Fabric layers experiments

I put a few layers of different materials with different colours in order to have a good look and feel of the fabric. Playing around and placing several layers of chiffon on top of each other would create some interesting effects in terms of colours and texture.

Below is the combination I like the most. The blue is coming nicely through the brown, It is interesting placing a warm coloured chiffon layer on top of a cool coloured chiffon layer. Putting them together, there is a lot that can be done in order to bring out the effects of the materials.

"Fitting room" experience

In order to see and feel the materials better, I went shopping and tried on some different draping style garments. Soft fabric (satin, chiffon etc.) normally gives garments a soft, flowy, shiny effect. On the other hand, harder fabric (cotton etc.) creates more shape and texture. It is important to experience and take a good look at different materials in order to understand the differences between them.

I've noted down some points of material awareness before and during draping process:

• Transparency/Thickness
• Weight
• Softness/ Hardness
• Light-catch
• Stretch
• Straight of grain

Selected design & Kaledo

I would like to think that my Kaledo skills are improving everyday and I am very pleased with the results of my practice.

Draping Project - Inspiration from Sari

My inspiration for the Draping project is the Indian Sari. I am inspired by the flow of the soft fabric and the transparency of the garment. Also, the way it is beautifully draped around the body is brilliant. It creates a modest yet very sexy look as it covers but at the same time shows body curves and some skins under the layers.

Fashion style in Copenhagen

Simon Rasmussen asked me how did I think about Danish fashion compared to English fashion in terms of the way people generally dress on the streets. It's a huge difference I must say. In England, people look stylish in a trendy way. In Copenhagen, people look stylish in a classic way. They are heavily into vintage clothes. I think a typical Danish look would be an simple, vintage sort of look with a hat, a leather or suede pair of shoes and a bicycle. That was very interesting to see as I personally tend to be quite trendy.

I love travelling as everywhere I go, people dress differently and it's extremely cool to see other people's sense of style as well as point of view and lifestyle.

Pictures ref: http://copenhagenstreetstyle.dk

Internship in Copenhagen

My internship in Copenhagen with Simon Rasmussen was fantastic. I had a wonderful experience and enjoyed the country very much as well. It was August at Copenhagen's Fashion Week, though, I started working since June. Simon is someone who is so interesting to meet and to talk to. He is officially a fashion stylist, but was having his first ("and probably only" - he said) show ever, so he wanted it to be something so fantastic and so "him" that everyone will have something to remember about. We talked about his ideas and inspirations as I would be designing and constructing the clothes. It was different. It was very different. The look he wanted was this sort of "homeless" look. Lots of cuts. Burned things. Torn things. Weird materials.

It took me by surprise. I told him that it was interesting the way he offered me the job after seeing my which were all cute little girly dresses. However, the way he was talking about his plans and ideas gave me so many inspirations and I could see how passionate he was that he actually was living and breathing his upcoming show. And so I started working.

It was hard work. Everyday I went to the studio and started sewing since the morning until mid-late afternoon. It was mainly hand-sewing as well and I was dealing with all types of materials. It was very helpful for me as a designer to really get a feel of different materials in order to have more understanding of fabric. I can't deny that it was hard work and I have never been so physically and mentally exhausted as I was just a 1st Year student having zero working days in my entire life, though, it was a priceless to actually experience the job and seeing Simon preparing for the show. He was sorting out the models, the displays, the invitation, the guests, the bags and everything. He was very hard working.

This is the invitation. As I said, everything was very sexual. However, I never found it disturbing or uncomfortable. Simon had this special charm and sense of humour that he made the whole thing became funny and made people laughed. And it really did give everyone something to remember.

This is the video promoting the show. He took it out from the beginning of a porn. The video was shown on the screens at the Metro stations all around Copenhagen as well. It was funny and I loved the idea.

And all the hard work has turned out to be a 7-minute Fashion show. Simon had everything organised so perfectly it was not even crazy backstage. Each model was wearing 1 outfit only so it wasn't any changing and I actually had the chance to watch the show which was amazing.

I made a few things but the leather pair of trousers beyond is the most memorable garment I've ever made. The pieces were cut out from leather jackets and all hand-sewn into a pair of trousers. The garment was quite heavy, I broke a few needles and my hands were full of scratches and they were even bleeding. Fortunately the designer loved it.

I cannot say enough how helpful industrial experience is to me. Again, it was hard work but it was a priceless experience. After the internship, I had more knowledge about putting up a Fashion show and how much work is involved. I definitely improved my sewing skills a lot; and most importantly, I've learnt how to be open to everything around. I've found out that I can find inspirations in absolutely everything and anything around me everyday, and that I need to look at things at different points of view in order to make the most out of my ability as well as ideas.