Fashion Textiles

After completing the eight weeks of rotations, I now have to decide which rotation I would like to specialize in. This is a very hard decision as each rotation is so different and each offers such different approaches to art and design. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time doing this Chelsea Foundation program so far and having completed these rotations, I am finally able to decide which rotation appeals to me the most.

Fashion Textiles is my first choice of subject as this was the rotation that I thoroughly enjoyed the most. During this rotation, I learnt a lot through drawing and experimentation, by looking at objects and the environment around us, manipulating them by compressing and expanding, which encourages us to look at these objects in a completely different way. Although all of these rotations show equal importance between drawing, making and research, I realize that Fashion Textiles is useful as not only does it apply to the fashion industry, but also to architecture and interior design, which are areas that I also show interest in, as it also encourages me to think about how form can work with function.  During the crit, it was fascinating to see what different end products people in my group have come up with, as each one was so unique, with a different concept behind them and I found it extremely useful to discuss our works with each other to see how we can develop further.

I am quite interested in experimenting with the different types of materials that are both new and unconventional, which encourage imagination and reinvention. During this rotation, I experimented with materials I found from the hardware store, materials that you would not normally use for making clothing. I experimented with these, cutting them up, bending them and painted over them to reinvent their surface textures.

Before doing this rotation, I never thought I would choose to specialize in Fashion Textiles, as I have always thought of myself as a Fine artist. However, completing the Fashion Textiles rotation has given me a new insight to the subject. It was not at all as I have expected, and I really enjoyed working with the topic of 'Compress and Expand'. Given this brief, I loved working with new materials and have particularly enjoyed how we were encouraged to manipulate our designs, to push further and embrace the 'happy mistakes', which made me feel confident with my work. I was struggling at first as the idea of a concept  confused me, but after further developing my ideas and experimenting with different designs, the concept came to me naturally instead of having to search for it. Having done History of Art as an A Level, I have learnt about different types of architecture from many different periods. My designs reminded me  of organic forms that are seen on modern architecture such as the 'Guggenheim Museum' and the Sydney Opera House, therefore I chose this theme as my concept. 

Although I will be studying History of Art after this foundation year, I would really love to be given the opportunity continue developing my creativity before going on to study the more theoretical and historical aspect of art, and I am quite certain that Fashion Textiles is the right area of choice for me.