My placement with Alice Palmer:

Back blogging...

I have been really really busy working at my placement and developing my upcoming website. I am back now. Return to Ravensbourne university and to the net to turn my hand to some more blogging.  Plus to keep things exciting, I am continuing at my placement on a 1 day, a week basis.

While i was away, I made some prints.... 

Concept- Cracked glass....(Destruction)

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development- development inspired by Piet Mondrian

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development- development inspired by Piet Mondrian

Advertising & Marketing Project:

My university gave us the marketing and advertising brief to:

• Produce womanswear and photography or illustrations work independently.

Independent outcomes

1. Dress ‘celebrates and embraces diversity of the body, this may include age, size, skin, tone, and height’.
2. CAD flats & Illustrations in colour with fabric samples (photographed everything scanned in and made digital) and technical drawing.
3. submit a short design statement outlining your inspiration and market.

SHORT STATEMENT

My inspiration for this project was Albinism. The term Albinism refers to the inherited condition that affects the melanin production in the body. The symptoms can contrast depending on the person and the amount of melanin. Some people can be sensitive to light (photophobia) or  have problems with their eyesight. I wanted to celebrate albinism as I think that people are beautiful no matter what there skin tone, hair or eye colour.

Following the suns article, i was amazed that all of an asian family were albino's  (according to the Guinness World Records, the 'Parvez family' are the largest) and to understand what their experience with albinism. Please have a look at the suns article- {below}

(http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4221017/The-worlds-biggest-albino-clan-are-living-in-Coventry.html “ We dislike the term albino as it refers to a disability and we want to be treated like everyone else”.

Emotion intelligence is an awareness and appreciation for everyone. Albinism is one of the groups in some place without that voice in need of awareness and appreciation.  Please follow:

http://www.albinism.org/publications/what_is_albinism.html

What are groups you follow or are passionate about?

Tuesday& Wednesday Evaluation:

Tuesday 8th January 2013 & Wednesday 9th January 2013 

Both days have been a phlethora of hand sewing, mattress stitching, steam blocking, finishing production lines (swing tags, ribbons, presentation & Packaging.

i sure with every fibre of my being that i love, appreciate and i am passionate about knitwear and working within industry as a freelance knitwear designer. Nothing like being put through the motions to see what you really have!

I love it!

back to my website on the weekend!

you cant forget, put your dreams first because only then will it become a reality!

amen

Old Navy Brief:

Got a new brief:

Company: Old navy (American family brand)

http://www.oldnavy.com/

THEME: WE ARE FAMILY!   

Old Navy is known for dressing the American family fashionably + casually – with optimism and a touch of irreverence. We absolutely love our family of customers – Jennie, Mike, and the kids – giving them – ‘Irresistible everyday fashion supplies for the whole family!

DIRECTION: 

• Focus on Spring 2014
• Build on the Heritage of Old Navy – We’re based on ‘jeans + tees’ with new relevance for today.
• ‘Instantly put together ‘throw it on’ happy!’
• ‘Instantly look great, ‘good guy’ ease!’
• Design a collection inspired by Denim, Tee-shirts, and Sweatshirts
• Incorporate Old Navy logos and American icons

Your project should be a mix of classic shapes balanced with updated fashion silhouettes. Lively and youthful with the Old Navy wink!

 ‘Make the familiar new – and ‘the trend understandable.’

COLOUR: Bold, bright, feel-good colour is in the DNA of the brand.

RESEARCH: 

• History of Old Navy (established 1994)
• Relevance of the Jean, Sweatshirt, and T-shirt in American Culture
• Influences of Logo and Graphics in Fashion

So i got to start where i left off on friday-sewing in ends :)

i completed 6 Cap sleeves plus hand sewing using the mattress stitch to define and create the desired shape. I also got half way through mattress stitch sewing another 4, I have tasks for tomorrow. Which is fab! I love coming in and getting on with the tasks.

Sadly! I have no direct photographs in the studio however i will get some photos of the team currently in the studio with me.

Evaluation of my day, I think i have mastered the construction of the desired shape, mattress stitch ( i am certainly able to sew this a lot quicker then last week. I am very pleased as i would love to be able to complete the manufacturing process from start to finish.

I am learning a lot from alice, attention to detail, securing the finish, professional finishings so far to name a few.

Goal: To be able to complete the manufacturing process from start to finish, efficiently.

Till tomorrows update...

Mattress Stitching & Servicing a Dubied Machine

The Peak of my day at placement is i learnt how to service a dubied machine and overcame a independent task that i was struggling with.

I sewed in some more (sewing ends- sewing in the ends of yarn not within the knitting) ends today however due to the nature of the yarn laddering, I had to burn the ends of the yarn and conceal it. I also sewed the shoulder panels to some Cap sleeves using the mattress stitch. It was rather complicated to master the task as i had to figure out how it was sewn from a existing fully finish garment.

I have to say that once i understood the technique, i wanted to carry on with the task. However the Dubied 12gg Machine needed servicing. Lucky me!!!

This is a Dubied knitting machine

The pitt of my day was the bad backache, i came home with today and yesterday.

We began the process of servicing the dubied at 4:00PM, i left placement at 6Pm with the front bed high butts remaining to be cleaned.


I will say that servicing a dubied machine is very time consuming but i approached the task with enthusiasm and was pleased that i managed to clean the entire back bed high butts, low butts and also the front low butts.

An example of needles on a dubied

I cannot wait to go to the studio to finish mattress stitching each cap sleeve 7 times.

I am expecting next week to be very busy, long hours and all in the aide of meeting a huge target deadline. to some this may seem like a plain tasks but i am very passionate about knitwear and keen to absorb the full experience. It is key as this is my career goal.

I am keen to learn how a label operate, everything knit related, manufacturing a collection, time management.

 Alice thus far, is teaching me quite a bit.