Natural Beauty

'Natural Beauty'

I have an obsession with flora and the dried results of collected flora, from stick to pods, hydrangea's and roses to eucalyptus leaves and gum nuts. I love how the colour changes and results in naturally interesting textures. I love the way my collection breaks up the starkness of what would otherwise be empty and devoid surfaces. It makes me happy to look at the collective colour combinations of my natural objects that sit beautifully with my textile samples and vintage and contemporary objects that positively clutter my personal space. It is through my obsession with the natural beauties and my love of knitwear that I decided to study textile design. I needed a way to express myself creatively through a surface application that interested me- fabric or fashion.   

Home is where the Heart is....

'Home is where my Heart is'

Pictured is a three panel collage that Skot created for me whilst I was on a month long holiday in the USA, 2004. He has collected and compiled things that are important to us both individually and collectively from my mother who passed away when I was 6, my childhood horse, me as a child, Skot as a gorgeous redheaded kid, a clip of another artwork he created for me, a map of Richmond, David Bowie, Puma shoes (for him), the Flat Iron Building NY, to name a few. 
The main focus of the panel is a enlarged photocopy of Skot and myself. Our apartments wall are filled with Skots artwork while the shelves and surfaces are stacked with my knick knacks and things I love. I have a compelling need to surround myself with vintage and contemporary eclectic 'things'. I believe that an empty space represents and empty mind- hence why there is so many higglety pigglety objects in my home. I believe in surrounding myself with beauty in colour, texture, tactility and overall object. 

Recent hand generated Work

 Recent Hand generated work

These are to progress pictures taken during the arduous 'Ladelle' project recently completed in my final year of my BA- Textile Design. It was an industry project creating designs to be incorporated into kitchen accessories (apron, tea towels, pot holder, double glove and oven glove).
I really enjoyed (in the end) the hand generated process because ultimately these designs would be scanned and reworked in Photoshop. This knowledge of the design approach for the final outcome allowed more freedom and room for further development without the pressure of definitive mark making. 
I feel I really reiterated my ability to take an aesthetically pleasing design for me and developing this into a highly commercial pattern repeat. 
The final outcome of this project was definitely something I would not wear or buy, however I was happy and creatively proud with what I achieved. I learnt that I have the ability to create commercially viable designs without completely selling my soul.
I received positive feedback from the design team at Ladelle, that they saw the progression through my croquis into commercially applicable designs.
In hindsight I learnt a lot from this project both personally and professionally.

Actualisation of a dream.....

 Paris December 2011, I had a moment………After visiting Chanel’s first boutique, on Rue Cambon, and buying myself a Christmas present of Chanel No. 5 (showing discipline through the temptation of the bags and sunglasses I opted to keep my present classic and simple- Chanel summarised) …… I had an aah haa moment. I stood at the bottom of the stairs of Chanel. Stairs that I have seen photographed repeatedly through my reading and discovering of Coco Chanel.

The staff were amazingly accommodating to me after I enquired about the infamous staircase, I think they were intrigued that I asked, that I knew of it. A security guard kindly took me to a secured/private entrance which revealed the mirrored staircase, I was mesmorised and felt inspired and overwhelmed by the idea that I was in the same staircase that Chanel sat on many times during her years designing. Every fashion show she secretly observed, from the top of the staircase through the fragmented mirrors, the reactions of her guests. I tentatively asked to take a photo, thinking I would be immediately dismissed but to my pleasure and surprise I was allowed, the security guard even offering to take a photo of me. I was in heaven and walking on clouds.

Chanel has always intrigued me as a woman and a designer, as a progressive thinker and a boundary pusher. I have always admired Chanel’s tenacity and audacious manner in her approach to life and her aspirations. She was proudly opinionated and unbelievably driven in a time when women were taking their first steps of independence, it can be fairly said she even pathed a path in the revolution of woman's wear  .

I had been to Paris before and I have thoroughly enjoyed both visits, however I would have to say my moment at Chanel was a real epiphany of what is possible if you believe in yourself and push yourself against the drudgery of what life can be. I will always be intrigued by the enigma of Coco Chanel and the legacy she has left behind. I admire and respect her as a woman and a designer. She is one woman I would certainly love to sit and have a deep conversation with if time travel were ever possible…….

Spin Expo Shanghai

During my time at NTU, I was asked to participate in collaboration with Sophie Stella who is renown knit trend forecaster and swatch developer in the UK. Her studio has been running a project with NTU Fashion and Knitted Design students for years (she is a graduate of the course). The collaboration involved choosing a trend, decided by Sophie Stella, for Spring Summer 2012/13 and develop at least 4 swatches to then have 2 of those chosen to be shown at Spin Expo in Shanghai. My decided trend was ‘Cosmic Transformation’ which focused on very 60’s feeling colour palette with bright, fun and pop colours that were synonymous with the psychedelic colours available through new fibre production.

I produced multiple swatches in various colour proportions from my Stohl power knit design that I had created initially for my 4 garments to be accessed. I then screen-printed a line detail over a couple, left some plain and knitted the 4^th colour in (the line detail).

This was all very rushed as it was my last week of study at NTU and we still had 4 garments to complete and a fashion show to organise, however it was an opportunity to good to pass up ……

I am really pleased with the result and I’m proud that an image of my swatches on display is used as the cover image for my chosen trend on a Spin Expo link (provided below- password = trend). I am really happy that I have had swatches displayed in such a prestigious expo with approximately 20,00 visitors over 3days. Over all I was extremely satisfied with all the work I accomplished during my 5 month stay in the UK and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

 http://sophiesteller.dphoto.com/folder/33cfdn
 www.spinexpo.com

Pitti Filatti, Florence has been a dream of mine to visit. I did it this year in January with NTU as a school excursion. To be honest I was a little disappointed because it was the Spring Summer exhibition that we visited. The yarns were amazing quality and tactility was paramount, however the knit structures and diversity were somewhat limited and it was explained that the Autumn Winter exhibition was much more exciting to visit. All the same I found the 'Future Trends' area highly inspirational as it was much more youth and trend focused. The pictures shown are from the 'Future Trends' stand and through the imagery it is evident that appreciation of land and the hand crafted (feel) was coming to the forefront of trend analysis. The stand had tractors and farming machinery to support the trend definition while the mannequins had an Amish feel with simple yet interestingly constructed pieces being displayed.   

I found the whole experience of Pitti Filatti interesting as I had over thought the whole experience after hearing so much from many sources. Inspirationally it was great with various interpretations of upcoming trends from yarn choice in weight, fibre, ply and yarn colour and ways to use the yarns. Texture and colour have become the relevance of upcoming development with the incorporation of mixing patterns, colour and texture within the one garment. The weight of the cottons, silks, linens and especially the merino has developed greatly, with merinos now in super fine (finer as a silk and blended with various fibres for more superior results). Development in the yarn fibre area felt paramount at the expo with an underlying tone to the importance of environmental sustainability.

 

However, many of the students, found the stallholders were disappointing in their approach to us as students. There was only one stallholder that followed the belief that we were the new generation of designers and should be treated with the same respect as existing designer; he was of Asian origins, with a less discriminate approach to business. The negativity from store holders really made you feel uncomfortable and less willing to participate in the exhibition once you were in Industry. Their loss, I feel.

Overall, I would love to visit Florence again however this time visit the Autumn/Winter exhibition to experience the difference between the two seasons and allow myself to make a more informed decision on the relevance and importance of the exhibition (it is argued the Spin Expo- Shanghai has taken over in size and relevance to Industry, it is also more local to us in Australia). 

WHERE I STARTED AND WHERE I AM GOING- HOPEFULLY......

In 2004 , I visited the USA for the first time. I stayed with a very close friend in San Francisco and travelled with her to New York. It was in the states that I really started to take notice of knit wear, as they are known for their sports wear consisting of luxe knits of beautiful yarn quality and simple/classic design style, my attention was captured. 
It was in Neiman Marcus, SF, that I saw the Stella McCartney knit pictured left. I was captivated and in awe of the colour, quality and quite simply it's being.... I wanted it.... I couldn't have it...... it was from the love at first sight with this timeless garment that my love for knit grew.
As I child my mum used to knit us jumpers, ones we used to wear to firecracker night (Guy Falkes night). I have more vivid memories of the stiff and scratchy wool that the jumpers were made of rather than the visual feast that was bursting into the sky. From these memories I didn't dare venture near knitted items for EVER.....until approximately 20 years later I discovered 'THE' Stella McCartney knit. A relationship was reborn.
I was working in the fashion industry in Australia at the time of my visit to the USA, and was surrounded by creativity on a daily basis however I was in a sales role, I had been questioning being in customer service for the rest of my life yet didn't know what I wanted to do...... 
My attention was pointed toward the Diploma in Textile Design at RMIT, they offered knit, which is what I wanted to discover and explore. I continued on with the Diploma for 2.5 years. At first, I was part time while I worked full time then unfortunately with the changes of manufacturing in Australia, I was made redundant. I joined the Diploma full time yet before completing the Diploma I decided to see if I could get accepted in to the Degree, as I had heard so many great things about the course (within Industry) and knew of the accreditation the course held within Industry. I was accepted, THANK GOD, and the rest is history. 
My main passion in knit, the tactility of the fabrics and yarns, however I have also discovered a love for playing and exploring colour, pattern and texture. 
As I approach the end of the Degree and the (daunting) prospect of the workforce, I have resolved I would (ultimately and hopefully) like to start in a large/r commercial fashion company in which they have systems and procedures in place. I would like to obtain a position where I have a clear role and job description, allowing me to focus on my new role as a designer. I want to be part of a big team and test the corporate waters........