Reclaim
�If all the insects were to disappear from the earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.� Jonas Salk
1.
1 x title board
�If all the insects were to disappear from the earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.� Jonas Salk
1 x title board
IN THE BEGINNING
In the beginning nature was ruler. Slowly but surely mankind has developed and created such an unjustifiable future for the natural ecosystem. This concept is to perform how nature should flourish and evolve. Nature should prevail all but sadly with our almost irreversible existence, nature is struggling to battle the abysmal direction mankind has taken us to.
1 x title board
Initial research
Architecture
Recycled
Decay
Buildings
Man-Made
H&M Conscious Collection
Encaustic Techniques Natural Dying
Growth
Rust Dying Flower Dying
Inspiration and Ideas
Rust
Ethical Clothing
Flower Pounding
Fact 4: One and a half acres of forest is cut down every second. Facts 8: There are more than 121 natural remedies in the rain forest which can be used as medicines. CFF. (2016). Deforestation Facts. Available: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-deforestation-facts.php. Last accessed 20.04.2016.
Nature Taking Back Over
Hussein Chalayan
Nature Taking Back Over What Is Truely Its Own Lara Torres
Facts 2: It is estimated that within 100 years there will be no rainforests.
Flowers, Mold, Moss
Acetate Sheets
Environmentally Friendly
2 x broad research
Initial research
Phase 1. Man Made Architecture Decay
Hussein Chalayan Spring Summer 16 collection
Phase 2. Flowers, Mold, Moss
Hussein Chalayan S/S 16 Collection was of garments, which dissolved, revealing something beautiful underneath. I would like to look into creating a garment which is inspired by manmade construction with a nature inspired garment to be exposed underneath.
Growth Nature Taking Back Over Anya Gallaccio’s dying roses
10,000
My own research decaying roses
into
Lara Torres 2012 Exhibition ’An impossible wardrobe for the invisible.’
Laura Torres created a similar collection for a photography exhibition in 2012, which too dissolved.
Internet Research
2 x broad research
Fabric Exploration
Suffolk Puff I created some Suffolk puffs using old scraps of fabric. They have a charming natural appearance. These are simple to make, however are time consuming, they could be used to be applique onto the natrual fauna inspired garments.
Explore I bought a few different flower embellishments from craft stores and fabric shops, which could be sewn onto garments for a 3D effect.
Experiment I have experimented with sewing different natural looking appliques onto fabrics onto fabrics. Pictured shows lace, suffolk puffs and beads. I like the idea of mixing applique styles to give a more natural appearance.
Experiment
I scanned in previous pressed flowers, to explore different stages of decay of flowers.
Experiment Pictured is a fabric sample earlier created using rust dying techniques I have sewn sequins onto of the fabric to give a more textured approach. Simple beadwork adds depth and makes the fabric more interesting, I really like this sample and would like to use it later in my designs.
Inspired Inspired by Anya Gallaccio’s 10,000 dying roses exhibition, I have studied and photographed a bouquet of roses. The change in shapes and colours are beautiful to observe.
2 x development
Sketchbook Development
On location photography Fig 2.
Fig 1.
TANFEILD TRAIN STATION
Fig 3.
OLD CARRIAGES
Fig 4.
BETWEEN TWO TRAINS
Since my initial idea is so vast there are so many elements I can explore. I visited one of my favorite places, Tanfield Railway to take photos for research and inspiration. I chose Tanfield as it has beautiful old train carriages that have decayed over the years, the wildlife around the carriages has grown making beautiful images I feel it relates to my concept and has given me further inspiration. The bottom right images are taken of a decaying mansion left in Gibside, unfortunately you cant go inside as it is derelict and unsafe however again the wilderness has grown leaving a haunting feeling as the corridors are overgrown with vines.
TANFEILD TRAIN STATION
Fig 5.
GIBSIDE DECAYING MANSION
Fig 6.
GIBSIDE DECAYING MANSION
Fig 1. DECAYING BUILDING IN NEWCASTLE
2 x development
Understanding
Contact Sheet
To understand my concept I need to explore each stage. There are so many paths I can venture down before designing my final collection. With this in mind I felt as though I needed to document the process of nature reclaiming a manmade item. I found a toolbox covered in rust, the colours of the toolbox and the rust were beautifully matched. Inside were sockets nut tools, which had been exposed to different amounts of dampness causing different stages of rust to be growing.
2 x development
The thought process shown through Pinterest Images...
Structured garments of simple shapes (Phase 1.)
Materials such as clear plastic used when making lace which dissolves in water.Or sugar paper also dissolves in water, that could easily be stitched together
Phase 1.
Top garment breaks down (Entering phase 2.)
Shapes and silhouettes inspired by architecture and man made buildings
Made from dissolvable materials or materials which appear opaque in different lighting.
It begins with structured garments inspired by buildings, architecture and man-made materials. As nature intended man –made materials start to break down
4 x final portfolio sheets
Phase 2.
Delicate garments, perhaps heavily embellished of flowers or light materials using natural dying such as flower pounding or rust dying techniques Untamed but beautiful
Revealed underneath nature flora and fauna inspired garments (Phase 2.)
The natural growth of nature begins to take over rust, bacteria, moss, fungi, fauna and flora
The garments stages show ‘Nature reclaiming the man made destruction.’
Nature reclaiming what is truly it’s own.
4 x final portfolio sheets
Possible Colour Board Phase 1.
4 x final portfolio sheets
Intial Design Ideas
Phase One
A carefully slightly structured outer garment made from sugar paper sewn together perhaps to resemble bricks from recognisable man-made developments. Sugar paper is a dissolvable material when put in contact with water,
Phase Two
Another outer garment could be made from plastic which is often used when embroidering lace. This plastic dissolves away when in contact with water, yet is easily sewn onto. Designs inspired by mankind elements such as metal or steal work that nature naturally rusts and grows over could be sewing onto the material.
Phase One
Once the outer garment has dissolved away a beautiful delicate garment reveals itself from beneath the outer shell. Showing how nature should overthrow mankind.
Phase Two
Again once in immersed in water a remarkable fauna inspired garment appears.
4 x final portfolio sheets
At the end I am so eager to dive into this project over the summer. There are so many elements I can explore. I feel as though my concept is complicated having two very different aspects. One being manmade / architectural and the other being nature inspired, I would need two very different approaches to each path before combing a collection. I do however find this exciting, I think I will consider doing them as two separate concepts before merging the two together. I plan to look into different materials, which transform, that could be used to create the outer ’ mankind’ inspired garments. I plan to experiment with the effects of these and to see how successful they are. I am interested in several designers and artists, which I have touched on within this document of research. Anya Gallaccio’s 10,000 dying roses are particularly beautiful and would be keen to fully photograph the stages of my own experimentation of this. Both Lara Torres and Hussein Chalayan created dissolvable garments when brought in contact with water, which I would like to look into further and find out which fabrics were used. I would like to explore natural dying techniques such as flower and vegetable dying, flower pounding and rust dying. All of which could take me down several different designs routes. I feel very excited and inspired for this project. I have found this and the previous Nodding Dog group project very useful for starting my initial research. I feel as though I have improved my research skills to create more in depth research. This project in particular, I feel as though my concept is so large that I need to explore so many areas before I can even begin to form any collection or solid designs. I feel as though my boards shown hear are just glimpses into areas which need to be explored in a greater depth.
Evaluation