Bold / Feminine / Chic
The designer investigated the notion of buying a whole summer wardrobe in a country where summer is not exactly tropical and does not last long. How can we create that seasonal garment without impacting the environment as much?
Oliwia visited thrift shops with a colour palette in mind and found the perfect pieces.
Developing the concept, Oliwia deepened her research in the 70’s hippie movement. This subculture, notorious for their ecological and anti-capitalist approach to consumerism, inspired the shape of her garment.
Draping and designing on the stand is a necessary step when designing with limited resources. In order to figure out a realistic garment, Oliwia tested lengths, took measurements and prototyped her garment before moving to the next phase.
Casual Reconstructed British Summer Look
“Through this project I want to show that many clothes laying around our houses, charity shops and many other places can be reused and deconstructed to create something that can last for years and be in fashion. This is because something that is in fashion right now, will again be in f ashion in a couple of years. Why buy the same piece of clothing over and over again, when a new look is already laying in our wardrobe?” -Oliwia Brzezinska
Streetwear / Denim / Deconstruction
In the last years deconstruction has become an integral practice of many design schools. It is a project thought in pretty much every curriculum. Denim is a perfect candidate thanks to its durability and easy look.
Taking apart old garments is at the base of lanik’s process. All of the denim items he collected have interesting details and design features.
A contrasting thread, and inside out seam or a pocket in an unusual placement. These apparently small details contribute to make a garment unique. Experimenting positioning on the stand is how lanik navigates the design process.
A long dungaree is the final shape decided by lanik. The designer patched pieces and leftovers of denim together to create a larger piece of denim that could contain the pattern of his new design.
Taking apart old garments is at the base of lanik’s process. All of the denim items he collected have interesting details and design features.
“Details like contrasting colour overlocked edges make for interesting details in the research of my new recycled design. There is a number of pre-existing things that I must consider in this type of design process.” – lanik Lopes
Edgy / Loud / DIY
Casual train encounters, London playful fashion scene and inspiration from famous designers who used similar shapes ad texture. For Luciano “bubbles of fabric” became a concept of interest.
The designer shifts form initial ideas to fabric manipulations and experiments on the garment.
Sketches and patchworks are some of the tools this designer uses to test ideas.
Below we can see his initial idea for a slogan. The designer reworded his long slogan in a punch line. This is more adapt to the type of “immediate action” he wishes to see on the matter of pollution and planet life. He made a transformation From a mass produced T-shirt to a unique Custom Piece.
“I am a PUNK. I have been practicing sustainability for a while now without even realising it, by up-cycling my own wardrobe and customising/reworking some of my clothes to adapt them to my taste and current style. I have also been creating pieces of art to display on walls by using old dining plates that I buy from charity shops and paint and decoupaging them creating unique designs, inspired by pop culture.” – Luciano Rocha
Crochet / Plastics / Textiles
Make do and mend, these among the inspirations and core elements at the base of her designer practice.
This versatile technique can turn virtually any material in a textile. Smaranda appreciates keeping traditions alive and optimistically reworks any material she can put her hands on.
Creating the “Alternative Threads”.
Smaranda’s practice is very textile based and she like to design starting from the material.
Crochet and other fabric manipulation techniques allow designer to tap into a more meaningful practice that really considers all aspects, from sustainability to aesthetics. When creating fashion, the final goal is assumed to be a garment but many things can happen in between. Smaranda experimented by creating pillows filled with her plastic textile. They are suitable for outdoors and waterproof.
“My idea is using what I called “alternative threads” or “unconventional threads”, using plastic or textile threads from used clothes or plastic bags to make a crochet hand work that can be then used to produce items for garments or for the household: panels for a folding screen, blinds or even a cushion for outdoors or as car seats. – Smaranda Filip
