Essay Synopsis: Fashion consumerism and the effects it has on the world culturally, socially and environmentally

Why do I do, what I do? The answer is simple, because I enjoy it. I am a big believer in doing what you love. In this life your job is an enormous part of your day and takes up a large portion of your time. I don’t strive for wealth or fame. I do however think I am responsible for creating my own happiness, which is exactly why I am studying fashion and textiles.

Ever since I can remember I have had an artistic flair and creative mind-set. I found myself taking a keen interest in what other people wore, and this is turn inspired what I wanted to wear; this is why I went on to focus my creativity on fashion design and textile processes. I have a wide range of influences in my work including Moschino, Alexander Wang, Yeezy and Rag and Bone. I also take inspiration from the likes of Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood, both of whom try to produce clothing that are more environmentally and ethically friendly.

Consumerism, greenwashing and sustainability are big topics in current debates amongst the fashion industry, all which interest me a great deal. I feel very strongly about not only the negative effects the fashion industry causes on the environment, but how consumerism has increasingly developed and created ‘Fast Fashion’. With our ever wanting society, we purchase over 80 billion pieces of new clothing each year, which is 400% greater than we purchased two decades ago. Not to mention the cost of making all these garments, not only the financial cost, but the costs on people’s lives. With Bangladesh becoming ever more popular for cheaper garment production, the safety and wellbeing of the workers are increasingly overlooked and people are overworked, underpaid and treated poorly.

In my essay I plan to look into consumerism in the 21^st century; why we feel like we need everything we buy? Fashion consumerism over the past five centuries and fast fashion. I will also look into why we buy clothing and look into our desire for fashion as well as whether or not the fashion industry works. I will begin my research by looking into the psychology of our desire, what we want versus what we need. I plan to use Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as an example. I will consider researching or contacting environmentally friendly companies, artists and brands for insight on their work, why they produce their clothing, how they produce their clothing and things that I can learn from and incorporate into my work.

Earnest Elmo Calkins is a practitioner which I feel is extremely important to discuss in my essay. Earnest’s ideas on the early stages of consumerism in the 1920’s and advertising will help me explore the consumers and how things have changed the marketing industry in past century. I am looking forward to starting my research and studies to build a relevant background into an area which I feel so strongly about and am excited to share my personal philosophies and new found knowledge.

Psychic night

So on the 11th of Feb, me and a group of friends decided to have a girls night and invite a local psychic round to my house. I'd had previously seen her last year where she gave me an amazingly accurate reading and I was dying to see her again to see what else she could give me.

After shuffling a pack of angel cards I was told to choose several which grabbed my attention or jumped out at me. The first three cards stated that I was to have new beginnings, roughly in the next 6-18 months. She stated that things are likely to change drastically and are going to be very different and I'm going to travel.

Genny also told me that my current studies are going to lead me to working with children - which has always been a big interest of mine. I was also cautioned about being stressed, that I'm one to over think things and worry about what to worry about. She advised me to have more fun, say yes to things. Yoga, pilates and meditation are what she suggested for me to try to connect more to my spiritual side which is apparently very strong, even a gift she said, whether it's healing, clairvoyant or something else she wasn't sure but will unfold as I grow.

Travelling came up again in the reading; travel which may lead to working abroad, using my studies as a skill to teaching. Which is interesting seeing as i've always held an interest in travelling as well as taking teaching into consideration. Genny told me I'm definitely going to have children, which is a big thing for me as it's something I've always wanted, so I'm extremely pleased about this.

She brought up my previous relationship and the break-down of it which she feels left my self-esteem incredibly low, which I do agree entirely with. She advised me to read 'A little light on the spiritual laws of the universe' (by Dianne Cooper) and a book called 'The secret' which is about the law of attraction. However, I'm apparently going to meet a suitable partner when I'm 20/21 who I could potentially stay with for the rest of my life, which is a little scary seeing as I'm going to turn 21 years in the beginning of May... So it will be interesting to see what unfolds in the next year.

There are going to be opportunities for me to move, or offers to move in with friends however she advised me not to and to be patient, as it could lead to me being in trouble with money in the future. She did tell me that when I move it will be with my life long partner, into a house with a mortgage which will go on to being engaged, married and children.

She see's me walking away from a job this year, that she doesn't think that waitressing/bar work is for me - which is interesting as I never told her my line of work. She suggested doing something different i.e. working with children as she believes I'll be good at it and will also enjoy it.

In the future she says she can see me writing a book, almost like a memoir or diary of an experience which I want to share - which could be to do with my teaching in the future and that it is fate that I write it and is published.

Overall I really enjoyed the experience and advice I was given and I would definitely recommend to anyone who's interested in psychic or spiritual advice and I would be happy to give you her contact details if it is something you'd be interested in.

Development of Fashion Construction - Critical Appraisal 2016 SEM1

The development of fashion construction module allowed me to consider and expand my fashion construction skills and helped me improve my understanding of various design processes.  Using practical workshops, independent research and design development I was able to design and create a minimalistic, contemporary fashion garment.

I undertook a series of technical construction workshops which included advanced pattern cutting, machine processes and manufacturing various garments in different styles. This helped me realise and refine my garment construction skills and and broadened my knowledge on how a garments are designed and manufactured. Using photographic and written documentation, I recorded all the workshops I underwent in my technical file which I can refer back to throughout my future design development and processes.

Using independent research into collections, designers and processes relevant to my work and workshops, I was able to support the development of my designs and practical skills. I found www.vogue.com extremely useful for researching upcoming trends, designers and collections. I also created various pinterest boards to help collect a basis of designs and structurally interesting garments which contributed greatly to my designs. I researched thoroughly and selected Viktor and Rolf’s AW08/9 collection for my case study due to their bold statement and stand to traditional fashion. I broke down their collection using technical description and drawing to understand the overall construction and techniques of the designs and their functionality. This was challenging at first for me as it pushed my technical knowledge as well as my practical skills to consider the design process.

I successfully created a series of designs, following into a fashion collection using structurally bold shapes using the idea of my own initials as inspiration. I was able to create these with my newly developed and previous knowledge of construction skills and relevant research. I used typography placed in seams as a starting point then furthered my designs using typography into silhouettes to create a wide range of innovative and designs to push my boundaries and skills. After creating a collection of 4 final designs, I widened my learning of illustrator by drawing their flats and evidencing the technical processes and details of each garment.

I believe my outcome of the module was successful considering the time, processes and overall aesthetic. I wanted to create a minimalistic, modern yet avant-garde style with sharp, crisp seams and hems. The garment construction as a whole was a big learning process for myself as it was a new practical design decision in which I challenged myself with various technical processes such as facing, structured seams and hems which I successfully completed throughout the time given. I definitely feel like I have developed and improved my practical and technical skills in reflection to my abilities in my first year. I demonstrated the appropriate health and safety precautions and measures throughout this module to create a safe working practice in the workshops, completing risk assessments. I am confident in successfully completing this module’s learning outcomes and achieving the highest standard achievable for myself.

My take on gender and my research

I began my research by using various mediums to collect, explore and express visual information of masculine and feminine objects. My exploration of gender and what take I was going to take on started from my sketchbook pages. I made myself aware of my approach to thicker, bold and darker lines and styles for the masculine objects. Whilst using thinner, detailed and lighter colours and techniques for illustrating feminine characteristics of the feminine objects, such as headbands and beaded dresses. I was inspired in a pair of bridal stockings which I contributed myself to the collection of feminine objects. This was one of my starting points and inspiration for Gender Games. I was especially interested in it’s detailed lace, floral and elegant style which is categorically a feminine object due to its aesthetic and purpose.

Upon collecting visual information of the gender categorised objects, I also came across a playstation controller which didn’t appeal a great deal to me with its bulky nature and oddly shaped buttons and controls at the time, but once developing my research further by enlarging and placing upon dress making stands it created a bulky, armoured and almost American football aesthetic. Remembering that our module involved a diverse outlook on our work, designs and final outcome, I realised how opposite is a elegant, detailed bridal garment compared to a bulky, angular American football uniform? I researched into American football uniform, armour, designers and collections influenced by them. Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste and Tom Ford were just a small collection of designers who had obviously been influenced with the modernised sports crazed trend.

Alongside this research I also looked into traditional, cultural and historical bridal wear: the materials, colour, style, processes and techniques which gave me the inspiration for my colour palette: white out. In English culture it is extremely traditional for the bride to wear white on their wedding day, I looked into the lace and silky materials and how I could combine them with a masculine structure. Which made me consider what my take on gender will be and how I could continue to develop these ideas.

My muse being Rihanna – a singer songwriter who plays by her own rules in terms of fashion with her ever changing and jaw dropping street style. Wearing iconic sporty garments such as football jerseys, tracksuits and sneakers. Fitting into my American football influenced research and designs I deemed her perfect for my project. I felt strongly that I would be capable of designing a aggressive, bulky and courageous outfit created from diverse materials in such a pure, innocent and surrendering colour.

I decided to eliminate gender stereotypes throughout my work to create a gender neutral collection which could be styled however and be worn by whoever wanted to. I kept thinking to myself: if someone enjoys something, why not let yourself be happy in it? By working with such masculine silhouettes and styles combined with elegant, dainty and pure fabrics I aimed to blur the traditional gender characteristics entirely.