.........................Safari Mirage........................

Beauty in the eye of the beholder, a story of mother nature, combining the warmth of;
Love, hate, fear, passion and freedom.....

.......Designers and reasons that has influenced........my project work

Strong influences from designers such as; Thierry Mugler, Alexander McQueen, Cavalli, Bendelisi, Rowland around the 1970-1980's and hints from the new Romantic bands showing glimpses of elegant confidence with tribal face painted influences, feathers and victorian refinery showing full sleeves and layers.

I visited the Hobby Crafts Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch show at Harrogate in October where there were demonstrations, fashion shows with some approaches towards the eco-aware society. Couture Designers and Teachers had amazing displays to inspire me. I also visited the site htlm: http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/AZDesigners.

For my projects, because of the "Green Issues"I have decided to use natural vegetable dies and products such as;

• Leather
• Snakeskin
• Organic Cotton
• Feathers
• Bamboo
• Hemp
• Silk
• Fur

The reason I have chosen Bamboo is:

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, it is a sustainable grass that could become the new "cash crop" of our future. Growing to its maximum height in about 3 months, reaching maturity in approximately 3-4 years and can spread rapidly over large areas of ground. Bamboo is good for the world, as it requires no pesticides or fertilizers, releases oxygen into the atmosphere and is 100% biodegradable. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial, so can kill almost all bacteria. This makes bamboo clothing more hygienic and healthier to use, as clothes stay fresher and odour free for longer. Bamboo fabric is incredibly soft and because of its breath-ability, it draws moisture away from the body, allowing it to evaporate, and so keeps you drier and more comfortable. Bamboo clothing is also anti static and also UV protective and so protects you from harmful sunlight and doesn’t stick to you. Because of Bamboo's porous nature, it keeps you cool in hot weather, warm in cool weather and is easier to dye than cotton-please see the bamboo test video that I have enclosed.

Leather pieces will be included with a tribute to tribal and safari influences, with embossed animal inprints touched with soft feathers and bamboo fringes. I am pleased to see that other designers have already included some of these trends that I have also predicted but in different seasonal colours, please see http://www.trendhunter.com/photos/feather-fashion-cocky-hairstyles/4



I have sourced some of my exotic and leather skins from the companies below. Claytons are a major Derbyshire Tannery that has existed since 1880, as well as chemical manufactured leathers which only take 1 month to produce whereas natural dyed skins can take a year and a day to produce a quality piece, hence expensive price tag but without the added toxins!

G.H Leathers are one of the cheaper wholesalers that I have bought from situated in Norfolk. sales@leathermerchants.com. John Garley is one of the director's and has said that he will give Derby University a free lecture in tannery and exotic skins.
This site will also show other different types of exotic skins that can be purchased on line.

http://www.genuineostrichhides.com/snakeskins.html?gclid=CLqpvv2R05ACFQ5OQgod6GuMXg
Clayton Leather of Chesterfield - Specialists in Production of Heavy Leather

Sunset & Daylight inspirations

Taking me back to summer of 1989, I could have danced all through the night to a backdrop of a sunset like this, with dancing flames flickering behind the clouds-just like a smouldering warm fire, I never wanted the dark curtains of the night to close me in. This is the start of my colouring ideas using different rays of light for my Summer collection which leads me towards a Sahara desert theme.


When I look up to the sky during the day it tells me a different story to which portray's a different ambience at that moment in time. Depending upon my mood, it may harmonise with some of my vision's or could even take me down the wrong train of thought (after all I am human!). We all interperate things differently, and this is where I start my journey of Fashion inspirations for my Summer collection of 2008. I will show you my thoughts and ideas as to what mother nature means to me and how I might be able to influence the way in how people chose everyday clothing....

..............Rainforest & predatorial influence.............

A fabulous inspirational leopard and snake picture looks like it is set in such an inviting warm undergrowth of the forest, the girl is obviously relaxed and comfortable on the back of the leopard and the feline does not look vexed at the snake, its almost asking the snake to keep his distance or else! I am interested in the way that snakes & big cats have been projected by different artists to show their striking good looks and movements in different environment's. They have such a precise attitude when tracking the ground, showing off their slick solid body curvatures, flexing strong muscle power that makes their smooth skin ripple and coats shine with health. I want to reflect images of these beautiful creatures in a way with my designs to show off the feminity of a womans curves in a confident manner. The reason why I chose this picture is because it has a safari appeal, I will be using snakeskins in/on my designs to which will relate to this theme on the catwalk. Felines and females are a preditor to other animals, again reflecting back to the picture I will be using leather skins to cover and embelish the huntress. Just like the Paul Gaultier gown as shown above.

Choice of Books & Seminar Research.............

I have investigated into the world of design ideas to establish the association that I have with East and western ideas for my final project concept. Because I am using Bamboo fabric and accessories this has been imported from the Eastern Japanese and Chinese countries. But also with added influences from Africa & rainforests.

I chose books specifically about bamboo traditions as it is a powerful emblem of life that seems to be a timeless redicovery. It has survived as a harmonious piece of history's element and is important reminder of life and how important and versatile its uses are.

The contemporary visual Japanese textures and uniformaties are outstanding in this book by Slezin, S (et al) "the essence of style" 1994. Thames & Hudson Ltd, London. The importance of putting a stone in place is equally important as placing a plant or decoration in a visual ordally fashion to project peace, tranquility and making the most of any one space. This reminds me of how important it is for me to look at simple sillouhettes showing a true form.

This is a comprehensive historical guide to the plants uses dates back to the biblical times. It is interesting to see that the far East has more respect for their plants. Thomas Jefferson quoted "The most useful service we can render a culture is to add a new plant to its agriculture"-how true is that because it not only provides food and clothing, it can be made into transport, houses, naturally gives out oxygen and is easy to grow! Farelly, D "The book of bamboo" 1984 Sierra Club books, USA. I have now bought a range of bamboo bags and jewellery to compliment the bamboo range of clothing that I will be making.

I have found a dedicated visual book on all about how to grow different bamboo species to help with today's important environmental issues. It is interesting to note that there are over 12000 different varieties that can sustain any given environment, whether you live in a flat, have a large garden that needs protecting from pollution or bog land, to living on the cliff face of the outer hebridees. Whittaker, P "Hardy Bamboos, Taming the Dragon" 2000 by Timber Press, USA.

My western influences are from mainly from Indians by using leathers, feathers, furs and certain hat styles.
One of the best books I have come across in technical variations and creative combinations of converting fabric into fabulous shapes has to come from Collette Wolff and The Art of manipulating fabric. 1996 by Krause publications, USA. I will be using some of the folding techniques when I drape my fabrics onto the mannequins.

I did investigate into other organic fabrics and attended the Pesticide action network (PAN UK) and a Fashion Forum Seminar about future lab trend briefing, to which I found enlightening as to the way farmers are treated and other life threatening industrial perils. Government legislation vary from country to country allowing Manufacturers to find loopholes which are generally in the poorer countries. This is where they are able to bypass certain processes to produce cheaper products being able to use chemicals and state on the end product that it was originally organic-unfortunately fooling the end buyer.

Reason's for using ecological choice of fabrics

The latest sensible fashion phase, naturally points us towards using natural fibres, so not to deplete fossil fuels by using modern fuel gussling manufacturing chemical plants and machinery that considerably contribute towards the green house effect in producing modern day fabrics. I have decided on using; Leather, Silk, Bamboo, organic cottons and recycling items as to where I am able to source locally. Thinking about the small effects placed on the fuel economy and fair trade organisations, I hope that my small contribution will help towards some humanitarian projects by becoming ecologically aware of global warming on our earths structure. We, as individuals, can all contribute in society by designing logical and fair trade conscience products having some of our life's precious concerns in mind.

Clayton is a local source for leather based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire that produce leather chemically and organically, the latter being more expensive due to the length of time it takes to process. www.claytonleather.com for a video of information please click on the site below.

Clayton Leather of Chesterfield - Specialists in Production of Heavy Leather

Fibre absorbtion test

Bamboo wicks away moisture from the body making it so comfortable to wear on the skin in warm conditions but also traps in heat in cold climates. Look how fast the bamboo fabric soaks up water on the left compared to cotton in this video, this means that it will take up dye quite easily.

With thanks to pauly1060 from "You Tube" for sharing this video

.........Butterflies, Feathers & Accessories.........

I will be making Butterflies out of feathers, leather and other materials to embelish or use as additional accessories on some dresses, the idea of using insect and animals embedded out of nature's natural colours will be shown in my final collection.

These pictorial idea's lead me into further research of colourful bird types, because feathers are produced in many variety of shades and lengths which are often moulted onto the ground. Finding available sources in the quantity and colours required a vast knowledge over the Christmas period. I want to use recyled embelishments as simple decoration to my garments/accessories, if need be adding additional colours or details once sculptured into place with wire or nylon but I would have to think about a detatchable way to preserve the design when the garment itself has to be cleaned.

Complimentary web sites, video's and music

There are so many view points from media marketing, advertisement projections that I have skimmed across to indicate some relevance to what I am trying to portray in my summer fashion theme. I visited Stylefeeder and pret-a-porter for some ideas...And from my list of 1980 favourite Hit Songs, I felt that these have some significant inspirational outlooks for my Safari catwalk parade for 2008 in showing true deep meanings and respect for women, animals and our planet.



http://www.net-a-porter.com/Content/1912/CountdownMidnight?cm_mmc=Email-_-Issue88TNG191207-_-NonRegIntl-_-mainstory

Some of the songs I have chosen unfortunately have had their embedding disabled and so I did not add these links to this window. But I could not help to ask you to look at this one wonderful group playing a beautiful sad story set in the desert with a romantic salsa accoustic band backing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBJTNx5qrVU, it really sings a song for my fashion....But there are some others that I would like to share with you....


Imagination- Just an illusion video by SarAlexRipper1
Romantic clothing, sexy movements for a twosome...



Erasure-A little Respect, Seebas
Thinking more about life and neighbouring attachments I felt that this song should be brought up to date.



The Rasmus-In the Shadows, rhealeo
I chose this because it reflects a historic value on life and asks everyone to look into their reflection.



Golden Brown by Stranglers, Nouveauxromo
Because this video has egyptian historical culture, although influence of drug abuse maybe involved, I feel that the mood and feeling has alot to contribute towards the peoples feelings of today. Ambience, control and media manufacturing seems to be the driving passion of adverts, I want to convey a calmness just like the song suggests.



Supernature Entropia Universe01 by fadwa1979 and Cerone, iiigggooorrr1961
A fabulous movement interpretation of natural, genetic and electronic wave lengths, envisaging a whole collection of my thoughts into a powerful summer collection.





Go wild in the Country by Bow Wow Wow, nutopia
Annabella Lewin was naked in the pic on the sleeve in a pastiche of a painting by Manet titled "Dejeuner Sur L'herbe. Annabella (Myant Myant Aye) hadn't quite reached her 16th birthday, it is possibly a criminal offence to have that sleeve in your possession, and MUST NOT be scanned if you intend taking your PC to PC World for repair at anytime. This biography enlightened me into how technology has opened doors and I feel that this music needs to be added to highlight to convey real and true media involvement of innocent young love and life. It almost reflects Adam and Eve with the apple and the serpent.






Britney Spears-My Perogative (Black & White Version) Britney4all
Sexual prowess, organised and controlled feminine movement



Free Your Mind - En Vogue, Atology Looking at values and being unbiased



Cool & the Gang - Fresh, trepallergb
A new woman, fresh and exciting!



Body Rockers - I like the way you move, Tayichi

Colours of inspiration throughout the project

Throughout my Design project I chose a variety of Pantone colours to be used in my final collection of work, this is because they reflect the true colours of nature in a visual evidence with my feather embelishments that I have encountered in my blog and project work. I have shown various rainbow hues that I have envisaged along my Summer romances. Although, when I actually came to source my final project fabrics for 2008 these will eventually determine the actual spectrum and focus upon my Summer collection.

I have experimented and used natural vegetable, fruit and plant dyes to promote a healthier way in dyeing my own fabrics naturally that I have bought. Somebody told me that "KoolAId" soft drinks are natural, but when I purchased a coloured variety pack of flavours there were alot of "e" preservatives inside them. I also found that "natural" food dyes and colourants have got preservatives added to them nowadays. This particular website has a variety of "e" chemical numbers: http://www.juchem.cn/112/en/?em=abt

Final collection of colours

My Safari desert of sun kissed natural dream colours....

Final outlook and projection

The visual evidence of all of the materials and accessories that I have chosen for my final collection is on display.

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This projects the look of what I want to add into my collection, a sexy lady gazing at natures horizons connecting with the safari, watching through an eagle's eye, a mountain lion, a snake, the leopard and woman in the forest