FABRIC DISTRICT ARTS FESTIVAL
Exhibition 2019
Our clothes are an integral part of the social framework within which we live. The visual language by which we communicate our philosophy and identity; created by our culture, values, wealth, beliefs, ethics … When we shop and when we dress we curate #ME. It’s impossible not to decide what you wear every day, dressing can be a precise and analyzed decision or an opting out of that decision; either way a conscious act of communication of mood, status, role, self-worth.
The fast fashion industry has become a monster in our social framework both in terms of its size, growth, and appearance. But to ‘fashion’ is to give shape or form, to make .. a slow journey of creativity and experimentation. The final result is not just an object but a realization of hours of work, full of the heart and soul of the artist.
A society is created; constructed by the joining of individuals to make a better whole. A society that works is collaborative, where each voice is heard. Where differences are celebrated and sit together to make the whole more beautiful.
For this project, I have worked with 5 existing garments and the offcut fabric from a further 3 garments, leftover from previous work. Taking existing garments apart is a beautiful slow journey through the work of makers past, some stitches leave marks creating beautiful snail trail details on the cloth. Repositioning cut sections of existing garments create new lines and shapes on the body.
Fashion is also defined as a prevailing or popular style of dress, a trend. There used to be a fashion system where new styles and trends were introduced and celebrated by designers. Catwalks reflected hours of experimentation, successes, and failures. Is trend a dirty word? Perhaps? Because within fast fashion there are so many, ever-changing, driving profits higher by trying to convince us that we always need something new (??). But a desire for something new is to be human, to seek fresh new ideas and progressive ways. Keeping a perspective about how we adapt and interpret new trends can keep clothes fresh and joyful. The original garments chosen reflect some of this season's color trends and the direction of style, some of this season's silhouette shapes and details. New colors and shapes are combined with patchwork, as a nod to craftwork of old and reusing of materials. Patterns of squares and circles have been matched to represent different individual minds with similarities in common so that they sit together to create a calm overall whole.
social
1 ‘relating to society or its organization, characterized by community, companionship, and communication’
fabric
1 ‘something made, framework or structure’
2 ‘Cloth made by weaving, textiles’
The fast fashion industry has become a monster in our social framework both in terms of its size, growth, and appearance. But to ‘fashion’ is to give shape or form, to make .. a slow journey of creativity and experimentation. The final result is not just an object but a realization of hours of work, full of the heart and soul of the artist.
A society is created; constructed by the joining of individuals to make a better whole. A society that works is collaborative, where each voice is heard. Where differences are celebrated and sit together to make the whole more beautiful.
For this project, I have worked with 5 existing garments and the offcut fabric from a further 3 garments, leftover from previous work. Taking existing garments apart is a beautiful slow journey through the work of makers past, some stitches leave marks creating beautiful snail trail details on the cloth. Repositioning cut sections of existing garments create new lines and shapes on the body.
Fashion is also defined as a prevailing or popular style of dress, a trend. There used to be a fashion system where new styles and trends were introduced and celebrated by designers. Catwalks reflected hours of experimentation, successes, and failures. Is trend a dirty word? Perhaps? Because within fast fashion there are so many, ever-changing, driving profits higher by trying to convince us that we always need something new (??). But a desire for something new is to be human, to seek fresh new ideas and progressive ways. Keeping a perspective about how we adapt and interpret new trends can keep clothes fresh and joyful. The original garments chosen reflect some of this season's color trends and the direction of style, some of this season's silhouette shapes and details. New colors and shapes are combined with patchwork, as a nod to craftwork of old and reusing of materials. Patterns of squares and circles have been matched to represent different individual minds with similarities in common so that they sit together to create a calm overall whole.
social
1 ‘relating to society or its organization, characterized by community, companionship, and communication’
fabric
1 ‘something made, framework or structure’
2 ‘Cloth made by weaving, textiles’