Claire Myers | Portfolio
Bachelor of Fashion Design (Honours) RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia www.clairevmyers.com
Claire Myers is a fashion practitioner and graduate of
technical skills
the RMIT Fashion Design (Honours) program, Melbourne Australia. Claire’s approach to her practice is
Patternmaking
Textiles
concerned with drawing attention to the invisible
Advanced patternmaking
Comprehensive textile knowledge
systems that facilitate fashion production and
Block drafting
Digital print design
consumption. Having studied regional embroidery
Dart manipulation
Advanced hand embroidery
techniques in India, Claire has a deep interest in
Intermediate grading experience
exploring the implications of fabric processes, surface design and unusual construction techniques upon the
Sewing
Specialised
reading of familiar fashion objects.
Complex sewing experience with both
Fitting techniques
woven and stretch fabrics
Tailoring techniques
Advanced experience with industrial
Draping techniques
sewing machines, needles, tension and
Stretch wear
machine diagnostics
digital skills Adobe suite
Microsoft
Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and
All programs including Excel
Photoshop Technical illustrations, tech packs Spec sheets
Pattern making software Intermediate Gerber Intermediate TUKACAD
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
CV
education
work / professional
2018, BA Fashion Design (Honours), RMIT University, Melbourne
2019, Assistant Sales Manager, David Jones, Mebourne
First Class Honours
Accessories and intimate apparel
+614 1819 1221
2017, University Exchange, Manipal University, Karnataka, India
2018, Production internship, Livia Arena, Melbourne
clairevmyers@gmail.com
Textiles, embroidery and tailoring
CLAIRE VICTORIA MYERS Born 2/12/1994 Australia contact
www.clairevmyers.com
2018 - 2019, Costume design for music performance, Confidence Man 2013, Making Footwear by Hand, Short Course, RMIT University
Stage costume production
2012, Ilab Germinate program, University of Queensland, Brisbane
2019, Freelance tech packs and spec sheets for Ayu, Byron Bay
Fashion Technology Grant and Mentorship
Startup menswear label
2016, Design and production internship at Sister Studios, Melbourne
presentations
2016, Volunteer, Sister Works Inc, Melbourne 2018, ‘Open House’ Group showcase, Neon Parc, Melbourne
Sewing and patternmaking workshop leader for immigrant women gaining
Event Organiser
creative skills for employment
2018, Melbourne Fashion Week Emerging Designer Runway, Melbourne
press / features
Town Hall Presentation of graduate collection
2019, Beautiful Blood Magazine, Understand Us
2018, ‘LOOK. BOOK. SHOW.’ RMIT, Melbourne
2019, Katblut Magazine, He Will Take your Breath Away!
Exhibition of selected student work
2018, i-D Australia, Fashion Students are Crowd
awards
Funding Creative Freedom
2018, Presenting Fashion Award, RMIT University, Melbourne
2018, BLK ON BLK Issue 11 Let the Funk Ride
Awarded for ‘Open House’ Group show
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
overview Close encounters of the third party is a project that explores contemporary sartorial vices which enable rapid and abject consumption. The garments and accessories are indulgent and disfigured interpretations of contemporary womens fast fashion trends. Through slashes in the garments appear underlying bodysuits with visual references to the powerful persuasion of buy now, pay later. The collection questions laissez-faire attitudes towards fast fashion by reconsidering the consumer experience as a convoluted process of ensnarement.
clockwise from top left a) swatch sample of fabric manipulation technique b) installation of work for assesment - displayed in multiple plastic packages c) bts image taken during a photoshoot d) bts image taken during a photoshoot e) garments from collection displayed on a rack f) swatch sample of fabric manipulation technique g) excerpt of ‘terms and conditions’ of collection from graduate publication h)bts image taken during photoshoot i) three looks featured in Melbourne Fashion Week Emerging Designer Runway at Melbourne town hall
2018 // Graduate collection produced as part of RMIT fashion honours year Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
research early research compiling imagery of the most ubiquitous contemporary fast fashion trends for young women
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
early design research study and analysis of fit, materiality, finishes and social reading of garments sourced from fast fashion outlets print design afterpay terms and conditions which spans the length of 4m at A4 width printed on powermesh
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
techniques The imperfections in each garment are crafted scrupulously using a textile technique explored and developed over the span of the project using individual colour matched threads to fabricate connective strands between two ripped panels. A wash-away embroidery stabilizer called Solvy is used to achieve the effect.
b)
a)
c)
a) design process consisting of a garment that is gradually slashed and augmented until a desired outcome is achieved b) toile - half of a floral summer dress c) early protyping on ready made garments d) fittings for Melbourne Fashion Week e) mid way through the project was a chance to reflect on the direction of the garment outcomes and styling as a whole. At this point bodysuits were introduced and developed as an additional conceptual layer of the project f) fittings for Melbourne Fashion Week
f)
2018 // Graduate collection
e)
d)
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
bodysuits from the graduate collection featured in Beautiful Blood magazine. Photographer: Morgan Hickinbotham. Stylist: Cecile Huyn
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
look book imagery cataloguing looks from the collection
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
exhibition: open house
a) installation of scrolls with afterpay terms and conditions hung from a clothing rack b) models wearing garments c) afterpay terms and condition scrolls installed d) model wearng bodysuit and dress from collection e) beauty details f) afterpay and floral stockings g) model lying on a bed installed in the space h) model sitting at a desk installed in the space i) models challenging guests to the ‘afterpay game’ a memory card game played with a set of cards created for the event where players must find as many matching sets of similar outfits.
An independent group exhibition produced by myself and seven other graduating fashion practitioners. The event took place across one night and showcased the work as an immersive installation based on domestic spaces. Throughout the evening the models engaged in various performances around the space. The event was financed using crowd funding to sell pieces from each designers collection.
2018 // Group Show produced as a showcase for body of graduate work Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
performance: eating the other Eating the other is a performance produced by fellow graduate Betty Liu and I, orginally created for the Open House exhibition. The piece combines conceptual elements from both collections to explore notions of consumption, greed and exploitation.
eating the other four models sit around a table, unable to eat because of their garments. Two other models (as pictured in second image from left) prowl around the table, picking at the food and creating chaos. Second image from the left: models dressed in bodysuits with draped fabric connecting the two together
2018 // Performance produced as a part of Open House group show Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
1/ close encounters of the third party
eating the other aerial documentation of the set up for performance ‘eating the other’, go-pro set up above the table during the course of the event
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
2/ fragmentations
research and development a) dadaist imagery and collage informing the early conceptual development of the project b) balenciaga one seam coat draping excercise: taping the stand, draping, gusseting and fininshing the garment c) interrogation of the dadaist principles and artistic techniques comprising of collage, photoimaging and ready mades
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
2/ fragmentations
fragmentations This project is an exploration of the divergent garment outcomes possible while using basic pattern blocks. The collection of garments isolates and reworks individual panels of ubiquitous dress styles (fitted, shift, A-Line and princess line) into unanticipated garment possibilities via draping on the stand. The use of materiality and an unconventional seaming technique of binding and bar tacking encourage an array of unique design propositions.
collage early development of conceptual work inspired by Claud Cahun and Aishwarya Rai
portfolio research of the collages and self portraits of Claude Cahun and scans from folio design development using collage 2015// Capsule collection produced in response to RMIT second year drape studio ‘Against the Grain’ Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
design process draping desgin process by which pattern pieces are cut in fabric, bound, then draped onto the stand and tacked together to create design propositions
2/ fragmentations
look book Conceptually, the final designs were inspired by the limitations of working with ready made patterns. These existing pattern pieces came from three different, basic dress patterns that were draped early on in the project. The pre-existing pattern pieces were cut from a variety of found fabrics and reassembled on the stand to create impromptu silhouettes. Due to the floating nature of each individual pattern piece, traditional finishing methods were not useful and each individual piece was bound and then joined at desired intersections using a bar tack. This joining method inspired more experimentation, and as a result the final garments presented with new gathering and spacing relationships between their panels.
2015// Capsule collection produced in response to RMIT second year drape studio ‘Against the Grain’
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
2/ fragmentations
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
2/ fragmentations
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
3/ tailoring
tailoring research While researching tailoring and its methods, It was observed that tailored garments and all other sartorial categories are entangled with meaning and connotations through their historical and cultural usage. During this semester Rei Kawakubo’s work was studied, especially the way in which Comme Des Garcons challenges the way proportion and fit plays up the sex, gender and perceived sexual attractiveness, of the wearer. These conventions emphasize stereotypes about gender, and rules about how the sexes should or shouldn’t dress. This collection of designs explores the possibility of removing sexuality from tailoring, lingerie and hoisery. The concept is executed by blowing lingerie details out of proportion and placing them onto tailored garments to create absurd, interesting and sometimes unsettling shapes and contours. A weaving technique was employed, using red wool yarn to weave a tight web through a circle of eyelets.
folio work deconstruction and analysis of the tailored jackets features and design elements, layers of lining, interfacings and padding and construction notes
2015 // Garments produced for RMIT second year tailoring studio ‘Arts and Metiers’
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
3/ tailoring
research and development a) an investigation of many collections by Comme Des Garcons including the bump collection from 1997 b) rapid prototypes produced using a tailored calico jacket and bras arranged on the stand for mulitple design propositions c) further prototyping and experimentation with volume and padding using wadding and fishnet stockings on calico jacket
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
3/ tailoring
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
4/ a room of ones own
a room of ones own This collection of garments uses recycled furnishing fabrics such as curtains and doona covers, incorporating the existing structural elements of the found fabrics into design features of the fashion objects. The project was executed by collecting second hand curtains, blinds, doona covers and other items and analysing them to determine the best garment design for repurposing for the found material. The most successful item was found to be tab top curtains, as these tabs can be resolved into versatile and visually interesting design features. Similarly, the outers of doona covers have the suitability for pants, while the inner sheet and snap closures provided the materials for shirting. The final designs reflect simple, visually interesting and easily replicable garments that address the issue of resource preservation. These garments can be reproduced at a large scale using recycled materials from the home.
patternmaking experimentation working on the stand and exploring a method of inserting an armhole into a draped and seamless bodice
design features the curtain loops interwoven to create a design feature that is echoed throughout the collection
photographs photographs of the final work taken inside the home of the model
scans from folio design process pages displaying swatches and early sketches of design development
2016 // Collection of garments produced for RMIT third year studio ‘Agents of Change’
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
4/ a room of ones own
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
a room of ones own
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
5/ further skills
digital illustrations These illustrations are an example of technical illustrations produced using Adobe Suite to communicate designs. These particular illustrations were made for a material studies project in which the briefing was to create suitable garment propositions for fabric swatches provided, based on their properties.
2016 // Collection of illutrations produced for RMIT third year material studies Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
5/ further skills
analysis of the material swatches provided assessing aesthetics, durability, comfort and care with justification of why this fabric is suitable for the designs chosen
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
5/ further skills
fabric processing When studying abroad in Karnataka, India, a main component of the curriculum was learning and practising embroidery and other surface processing techniques. Many being the regional styles of Indian states.The course begun with learning individual stitches and then moving on to more complex designs.
patchwork samples 1) log cabin patchwork 2) diamond patchwork 3) square patchwork
2016 // Collection of swatches produced for Manipal
multipe stitch embroidery combining eight different embroidery stitches including straight titch, stem stitch, chain stitch, lazy daisy, french
regional Indian embroidery samples 1) kantha (Bengal) - an embroidery style using only a running stitch to
knot, bouillion knot and beading and sequin application
create stories through multiple motifs and symbols 2) kutch work (Gujarat) - an emboidery which interweaves different coloured threads
University third year class ‘Fabric Processing and Surface Design’. Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019
Bachelor of Fashion Design (Honours) RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Claire Myers Portfolio
www.clairevmyers.com
Claire Myers fashion design portfolio 2019