wooo its been a while, have been so busy with so much to do. Cant beleave how quick this term has gone with only just over a week left until we break up for Christmas time. Yesterday the group visited London again, this time it was to see the Fashion V Sport event at the V&A, this was in preparation for are next design project. I found very inspirational and found out lots of information that i recorded to help with the project.

For the rest of the day we explored London, walking from the V&A up to Covent Garden, vistiting shops and tourist attractions along the way. This gave me a real feel for London and allowed us all to take in the atmosphere. Along the way we visited Dover Street Market, it wasn't what we expected at all and felt quite serial. However it was god too see some innovative designs. 

We then finished the days in a bar drinking cocktails ... very Sex In the City Like!

NYC presentation

Today was presentation day, over the last few weeks we have been working in groups to put together a presentation  on a capital city of out choice. We found it best to divide the group up and each have our topic areas to research and report back. Once this was done we got back together in our group and put together the presentation using power point, we also gathered images at this point.

I found we worked well as a team and as a result had a professional   looking  presentation. When it came to presenting to the rest of the glass we were all quite nervous, arraigning for different people to say different parts this became less nerve racking and we all began to quite enjoy it. 

Watching other groups presentations i found i learnt allot about the different city's and found it really worth while.

Fabric sourcing in london

yesterday was are first trip!!! we set of for London at eight am and arrived around eleven . The task for our group was to find natural fabrics. We got the tube to oxford street and from there went to the fabrics shops there and also in Soho, popping into a few other high streets and designers stores on the way...Selfridges was amazing!!!!

Once we found the fabrics, these included Silks, Wool and Linen we then talked in out groups about the different attitudes the people in the fabric shops had and also the vast difference in helpfulness they gave. From this we agreed in the shops that we would visit again.

The time was now around half two.We then headed to Camden, here we had lunch and looked around the market to see the different things available  and the unique things available.

It was then a rush back to the bus and a long three hour journey back home. 

 

   

The last few days

Since thursday we have been pattern cutting, attended a Peclers presentation and are currently researching Easton European  Folk costume, this is part of the Folk project that will be lasting until the 10th November.

In pattern cutting we were leaning about darts and how to change the the positions of them, i found this very interesting  and found i made progress throughout the day. 

The Peclers presentation i found was very useful, here we were told the fashion forecasts for A/W 09/10 and S/S 2010

What 2 look out for:

* Print

* Peg Pants

* 80s influence

* Mixing different patterns together

* Vintage

* Retro

* Chunky Knitwear 

Currently i am using www.easterneuropeanart.com to research Folk Costume in Eastern  Europe, this is a brilliant website and i am finding it very information and inspirational. 

Pattern cutting

Today was pattern cutting, this seams to be the part of the course I am enjoying the most. From knowing little about pattern cutting to start with, in the few lessons we have had so far I feel I have learned a great deal and find it very enjoyable. 

Result of Organic Project

This is the outcome of the organic project. This was a 2 day project in which i gained inspiration from tree roots, then looked at the ways different designers including Christopher Kane (collection shown) that have used ruffles and other fabric minipulation techniques that have been used in recent collections. From the reaserch gathered i found it was itting to recyle a current garment i had (denim shirt) and manipulate it to respond to project brief. Iam very pleased with the outcome.

Organic Project.....

This is the mood board i created for the organic project.

Look back... induction week

I have just found out how to put phots on, so heres a quick update of what iv been getting up too.

The photo adove is from the induction week, we worked in groups the previous day and went into bournemoth center where we answered a questionair. From this the next day we were given simple materials to design and create a piece with the ispiration from bournemouth we gathered the prevous day. We were inspired by the marry-go-round on bournemouth pier, thius was the results! We thrn had to model are creations.....so embarising, however this increased my confodence.

Indesign

In the last two days iv yet again had lots of information to take in, yesterday we had a library induction. i found this really useful and opened up all sort of different sources of ways of getting information to me. In the afternoon we then had a lesson on `Indesign` (a computer program), i found this very useful and found i learnt alot in this section as i had never used this program before.

Today was probably my favorite day of the course so far, we learnt how to use the machines and equipment in the construction room and with that produced a series of examples of different seam using calico, sewing machine, the press and overlocker. The machines are very different to what i have used in the past, however once i had got used to them i found them alot better to use than those that i have used previously. 

New Imac.....fashion Genius

Wow, how quick did that week fly by?

It has been a busy week, getting to know new faces and learning lots of new things, it has been very enjoyable. Having just bought myself an Imac i`am still trying to get to grips with it....its so different to what i`am used to, however im sure i will soon work out how it all works.

What i have enjoyed most about this week was pattern cutting, i found this very enjoyabe and felt i came out and the end of the day with lots of new skills, witch is after-al is what were are here for.

I have just watched british Fashion Genius on bbc2. This gave me lots on information on both past and current fashion and a further insight to the industry, with the highlight and focus mainly being on topshop i hadn`t released how much topshop differs from other high street stores, including there unique designs etc. what i found most interesting in the program was towards the end when the focus was on second hand fashion, the re-working on clothes bought in charity shops such as oxfam and other ethical issues around the topic.

Im trying to get in a routine and write on here everyday so if all goes to plan i will update 2maro with more info and opinions on the day witch is to come, with it being such an interesting and developing part of my life im sure ill have something to say.

Getting Started

Today i have created my first blog, this is very new to me. It is my second weeks at university at the AIB. Im feeling really motivated and cant wait to get started! 

First week over already.

We started the day by taking a quick scan test, this identified our learning style, this is useful for both ourselves and the tutors. The test also identified if we had any learning difficulties. From this i found i work best when I'm seeing and doing rather then listening and that i do not have any learning difficulties.

in the afternoon working in the groups we had worked in yesterday we had to design and make an outfit with given materials (picture shown above). We based the design on the merry-go-round we had seen at b'mth pier.  we all found this a very enjoyable task.

Orientation Brief Day

Today was a really good day for getting to know people as we worked in small groups. After the disappointment of a few members of the group not turning up we were all motivated to get on, answer the questions and find inspiration from the surroundings.  having an advantage me and another member of the group had as were were local we could help guide and lead the group, by doing this we all benefited. 

On completion of the quiz and after tacking photographs we then hit the shops!

The second day

Eager to attend after the good day i had yesterday, we were first welcomed by the principles talk, i felt very welcomed by him and the talk reassured me that the AIB was the place i wanted to be and how lucky i was to gain a place there.

During the day we had varies talks about different things at the institute and we the enrolled. What stuck out most to me about the day was watching the fashion show from the previous years graduating students. Having already seen the show live last june and the two previous shows before it still had the same effect on me as it did then. This gave a real eager motivation, knowing that hopefully my work will be shown on the catwalk in 2010, being the peck and most satisfying part of my fda. 

I'am looking forward to the group orientation as i hope i will get to know more people. 

First day at AIB

Arriving at AIB earlier today was very daunting, when meeting with a few familiar faces i had met at the summer study course this summer. This eased my nerves somewhat. 

When gathering together my first impression was how many people there were on the course. With so many new names and faces it is going to take a while to get to know everyone. 

Throughout the day i got to briefly  know a few people which made things easier and more comfortable.

Learning more about the course, the structure and subject areas has furthered my enthusiasm and i cant wait to get started!