Japan in 60s

Japanese dolls from the 60s

-Alexandra

Looking at 60s prints

Prints

Fashion designers took inspiration from op art.

Briget Riley op artist.

-Mary Ann

Yes! and I'm loving the print design. I'm thinking taking this concept literally, and making the print incorporate sewing materials. Needles, pins, thimbles, scissors, etc. Also, I think the dress should just be white with black details and a black print.

Also, we need to go fabric shopping.

-Mary Ann

Dita Von Teese Inspiration might be where this is going.

I love the neckline of this.


Collaboration with wheels and doll baby


-Alexandra

Modernizing it?

The construction of the dress is a good idea, but I also think it should be a bit more modernized. I think I want this to be a dress that could be marketed to a mass audience. Even with cyber goth clothing, the styles are very contemporary, and trendy, even though cyber goth sort of changes. Even lolita has evolved. I think it should be inspired by the 60s, but not try to immitate an exact pattern. As much as I love what Betty Draper wears, I don't think I would wear it every day. Perhaps a less poofy skirt and dropping the waistline a little bit.

-Mary Ann

Sounds good to me. I'm thinking we can go for a high scoop neckline with a scalloped collar.


Then a tulle skirt (poofy skirt)

-Alexandra

Iron on transfer ideas

How about I use iron on transfers. They work on cotton, and I think if the dress was a lighter colour, white, yellow, it might be the most effective.


-Mary Ann

issues with printing

I love the print idea, but there might be an issue. Im guessing you would want something digitally printed, and although it would be ideal for a company to do it, to design 1 dress, which would only require 2-3 meters, it can get expensive. Usually fabric patterns are at least 50m.

In terms of the construction of the dress, I think it is a good idea if we aim for a simple silhouette, with a wide skirt, collard fitted shirt and. I noticed for the prada bag and mark ryden dress, the construction is very simple because the pattern is really ornate.

-Alexandra

Artists input

Since there is a collaborative aspect, I need to include an artistic element. I was looking at some other art fashion collaborations such as James Jean for  Prada inspiration and Mark Ryden

Mark Ryden

I want to design a print that will represent your style (lolita) but also have a unique print that will represent me as an artist.

-Mary Ann

50s or 60s

Most people assume the 60s fashion to be either hippie (which is mainly a 70s fashion movement)

or Mod (which was more underground, and popular with youth culture)

Most women were still wearing pretty dresses, well constructed with tulle skirt and a collared shirt. Madmen is very accurate when depicting 60s fashion.

Betty Draper, far left is probably the most accurate of the average woman. I think it would be best to go with an early 60s theme or late 50s theme. This was before clothing was majorly outsourced, so there is true craftsmenship.

-Alexandra

Concept: Craftsmenship

Prior to the 1970s, mass globalization, outsourcing to other countries was not a major issue. Many products were Made in Canada, or the country where the country where company originated. Alexandra is strongly opposed to this idea, and I think the collaboration project should definitely address these issues as it is something relevant today.

The 1950s-60s experienced mass-consumerism, but often clothing can made and manufactured in the country of origin. For the project, I think we should direct the work towards a more 50s-60s look, maybe slightly modernized. ie/ Madmen

(Also the "lady-like" trend is something fashionable today, and is very feminine like your work)

-Mary Ann

Collaboration Project

This blog will document the ideas, concepts, inspirations and processes related to the production of the Artist Meets Seamstress Project. Mary Ann (Artist) and Alexandra (Seamstress) will communicate through here to visually express what the assignment is about.

About Alexandra:

I am a seamstress at Future State, a Canadian Cyber Goth clothing company, independently owned and run. Depending on who you work for, a seamstress can have different jobs, all of which involve the craft of sewing. I sew, but I also pattern draft. Pattern drafting is when you take a design and you calculate all of the measurements, materials, etc. depending on the size of the dress (standard sizes are s,m,l,xl, or custom sizing) so they can be traced cut and sewn. Depending on where you live, pattern drafting can be different. I am inspired by Japanese pattern drafting and fashion which is different from North American. 

Patterns typically look different as patterns in Japanese usually involve shapes that are cut into squares, vs the curves cut in North American pattern drafting.

 Japanese

North American

So my personal work is inspired by the Japanese sub-culture commonly known as Lolita which is inspired by Classical Rococo patterns.

This is some of my work

 Me :)

Other Clients.

(The Girl in the middle is not my work)

Non Lolita Custom work

(Lingerie for Triumph Inspiration Fashion Show)

As a seamstress I strongly believe in craftsmenship and quality in any product. It is difficult to be a seamstress in Canada because you are required to do a lot of work for such a low pay, vs architects, construction workers, etc, in order to compete with low labour costs in China.