Tie-Dye

Now, I know what springs to mind when tie-dye is mentioned.
It has remained the hobby of yoghurt making, rag rugging, long haired psychedelic brownie cooking hippies. BUT. I plan to make it proper modern like.
Honestly google came up with some mingers, contemplate this if you will - "Tye Dye Fringe Dress".
But these are the images that didn't make me want to vomit...

















How to tie-dye... here.
















Supra hightops in tie-dye grey suede... here.












































ASOS in on the tie-dye action... here.





















Stylestalker at Nasty Gal... here.











































and more from Nasty Gal... here.

Craft Rally at Chelsea College of Arts

On Thursday I attended the Craft Rally organised by the Crafts Council and since then I have been trying to process the vast amount of information I absorbed on the day.
It was a pleasure to be in the company of so many people all wanting to see craft renewed and valued again. There were excellent guest speakers and the topics discussed, though skimming the surface of a very deep subject, successfully inspired debate among a passionate audience.

Here are some notes I took on the day:

CONSUMER AIMED CREATIVITY - Craft As A Commodity

The commercialisation of the craft learning process to end up with a salable product has lead to emphasis on the individual. The craft is no longer a social community activity but the practice of 'the maker'.

Art school curriculum has become focused on the employability of the student rather than the skills of craft making, skilled labour is not as valued as concept based design.
Ideas are reduced to commodities, the commercial intentions suffocate experimentation and prevent creative progression.

The progression needs to be making less stuff of higher quality and as more than just a 'thing'.
Showing the story of the object and the maker, articulating the process behind the product.

The meaning of craft can be attributed to many practices and techniques so it has an ambiguous meaning to the consumer. Craft should be integrated into every practice, not identified and separated as an independent activity.

True craftsmanship is the difference between handicraft and high craft, it represents the mark of a skilled hand. It shows you the intent of the maker, the evidence of their interaction with the material, and connects the viewer and the maker through the universal experience of making.

MAKING IS A WAY OF THINKING

My definition of craft:
The process of making and thinking to create something with real value. The maker facilitates the translation of an idea to a physical object.


Speakers:

Zoe Laughlin
Specialist in material experience and physical encounters with stuff:
"mass ranging from the quark to the universe"
"flesh from the peach to the cheek"

Bricolage Textile Design

Shane Waltener

Here are some bad phone pics of his installation on the stairway at Chelsea College of Art:

Luke Nugent Photography

Originally uploaded by Luke Nugent Photography

Luke Nugent Photography

Originally uploaded by Luke Nugent Photography

Luke Nugent Photography

Originally uploaded by Luke Nugent Photography

Luke Nugent Photography

Originally uploaded by Luke Nugent Photography

Craft Club Feast

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit the Crafts Council on Pentonville Road to take part in their new initiative - Craft Club.
Its basically all about sharing craft skills, like knitting, with others but particularly our next generation as we have gradually lost touch with hand-made processes.
It was also interesting to learn the proven therapeutic benefits of knitting such as pain relief, it helps with depression, it has been shown to help children develop cognitive thinking and with dyslexia. So knitting is actually good for your health and general well being.
The whole day was fantastic and had excellent speakers such as Betsan Corkhill from iknitlinks, and knitwear designer Erika Knight set us a kniitted food project that we worked on in groups throughout the day (see pictures below, pardon the phone camera poor quality).
It gave me lots of ideas for setting up a knitting or craft club, we shall see.

Kate Talbot 3D Stitches

Found this in an old copy of Vogue Magazine, Kate Talbot recreating cosmetic products with fabric and intricate embroidery.

You can see her website... here

Styling for Luke Nugent

Today I was working with the lovely Jennivi Jordan to style some lovely models being photographed by the lovely Luke Nugent... lovely.

(see my chunky knit jumper in the 2nd photo)

POP Magazine S/S 2010 Article: Digitech

This is an article from this seasons edition of POP magazine that I had to share.
Not only does it feature amazing garments from the cream of the fashion house crop, but the images are amazingly composed with models that give a look of indifference slanted away from the camera. Photography by Viviane Sassen, Fashion Vanessa Reid.






















Print shirtdress by MARNI, blue dress by JIL SANDER, multicoloured shirt by JOSH GOOT, blue dress worn as a headscarf by ZERO & MARIA CORNEJO.






















Tie-dye dress by PROENZA SCHOULER, blue top by MATTHEW WILLIAMSON, multicoloured striped skirt by PAUL SMITH.






















Palm tree t-shirt by MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA, grey and blue print top worn underneath by ISSEY MIYAKE, latex dress by ALEXANDRE HERCHOVICH, green jeans by NICHOLAS GHESQUIERE for BALENCIAGA, green dress worn as headscarf by ZERO & MARIA CORNEJO.






















Yellow dress by SALVATORE FERRAGAMO blue and green skirt by PAUL SMITH, patterned leggings by BERNARD WILLHELM.






















Maxi dress by TOPSHOP UNIQUE, neon top by REEBOK, block colour wetsuit by QUICKSILVER.