Androgony

I have been exploring androgyny for a while and this is some of the research of designers I have looked into.
Nathan Jenden was one of the first designers I explored. Some of his women's wear has a masculine feel to it, the women are wearing suits in the image below. I am interested in androgony as it takes away the typical sex roles and portrays that no matter what the sex you can do and be what you feel like. Times before the 1920's it would have been unacceptable for a women to wear trousers and a suit, the 20's was a massive influence in changing this.

http://www.fashionmefabulous.com/2009/02/london-fashion-week-favorites-so-far.html

Theres something interesting about the change in attitudes of women's wear, but it seems that in mens wear it isnt widely accepted that they can wear skirts or a dress, I want to test this and experiment with an unacceptable world. Testing peoples attitudes towards fashion excites me, I want it to be acceptable for both a man and a women to be able to wear the same garment. 

Looking back at KTZ mens wear the idea that men can wear feminine clothes has been tested and in my opinion works well, they appear to be both suitable for both sexes. This collection is from the AW 2013. 

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_profile.aspx?DesignerID=1047

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_profile.aspx?DesignerID=1047

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_profile.aspx?DesignerID=1047

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_profile.aspx?DesignerID=1047

It is interesting how KTZ has explored feminine clothing on males. I have taken huge inspiration from KTZ throughout this project and the research conduced has heavily influenced my ideas towards my garment and my sampling.

Marios 'Nowhere' collection

Marios' Summer 2012 collection uses imagery printed onto fabric. I want to experiment with this, but then layer over the top of the print. This is made possible as we have a digital printer to print whatever we want onto fabric. Working with my monochrome colour scheme, I will edit my images to grey scale and then print them.
I have noticed that all these garments have very simple pattern and shape. I want to test the idea of menswear by creating a dress that can be worn by males as well as females.

http://www.marios.eu/

http://www.marios.eu/

http://www.marios.eu/

http://www.marios.eu/

KTZ- Designer

Using the idea of working with typography and looking at the fonts that I would use, I have explored KTZ. KTZ produce masculine womens wear, The top garment that I have chosen is a shirt, but can be worn on a woman, so it fits in with the androgynous theme. The prints on the garments remind me of stencil printing, and have a war like feel to them. The monochrome colour scheme works really well and I would like to try working with this, and experiment with highlights of colour.

This is one of my favourite womens wear garments by KTZ, the busy text and the boldness of it would work well with the typography that I found within the brewery. The shape and structure of the jacket could be worn by either a male or female, it is a very simple shape. 

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_profile.aspx?DesignerID=1047

KTZ Mens Wear

http://hirearchy.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/dsc_0069.jpg

http://www.kokontozai.co.uk/

The badges on this garment from KTZ remind me of a WW2 uniform, its structure also resembles that of a war uniform. It fit with the androgynous theme as it could be worn by either sex and still look right. The masculine element of this jacket relates really well to the masculinity in the brewery, and the sewn on badges could be the typography within or beer mats. 

http://www.kokontozai.co.uk/

http://www.kokontozai.co.uk/

Primary Photo, found page in brewery

http://www.kokontozai.co.uk/

http://www.kokontozai.co.uk/

The SS13 collection from KTZ is very similar to some of the uniform images I found in a catalogue at the brewery. The uniformed look works well, I would like my garment to adapt this very masculine and organised look.
Typography features highly within all the garments I have looked at, I will try experimenting with different fonts and placement of text. I would like to explore layering and ensuring the text has meaning toward it. 

Brighton Biba Exhibit

There was a collection of Biba's fashion garments and illustrations. There wasnt much which could influence my derelict buildings theme, but I did like some of the structural elements. Collars were popular throughout Barbara Hulanicki's designs, I will try to intemperate this within my new project. Hulanicki's designs from the sixties and seventies are still fashionable and wearable now, and collars are very much back in fashion. 

Mary Katrantzou

Another designer discovered from research into this months London Fashion Week is Mary Katrantzou. Her designs include strong imagery within the garments. The images and close ups make up the pattern of the fabrics. Many of the garments from her AW 2013 collection are monochrome with only subtle hints of other colours and this is what I am working towards. Her simple edgy designs are very futuristic, using bold and daring shapes she has created a collection to aspire to. I am taking inspiration from the images she uses within her designs to create my own garment, with only some bright colour.
AW 2013 Collection... Just a few of my favourites

All from London Fashion Week website

Inspiration from London Fashion Week

So after sadly missing London Fashion Week I have researched some of the artists that attended and did catwalks.
The first designer I have looked at and who will influence my later work is Jean Pierre Braganza. His AW 2013 collection, reflects the use of photographs and digital imagery that I have used throughout my work. He uses structured and simple shapes, with simple prints. A particular favourite of the show was the dress below. Jean Pierre has used a black and white colour scheme throughout this collection with highlights of colour. I aspire to create something with influence from his collection. Conducting further research I have discovered that his Spring/Summer 2013 collection used geometric shapes and the same black and white theme, it reminds me of the black and white dress that I previously made.

AW 2013

Spring/Summer 2013 Collection

Reem Alasadi

Looking at Reem Alasadi's work has inspired my lace skirt. She uses found objects to create garments, these can be both vintage and modern. I have used lace which was bought from a charity shop and draped it on a mannequin. I took greatinspiration from the 'thrown together' look of Alasadi's garments. She has also used a similar black and white colour scheme in a selection of her Twisted Oliver collection 2012.
Here are images from this collection below...

reemalasadi.com