in order to understand its handle and drape. I Am very excited about working with this fabric!


07 April 2011

PHOTOS SPEAK A THOUSAND WORDS

There is something spectacular about the decayed and the destroyed. There is an honesty behind everything that is left behind to grow old with its surroundings. My grandfather worked on Cockatoo Island for most of his life and as a child he would take me past the island on the ferry and tell me stories. I don't remember most of them but somewhere in my photographs they resonate. A photograph will speak to me just like a piece of music and transport me to a new world, whether it be the place in the picture or somewhere unrelated.........every photo speaks a thousand words.
                                
                         PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN ON A TRIP TO COCKATOO ISLAND










04 April 2011

'TO SOMEBODY'[DAY 275]

An excerpt from a journal entry I created for my journal to get a sense of the narrative.


I'm not sure what day it is today, to be honest I have completely lost track of time. I know it's day because the sun comes up and night because the moon comes out and on a terrible day like today I have absolutely no idea. It  is as grey as can be and the ash is so thick I can't see two steps in front of me. I don't understand the ash and why it still lingers so long after, but I guess the earth is trying to tell those of us left that it's not finished reminding us of how much we stuffed up. I found refuge in a car by the side of the road to get away from the smoldering, suffocating air. I don't sleep in cars often which sounds pretty weird, I mean it seems like the most logical place to sleep in these circumstances- away from the cold and reasonably comfortable- but it's the most unsafe place to be at night. The rebels tear the cars apart on their scavenging escapades looking for anything they can take back to camp and if you get caught by one of them, then you would have wished you suffocated from the ash. They walk around like lost souls, I mean we are all lost souls now, but them...they're like nothing I have ever seen or read about. You know a rebel around here, the makeshift tattoo on their right hand they have cut and smothered in ink-it reads 'II'. My only guess is that represents the second life, the second established order, the new established order. Anyway I know they're not coming out tonight, the ash has kept them in camp and they would not risk a 'soldier' for some scrap heap car. 


The car is owned by a family i know that much from the sticker on the back -'Water World', all ripped and tattered but still recognisable. I just sit there in the back middle seat staring out the front slightly keeping arms incase I am completely wrong about the rebels. The seats are quite comfortable. I find a box in there that has clearly been raided by 'them' and dumped when all they find are photos. I know for sure at that moment that they were not only a family but a big family, five children. The photos are dusty but beautiful. I know my world has changed at that very moment when at seventeen I cannot tie what I am seeing to my own life, a life only a year ago resembling this one much the same. I had pushed back my memories so far it physically hurt my head to bring them to the surface again. So I take one photo of the little girl-holding a flower- fold it and tuck it away in my jacket. I am not sure why but maybe one day in this terrible existence I might find the strength to surface my memories and this picture will be the gateway. I slip my hands in my pocket, rest my head back and for the first time in days I fall asleep. 


IMAGE FROM MY JOURNAL