LAUREN QUINN MENSWEAR // ABOVE + BELOW For my interpretation of the FAD brief, I focused on the words ‘Slow’, ‘Locate’ and ‘Ordinary’. I mulled over the concept whilst walking home from university and I tried to connect with my surroundings. I’ve had bad anxiety for almost 3 years now and the only think that calms me down is walking or running outdoors. I thought I could incorporate something personal about myself into my mini collection to further give depth to my work. Usually when we walk it is to get to a specific destination, it’s not for the walk itself, and living in a city, it is quite face paced, we don’t take time to notice what is around us and what beauty there is in the mundane. I have taken the walk through Leeds city centre twice a day at least, for 3 and a half years and I have realised that I too don’t pay any attention unless it is to cross the road. My main idea for my inspiration was to look above and below. Take photographs of the buildings, architecture and sky; as well as looking below where I am walking, at the road markings, tiles and puddles. I combined the two factors by creating outfits that are structurally shaped based on architecture I see around Leeds, the surface pattern of quilting and painted fabric is based on what I have seen on the road and while at traffic stops.
Naples, Italy.
I have always been interested and inspired by architecture and from looking through my albums of images, more than half are actually of the tops of buildings I have seen whilst on my travels. I think it illustrates the idea of slowing down and taking time to absorb your surroundings.
initial ideas
Broadcasting Tower, Leeds.
I worked in a sketchbook to play around with images I had taken and explored ways I could create fabric texture samples inspired by these. Quilting // Panelling // Cut-out.
Seeing the modern Geometric shapes and grids remind me of origami. Coincidently we recently had a talk with Ciment pleating. I managed to collect a few samples which reminded me of architecture I had seen // 3D Fashion texture. Trinity Shopping Centre, Leeds.
further development
Inspired by metal beams and how they are attached, ways I could assemble clothing // Detailing.
Glass panel ceilings, steel metal beams remind me of cut-out fabric // ridged texture // net fabric // weaving.
Paneling inspired by tiles and flooring.
design sketching
Road markings have inspired the colour scheme and the print.
Quilting inspired by tiles and flooring.
I want the main body of the coat to be hard wearing, so I would use white // grey leather and suede, with this textured grey cotton. The turtle-neck top will be pale green stretch jersey and that will be paired with a black quilted skirt.
final collection