The aim is for the designer to diffuse their original autumn/winter collection, ‘A Silent Movement’ for the high street brand H&M. During the process of the diffusion the designer had to manipulate the original shape and silhouette of the designs into a lingerie collection. This means that several features such as shape, form, fabric choice and detailing had to be reconsidered to suit the needs of the high street market. When diffusing the collection the designer needed to think about the cost of the designs as the selling price would be much lower for a high street store. By looking at previous designer collaborations with high-street brands, the designer was able to develop an idea of how this diffusion could be achieved. While various aspects needed to be changed for the collaboration the designer’s identity and the collections aesthetic needed to be apparent throughout. While taking the same inspiration as the original collection, ‘The Notting Hill Riots’, the designer used key ideas such as separation; contrast and destruction to create a lingerie collection for H&M. Significant techniques such as foiling, embossing and fagotting are evident from the designer’s major collection. Similarly key shapes and silhouettes influence the lingerie designs such as the high restrictive collars and cape-like structures, which ensures the seamless diffusion into a more consumable market.
“There did seem a silence in the air; together with a sort of movement...�
‘A view from above’ is a swimwear collection in which the designer had to focus on the application of colour and print to the designs. By taking inspiration from the Spring/Summer trend ‘Zen Sports’ such as ‘subtle intrusions of super-bright colour’ and ‘textural patterns’ to create the collection. Tommy Hilfiger’s designs were a big influence, in particular his Spring/Summer 14 collection, taking key elements of his design aesthetic such as the his sporty vibes and fitted garments with unusual cut out sections, which add another dimension to the garment. Furthermore, the biggest element of inspiration comes from the electric phenomenon, The Northern Lights. This unusual yet incredible natural episode occurs in the Artic and Antarctic circles both producing different effects. Looking at this from space provides various angles to view the lights from. Using features such as the separation between the light particles and earth; the bright beams of light; the bold and vibrant colours that are produced and the effect that the stars and electric particles produce when combined are all key aspects behind the design of the collection. These elements combined produce a swimwear collection full of fun and excitement with flashes of bright colours, bold prints and textural features aimed at a mid-level market for ages between twenty-one and thirty.
‘Release’ is a sportswear collection designed to collaborate with the brand Adidas. With research into previous designer collaborations with the brand such as Stella McCartney, Mary Katrantzou, Neighbourhood and Yohji Yamamoto enabled the designer to recognise how to apply individual style while still including unique Adidas qualities. The designer has taken different aspects of typical sportswear from performance wear to more fashion focused garments. The collection oozes the Spring/Summer 15 trend Soft Pop, with a High-tech and energetic aesthetic fuelled by vibrant colours. Over-sized yet controlled shapes are apparent throughout the designs emphasizing the contrast between performance and leisurewear. With the diversity of the collection it is aimed at young women who have a busy life-style and need an outfit that will allow them to quickly jump from the school run to the gym, particularly twenty-five to forty year olds. Research into Zaha Hadid’s architecture heavily influenced the design development, with the twisting and over-lapping structures that feature in the buildings. The extremely contemporary designs of the buildings that mean the majority of them cannot be constructed include intricate structures with unusual panelling that inspired the complex strapping and the constraint of comfy jumpers and jersey dresses. These complex shapes and twisting building designs also inspired a marble-like print. The use of bright colours keeps the designs playful and fun with a contrast of white in various areas that accentuates the bold colours. The use of reflective tape separates the sections of colours and emphasises the strapping design, influenced by the practicality of a structured building however still keeping the exciting aspect of Hadid’s complex designs inability to be constructed.