Extra samples from FMP

These are a few more samples that I did for my FMP, I experimented with different techniques to see which one would be the best for my final design. One of the techniques I tried was tie dye, I enjoyed this technique, and I liked the way the final product came out. With tie dye you can experiment more with how you wrap the string around the fabric to create different effects and different patterns.

To create this effect pinch parts of the fabric and tie around with string quite tight. Leave in the tie for only 2 minutes, rinse, unravel string and leave to dry. You can iron out the fabric afterwards, but I like the way it looks without ironing it, goes with the pattern.

With this tie dye, twist fabric and tie with string at both ends then tie the fabric in a knot.

For my final product I think I will use this technique on the base of my dress, I will dye the base orange , continuing with my Phoenix theme, and add red and yellow extras to the dress. 

Below are samples that I tried out for my garment,I used red silky material, then I tried different decorative materials, such as black feathers, gold jewels, yellow feathers ect.

For my final garment I decided to use the yellow feather boa, red fluffy material and the gold squares for decoration on the front of the dress and on the train at the back.

Phoenix

For my final garment I have chosen to do a Phoenix, for this I looked at eagles, because eagles are the closest bird to a Phoenix, the shape and features are similar. I also looked at fire, becasue the phoenix is usually seen linked to fire, this is becasue it is said that when the phoenix dies it bursts into flames,and from those ashes a new phoenix is born. Some people believe the phoenix lasts for thousands even millions of years at a time and there is only ever one until a new one is born.
Some images of the phoenix.

To start with I did some drawings of eagles and the phoenix, I also did some research, background knowledge. It was very hard for me find costume designers for the phoenix, because in modern day films the phoenixis usually a CGI creature. However I did find that in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 Fleurs wedding dress had two phoenixs' facing toward each other.

Originally Alexander McQueens design, the costume designer of Harry Potter, Jany Temime, slightly alltered the design to fit in with the Harry Potter style.

Drawings paintings of phoe nix done in different medias.

Sample using fabric crayons:

I painted a picture of fire,because the phoenix is linked with fire:

I also did a batik sample using the fire image:

After the fire it was then eagles:

Colage from magazine pieces, using the image above:

FMP Own Photos

During this project I took my own photos of some of the mythical creatures, I chose the unicorn because from that I could get photos of horses. Also dragons, so I looked at reptiles. Finally I chose the phoenix, for that I looked at birds. For the final garment I will choose one of these three.

Own Bird photos:

Own Horse photos: I looked at unicorns as par of my mythical creatures research, so for that I went out and took some photo of horses.

Own Reptile photos:  Dragons were also a part of my mythical creatures research, for dragons I looked at reptiles, lizards mostly, however I did take photos of turtles, the pattern on the turtles back reminded me of the scales on a dragon. 

FMP (Fantasy/Mythology)

For the FMP I chose to do fantasy and mythology, I wanted to do something that I am interested in,and I find the whole myths and legends facinating, especially the mythical creatures which is where I am going to go with this project. I am going to start by researching fanatsy, and move onto the mythilogical creatures, looking at some of the more common ones and eventually choosing one to do for my garment.  

For the fantasy research I looked into films that have elements of fantasy in them.

This is a still from the film Dragonheart, this film contains a dragon a huge fantasy element and a mythical creature.

Another film I looked at is the film Willow, an old film that contains witches,wizards fairies and magic.

I looked at various artists that illustrate fantasy. Anne Stokes, Frank Frazetta and Philip Straub. These were my favourite artists/illustrators. I like Anne Stokes work a lot. I like the use of colour the images are very dramatic.

This peice of atrwork is called Enlightenment.

This artwork is The Mermaid

Some of Philip Straub's work, he uses bright and bold colours and thats what i'm going with for this project. Here's some of his work to show what I mean.

I also looked at photographers who shoot fantasy I looked at Eugenio Recuenco, he does more fairytale than fantasy, but I still liked his work, it's more the dark side of fairytales. Eugenio does other types of photoshoots but his fairytale photos fit my theme the best.

Shape and structure

With the theme shape and structure I chose to make a dress using flowers,or the idea of flowers. To start with I went out to garden centres to take my own photos of different flowers, more unusual flowers.

From these pictures I got inspiration for my design ideas or illustrations. I wanted bright and colourful, big and bold was the idead for my dress. I experimented with the shapes of flowers, the colour and the textures. I wanted a very femanine design, because the theme is flowers and they are a very femanine item.  These are a few of my designs.

 

 

The designs lead to samples, samples are basically different materials and ideas, using different tecniques to try and decide what material your going to use in the final garment and how your going to construct the final piece.

Simple batik sample of a leaf.

 

 

This is a felt sample, to do this you must have a bamboo mat and felt balls (they are like different coloured cotton wool balls), also a tub of warm water and baking powder. Lay the bamboo mat out onto a table, rip the pieces of felt and lay vertically then sprinkle some baking powder on top. Do the same again but this time lay the felt horizontally and sprinkle baking powder on top. Do this twice more so you have 4 layers in total.Sprinkle a final layer of baking powder on top and squirt with warm water. Roll it all up tightly in the bamboo mat and place in warm water, constantly turning to soak the whole thing. After 5-10 minutes take out and squeeze out remaining water,unravel and leave to dry.

 

 

Design of my final dress

 

This is my final dress, for the basic dress I used felt for something different, however more difficult to sew. Big, bold flower in the top right corner, gold vines coming down from the flower. I used pale colours because I didn't want to over power the dress with the flower. It is a one-shoulder dress however I was forced to add another strap to the shoulder becasue the flower was so heavy and dragging the dress down.