Kaledo

Kaledo is a new design program by Lectra that we have recently got in the studio. Over the past few weeks we have a series of short lessons on the basics of the program. Admittedly not being a massive fan of design programs preferring to do it by hand, I found this seems a fairly easy program to use and i can really see the advantages it could have especially with flat drawings. I am also interested in finding out what else it can do!!

Where does the future lead?

When preparing a presentation on where I am now, how I got there and where it could take me i first asked myself these questions.

What have I become good at? How have I become good at it?

I feel over the last year I have become good at being organized, always being quite an organized person it is now more important them ever. With an increasing amount of uni work, also managing a part time job managing time is so important.

My computer skills have also improved two years ago id do anything to avoid a computer, now i quite enjoy it. I believe this due to the constant practice on design programmes I have really seen the advantage of using a computer to do flat drawings, creating patterns and also creating design boards.

What do I feel good about?

At the moment I feel really good about where I want to go, being introduced to the role of a garment tech has really inspired me and given me something to aim for as this is a carrier i would like to do. Looking on job websites there a quite a few jobs going for this role, so i feel this is a realistic aim.

what learning experience had gone wrong and why?

5 people I believe are successful/inspiring?

Viviene Westwood

Tamsin Blanchard

Noki

Gok Won

Nelson Mandela

These people are really inspirational, they truly believe in what they stand for and encourage others to express them self to.

They do this by openly talking about and campaigning about such issues, I believe there determination is with drives them along with there opinions.

Geting back to grips with construction.

Admittedly over the summer break i didn't spend to much time over my sewing machine. Working 12-hours shifts at Tesco I found myself with very limited free time, however working so many hours this benefited me both financially but also with new skills, I found myself with more leadership responsibility and also with the responsibility of presenting the shop floor and doing a lot more visual merchandising then i would usually do. Also with the employment of new staff to help us with the busy few weeks it was a chance to meet new people, make new friends and train them up to me confident and comfortable in their new job role.

So now it is time to get back into construction mode. This is something i don't find to easy and have to have several attempts to get it right, however it is something i enjoy and with determination i hope to improve. After all practice makes perfect!!!

Back 2 uni, group project introduced.

After the long summer break, today we were introduced the group jacket project. Working in a team with two designers and three promoters we are to work together in producing a brand along with a collection of jackets. It will be my first time working on a project with a group of people over a period of time, so I' am looking forward to the new skills i will learn throughout the process as well as getting to know my fellow team mates.

Exhibition at V&A- Royal college London

This year the V&A are having an exhibition of the work of the MA students at the Royal College London. It was defiantly well worth the visit, there was video footage of there end of year show along with many of the garments being displayed. I found it so inspiring looking at the work they had done and the different techniques they had used to get the desired look. Along side some of the garment were the sketch books from the students that showed how they got to their final outcome in a way i found this most interesting as it show their developing stages and the different steps they had taken.

fda Fashion - End of year show.

For the second years this was the night it all came down to, they had been organizing this event for the past year and was there chance to show off there amazing collections they had produced. Some of the first years also go a chance to show of there designs and I was lucky enough to be chosen. This was a great experience to have and has made me really motivated for next year.

At the show we as first years dressed backstage, the excitement and adrenalin was huge and it felt alot more personal than previous dressing experience I have had, I think this is because I knew how important this was to the designers. I cant wait until next year!

Clothes show Live LONDON!

This summer Clothes Show live returned to where it all began in London. I make a visit to the show every year in December in Birmingham but as it was the first time back in London for years I made the exception to go twice this year.....like I need an excuse to go shopping and to watch a fashion show.

However it was my first and last time I will ever drive around London again its crazy.

The stoles at the show were much the same as those at the Birmingham show, Magazines, Heath, Beauty products. Make up brands, Hairdressing, Clothes, Jewellery and informations stands on different fashion courses around the U.K.

Throughout the day there were all sorts of things going on at different stages on the arena, one of which I was interested to see was Erin O'Coners talk on how she got scouted as a model and the journey it has lead to, this was really interesting to listen to as she recalled many memories of her carrier.(photograph shown bellow)

Now to the most exciting apart, the fashion show. This year it was put together by Doll the same company that I worked for at London fashion week back in February and the producers of the fda show last year, this made it more exciting to watch, knowing what goes on behind the seen made me appreciate the show even more so.