Room set ideas for my portfolio

Room sets designed on Photoshop using my textiles and prints from Electric Jungle Autumn/Winter 2014 to demonstrate how they could be used for upholstery and interior furnishings ideas

Textiles on Electric Jungle headers

I have finally finished putting my textiles on headers and they look fabulous as part of my collection Electric Jungle! I am really pleased with them I think that they are successful as a collection and I am looking forward to seeing them at Graduate Fashion Week and New Designers Show!

Video shoot of my textile collection for part of Graduate Fashion Week

It was a long day shooting the promotional video for graduate fashion week but after lots of tweaking and arranging my textile collection was successfully captured on film. The video and film department were absolutely fantastic at ensuring the best aspects of the collection were caught. Two types of video camera were used; one where stills and detail of the textiles was captured and a second which scanned and moved over the textiles. My textiles will feature in the Colchester School of Art promotional video which will be played at Graduate Fashion Week from Sunday 2nd to Wednesday 5th . It was a really interesting experience because it made me consider how textiles can be shown to their best advantage on film.

I tried to arrange my textiles in a collage similar to the layout of my David Lam photo shoot. A green screen was used so that they could change the background to whatever they wanted, for example a large section of my work or plain with my name and details of the collection.

A few snaps of my Electric Jungle final samples

Here are a few shots of my Electric Jungle final samples. I have created a collage effect, overlapped them and taken zoomed-in photographs of cross-sections. I think this is a good way of assessing how well the samples go with each other and work as an overall collection. It is also nice to see certain areas of interesting textures alongside other fabrics, for example I think the metallic crinkled foiling effect looks especially luxurious alongside the fluffy velvet devore fabric

Kenzo spring/summer 2013 accessories

The Kenzo S/S 13 collection has been a huge source of inspiration in my final major project and I have created many mood boards based on imagery from the collection. I loved the visual display that went into the video backdrop for the catwalk. It featured lots of exotic photographic locations and animal imagery which morphed into the most exciting vivid textures and abstract patterns. Bold shapes and iridescent animal prints filled the background as the models walked down the catwalk floor which was also lit up in similar electronic changing patterns.

I think this catwalk collection not only showcased some fabulous print and pattern designs, but it also demonstrated how the use of technology is being increasingly more involved in designer catwalk shows to enhance the visual experience.

Here are some of Kenzo's S/S 13 accessories which I have made int a mood board. I think that they are really funky and will definitely be incorporated into similar designs on the highstreet. The bright colours give the animal prints a new lease of life and make them really accessible to everyone in my opinion. It is also interesting to see how they have used their print and pattern in different ways to create a variety of successful products and accessories.

My Kenzo-inspired Electric Jungle colour palette

These colours in my final major project colour palette reflect my research of looking at other designer collections, theme of exotic animal prints and development of colour.

Kenzo mood boards for my FMP

KENZO KENZO KENZO!!!

There is just so much exotic and fabulous imagery to explore from the Kenzo spring/summer and resort collection. I think my mood boards demonstrate the vast amount of fascinating prints, patterns and textures which feature in these collection and how successful they are translated into clothing and products.

Kenzo Resort 2013 video inspiration for my FMP

Here are some screen shots of the Kenzo Resort 2013 video which was directed by Mat Maitland and designed by Natalia Stuyk. This video has been my main source of inspiration for my own textile collection which I have called 'Electric Jungle.' I felt this was a good name for the collection because the collection focuses on bright electric vivid colours and animalistic imagery and patterns.

Zebra mood board

I created this mood board by collating imagery from designer collections, interior furnishing ideas from Style.com and different zebra prints I have been exploring. I think it is interesting to note that there is such a huge overlap in pattern and print between fashion collections and interior collections. There is such a strong connection in garment fashion and interior fashion which is why I have researched lots of fashion designer references as inspiration for my interior textile collection. It's also interesting to see the diversity of zebra print and how it has been used in such different styles.

Tiger print mood board

This is my mood board of tiger print research for my FMP. I think it is intriguing to see the difference between actual graphic print of a literal tiger and then the print and pattern of a tiger's fur and how they are both used in fashion. I am focusing on the print and pattern aspects of animals in my FMP rather than the literal imagery of animals as I think there is a greater area for exploration and development of unique designs. 

Stingray mood board

Spot, dots, speckles, freckles and patches of all sorts have been a source of research in my FMP as they are all common characteristics of animal print and come in so many different shapes and sizes and styles. My stingray mood board below was created after watching David Attenborough's 'Natural World Documentary.' It was a FABULOUS documentary showing all sort of creatures and fascinating decorative species.

I found the section on stingrays really interesting because it shows how the inky patterns on the stomach of stingrays are unique to every single stingray, almost as if they have their very own unique finger print which means that they can be identified individually.

Penguin mood board

This penguin-inspired mood board was created after watching the BBC documentary 'Penguin:Spy in the Huddle' which was a fabulous series intimately following the lives of different species of penguins. I must admit before watching the series I was unaware of just how many different types of penguin there are in the world! It was fascinating to see how determined and protective they are over their young and the strong relationships that they have with each other. I took quite a few photos of stills from the documentary, focusing on interesting textures and cross-sections of pattern. I don't think one would necessarily consider a penguin as a strong ambassador for animal print but after studying them it is apparent that they have many interesting characteristics and areas of detailed speckled and textured patterns. 

Snow leopard mood board

I love the patterns on snow leopards. They have such a unique and interesting kind of spot which changes all over their bodies.

Giraffe moodbard

I have been looking at giraffe imagery for my final major project and have created a giraffe mood board as shown above. After investigating giraffe print further it would seem that it is becoming quite a common trend at the moment in stores like Topshop and Dorothy Perkins are featuring more and more cool giraffe print inspired designs.

Topshop's kissing giraffe pleated skirt

Dorothy Perkin's giraffe print maxi dress

Top shop giraffe print skirt

Electric Jungle Autumn Winter 2014 Collection