Final Major Project Statement Of Intent - Louise Bako

Project : Futuristic Fashion

Junya Watanabe's Futuristic Collection

Iris Van Herpen's Futuristic Collection

Statement of Intent - Futuristic Fashion

During the process of my ‘Final Major Project’ I will base my collection on ‘Futuristic Fashion’, which I have an active fascination with, I feel that there are vast elements to the word futurism that can all be used successfully to design for my fashion project. To commence with my FMP my initial action will be to research the most recent designs and designers’ collections in futurism - creating several mood boards to present my ideas and research along with colour wheels and fabric samples.

For this project I aim to design and produce 3-4 garments representing the denotation of what futurism for fashion is.  To create designs and ideas for my project I will use some of the most currently prominent sculptural buildings (architecture) to influence my futuristic designs. My initial samples will have a sculptural approach that will clearly illustrate an influence of architecture.

During previous projects, I have researched the era of Retro Futurism of which was significantly used by the designer Pierre Cardin in the decade of the 1960’s. After researching and investigating his futuristic collections (mainly ‘The Space Age’) I became influenced to design my work in a futuristic style – consequently basing my theme for the ‘Final Major Project’ ‘Futuristic Fashion’.

My initial research will be the analysis of Junya Watanabe’s work. I will comprehensively explore the designers’ futuristic clothing collections, looking at the colours, fabrics, and textile techniques used, as well as the general style of the couture. I will then question the influence of Watanabe’s futurism collections furthermore comparing his designs to sculptural architecture (As well as looking into designer Iris Van Herpen) .By researching in a comparative way it should expectedly enhance my ideas.

As my main influence to create futuristic fashion is Sculptural Architecture I will be czexploring Middle Eastern structural design, converting the buildings into an ultramodern clothing collection.

To create an innovative advanced set of garments, the materials and fabrics used need to be able to denote futurism.  Therefore the materials that I utilize need to have qualities that demonstrate strength and long-lastingness.  The fabrics that I have in mind to propose to this project are leathers (both natural and synthetic), metallic foils that I will be fusing onto bland materials, and both thick and thin metals such as: steel, iron, copper, and aluminium. Black will be the main colour of my design collection, as I aim to create a ‘Noir’ summer collection for 2015. Silver and gold will be featured highly to give the futuristic enhancement look, which is also seen as stylish.

Throughout the progression of my FMP I plan to document my development in a journal, sketchbook and blog and outside of college hours I will personally be uploading images of my progress on social networking sites such as: Facebook and Instagram. I will be treating my journal as a diary recording my stages little by little and evaluating the results. I will have an A3 sketchbook, which will contain all research, samples and fashion illustrations all annotated with evaluative writing.  I will be seeking out opinions and advice from my fashion lecturer and tutor to ensure guidance for my Futuristic Fashion project.