Project Self-Reflective Essay: CIRC_LAR + U

Annabel Lindsay

SELF-REFLECTIVE ESSAY

REA LIS ATI ON

MA Fashion + Business Manchester Fashion Institute Manchester Metropolitan University

ALindsay

A Personal + Professional Manifesto

19000613 | Word Count: 1000

Realisation Self-Reflective Essay

Annabel Lindsay (Read)

Learning Experience

Personal Position on the

RUSH HOUR At 8:59pm, I clicked submit and with shortness of breath, tried to calm down my nervous state.

I have never submitted a piece of work so late before. But this spoke volume about the level of effort I’d invested into this project, alongside potential

time

management

shortcomings

-

an area which I typically pride myself on. The parallel emotional ups and downs of the project’s curation, is arguably summarised by the mix of relief and panic which overwhelmed me, as I rapidly clicked the trackpad and my submission went

through,

with

seconds

to

9:00pm.

A huge factor in pursuing this Master’s was uncovering my passion for the circular fashion movement, in my final year at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU). Meaning the roadmap which led to a 1-minute-to-the-deadline submission actually

commenced

back

in

2018…

THE LONG ROAD As a development from my final SHU project, elements of Realisation have been ideas in my head for 2 years. Finally exploring these further has been incredibly rewarding. In many ways this was my passion project, as I got to delve into a subject I feel strongly for and see how my creative vision since the initial idea, has since developed.

This project permitted my imagination running a little wild, as I envisioned the possibilities embedded, fashion existing

within

concept

a

conceptualised

store.

experiential

Initially,

and

I

circular

researched

sustainable

retail/

non-retail spaces. Findings of which further evidenced that retail scenarios don’t have to and shouldn’t be focused around products, but

rather

the

retail

experience

itself.

CONSTRUCTION AHEAD So, there I was, a post-bachelors and now masters fashion student,

researching

bio-based

building

insulations

and

glue-laminated timbers; stepping out of my comfort zone to

investigate

circularity

within

construction.

And

so,

I

realised the interconnectedness of fashion with the spaces that it exists in and how we operate within those spaces.

With a foundation of building construction insight, I was able to produce informed concept store designs, with a level of input that actually showcased circular constructionbased application. After finalising the store design, I began sourcing

and

envisioning

its

contents.

This

was

by

no

means intended to be a traditional retail space, however a reoccurring argument amongst my research, addressed the issue of bridging gaps between discussion and action.

Therefore, traditional retail elements were incorporated to ease supposed transition from linear to circular experiences.

Although keen to focus efforts in the North, I was faced with limited accessibility to brands directly addressing sustainable fashion from circular stances. To overcome this bump in the road, I applied a certification requirement process which I originally theorised at SHU. Therefore, the store, whilst theoretically not housing 100% circular brands and services, fulfils its role at bringing circularity-advancing initiatives to the public. Simultaneously acting as a catalyst, facilitating future

demands

for

circular

innovation

and

integration

amongst CIRC_LAR + U’s proposed brand/services portfolio.

+ seitilacitirC ,seussI

Issues, Criticalities +

Personal Reflection

noitcelfeR lanosreP

STICK-IT-IN-REVERSE Potential

scopes

of

this

project

meant

that

finding a cut-off point was challenging. Initially I was way over the wordcount and had hoped to produce a store user-guide handbook. Past tutors have told me that I work in reverse, as in I do everything I can think of, and then strip back what I don’t need- or can’t fit into the word count.

Arguably not the most economical strategy.

Despite dedicating countless hours, the handin was stressful as I ‘finessed’ my project right up to the end. My perfectionist traits, which can be a blessing and a curse, mean that I hold myself and my work to high, sometimes unrealistic

standards.

prioritise

where

my

more

actually

add

to

Sometimes efforts

were

overall

failing

to

needed

project

value.

My emotional attachment to CIRC_LAR + U arguably intensified this, as I definitely analysed each with

design, increased

content

and

scrutiny

writing

and

decision

self-criticality.

DIVERSION AHEAD The

project

Covid-19 Sudden

took

an

induced halting

unforeseen

a

nationwide

of

turn

as

lockdown.

face-to-face

contact

changed the dynamic of my learning process.

What was already a highly independent project became and

pretty

much

self-resourced.

entirely

I’m

self-directed

thankful

for

weekly

Skype sessions with my tutor, which ensured my project was moving in the right direction and I

offered

also

had

fleeting to

take

senses a

of

diverted

normality.

route

when

developing my store interiors. Keen to try my hand at architectural/interior design software, I was in the process of reaching out to the interior

design

closure.

faculty

Unsuccessful

just

before

university

communications

led

me to implement my Photoshop and InDesign skillset, using YouTube tutorials to advance my ability

at

achieving

3D-effects,

perspectives

and proportions. Not only am I happy with how but

the I’ve

overall

digital

enhanced

designs

skillsets

turned

which

will

out, likely

be of more practical future use- sometimes alternative routes have more scenic outcomes.

Fu

e r tu

na so r Pe

ct ire l D

s n io

NEXT STEPS Whilst

adjusting

instead

of

the

to

working

university

from

home

environment,

I

realised with the time left, that I’d be unable to contact and establish rapport with people, whom

may

of

to

the

content I

believe

that

added

additional

research

the

criterions

or

value-

outcomes.

and

aims

of

Realisation were adequately fulfilled but also organically leads into a new phase. As I intend to

undergo

the

experiential

digitisation

of

CIRC_LAR + U, I’ll be able to actively explore Realisation’s collaboration-based themes and concepts, with input from third-party players.

Going forward, I intend to operate solely under the name ‘CIRC_ULAR + U’ as opposed to ‘Howtloop’, as it’s: a)

visually striking

b)

easier to understand

c)

streamlines the overall brand image,

rather than having two separate brand names.

Upon

reflection,

I

acknowledge

that I’m a highly independent and self-driven student. But I also now understand

that

balance

between

working and knowing when to step back, is just as beneficial to a project’s development (making the journey, as important

as

the

destination

itself).

Fuelled with this knowledge and recharged batteries, I am raring to begin the next phase of CIRC_LAR + U.

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Annabel Lindsay