Oopsidaisi

I came across GORGEOUS childrenswear label, Oopsidaisi, on facebook and i cannot get enough of the collection! Everything from the cute headbands to retro playsuits embodies their design aesthetic. The label originated in Sydney in 1994 and ever since has been creating one off handmade items, never to order as it 'interfers with their creativity' and ensures each item is different from the next. The playsuits, although for children, are a good example of simple construction really allowing the print to be the statement which is what i want my collection to be all about. Following a tutorial with Anne and Tony it was suggested that i could make a couple of garments and a couple bags which i wasn't too enthusiastic about before as i couldn't get the idea of tote bags out of my head and everyone seems to be customising those at the moment but seeing the bag above with the textile flower element has really opened my mind to the possibilities. These too could be reversible in keeping with the 'beach to BBQ' concept and USP.

Illustration prints 2

The still life drawing at the top is of flowers i found in my garden which i drew next to each other without any gaps so i could blend the pink between the 3 more seamlessly. Initally i scanned the picture in and cut around it on Photoshop but it looked too obviously 'cut out' and lost the raw feel to it so instead i opened it on Illustrator and used the life trace tool. This automatically traces around the image but as there is such a range of tones in the drawing it was very 'bitty' so i chose the 4 colour option which creates a neater image whilst still keeping the textured feel. From this i then adjusted the colours, composition, scale and background colour. Some are more successful than others (i particularly like the 3rd, 5th and 7th) but overall i am really pleased with the results as they are clean and graphic whilst still having a raw textured feel about them which is central to my design philosophy. They almost remind me of a vintage wallpaper or carpet but with a contemporary twist.

I have begun to consider what kind of approach i would take to the different seasons - i want the garments to be worn all year round but adapted for colder weather with thick tights, chunky cardigans etc. However, some of the prints lend themselves more towards the summer (especially the yellow) so this is something to think about if i go on to designs the winterwear (grey tights for example would be more suitable and less harsh than black...).

Illustration prints

I wanted to take a different direction from the really graphic, vector prints i have been producing so i created the illustration at the top of the post to work from. I am really pleased with the results as they are still have a strong edgy look which stops the hand drawings looking too scruffy. I particularly like the first repeat as it is consistant whereas some of the others have too much negative space. I think these prints provide a real contrast from my previous designs which is a good thing as i want to reverse of the garment to be totally different.

Points to consider 2

- Develop more hand-drawn prints for that more personal feel then approach target consumer for feedback before developing a final range.

- Consider prints on garment designs - dispersed up/down/across fabric? Same density across whole garment? Stripes/circles of print? Totally diverse look on reverse or still some consistency? Merge prints together so that they bleed into each other across garment/whole collection?

- Product - just dresses or tops and skirts too? Keep construction simple for ease of making and to let prints make the statement.

- Could use the same template for example for a dress but add and adjust sleeves/collar/pocket/length/neckline for a consistent collection but also different final products. Turn dresses into playsuits?

- Experiment with fabrics eg Crepe de Chine has been suggested but will the print on the reverse show thorough? ways to get around this?

- Reversible element - fastenings? How will it work?

- Could either aim for a collection of 6 or perhaps do less to then concentrate on photoshoot/lookbook to showcase typography and illustration skills for example. Taking on too much if i do this?

Points to consider 1

Following Market Awareness lecture with Tiffany:

- Importance of ethical sustainability in ideas - I am considering using organic fabrics but i must consider cost implications of this. This will also come from market research as i need to establish what kind of level i am aiming at as the price of organic fabric is increasing so might make my garments unattainable for my consumer. 

- It is predicted that in the next 10 years online shopping will increase by 350%. Consider website as part of project? One idea is to have the range of prints online and people can pick which 2 they want for each side of the dress. Unrealistic at this stage due to cost implications (every garment would have to be made to order) but idea for development.

- Rise in social networking, m-commerce etc - use these to my advantage to get people talking about the brand. I am aiming at a lifestyle rather than an age range but i could target the younger side through these means. Eg facebook page - useful way of getting feedback as quick, easy to use and as most of my peers have it and log on frequently it is a convenient way for them to give their opinion. 

- Return to heritage/british fabrics - although this is current at the moment and definitly something to be considered, i want to create garments which are fashionable but not too trend driven so they will still be relevant and wearable season after season which also relates to....

- 'Recession Concussion' - people are buying less (75% of fashion consumers have cut back their spending since the recession) and want more for their money and better quality. By offering 2 garments in 1 people are getting something more diverse, value for money and with that little something extra. People don't want throw away fashion any more. The amount of times i have bought an item which i love and wish i had in every colour, and people will be getting that kind of appeal with my garments - once they find the cut/style that suits them they will get 2 looks out of it. I must give my consumer a reason to buy my product as people are impulse buying less and less. 

- 'Grey market' - 1 in 4 of those 55+ purchase goods that are trend driven. As i am aiming at a lifestyle rather than a set age range it is important that i consider the older end of the scale to ensure i meet their needs also. I don't think this will compromise design as it is not as thought i am aiming at everyone say 40+, just those who follow the kind of beach/rural culture and lifestyle.

- Listen to customer, react to what they say, don't be afraid to admit you have done something wrong as customers will talk to their friends, family, colleagues etc and it is important that they are saying positive things if i want my brand to be successful.

Simple daisy repeats

Although i want a really ecclectic mix of print and embroidery in my final garments, i think some of the prints i have created have been too bold and overpowering to then be embroidered. This isn't to say i won't use these as i could have them on one side and a more toned down or even plain fabric on the reverse which has been embelished. I have made the really simple, clean patterns above as i think they will really showcase the embroidered shapes without being too much. I can see these kind of prints being much more wearable for the kind of market i am aiming for. At the moment i am just churning out lots of abstract designs which don't necessarily have an obvious link to one another (other than the floral, graphic aesthetic). From here i will approach the kind of women i want to wear my designs and see what the think and which they would wear before i then use the results to develop a final collection of prints. It is really important that i do this as there is no point going ahead and designing prints which i would wear if the women i am aiming at will not be interested.

Collection of prints

From the basic daisy outline before i have created inital collections of prints although these were just really experiments to look at combinations/colours/scale of a successful collection. I have used the same shapes throughout which really ties it all together and i think the more simple prints compliment the others well. These could perhaps be used on a collar or pocket or sleeve to break up the main print whilst keeping it consistant.

Daisy outline prints

Some abstract prints using the pencil tool again to outline the daisy, but this time i traced around the different shading instead of just the outline to get a more abstract effect. I think the second and third, being more neutral, would work really well with an embroidered neckline dispersing down the garment in a really bright, bold colour - maybe cerise pink? Rather than use the same shapes as those in the print for the embroidery, i am thinking about using block shapes from one of my early prints for an even more ecclectic look. Points to consider - scale of embroidered flowers in relation to those on the print? Same size? Mixed sizes? Smaller or bigger?

Daisy outlines

Following on from the previous post, i created a pattern using just the daisy outline i made on Illustrator. I love the last one as it has the kind of retro 70's feel i have mentioned before and something which is important to my design philosophy. It also reminds me of kalidoscope patterns which i used to love when i was younger. This could be a possible route to go down as there is a really nostaligic feel about kalidoscopes and makes the prints more personal to me. I could develop creating these designs out of the flower shapes like the prints in this post so there is more to them than initally meets the eye.

Daisy prints

Whilst at Bournemouth Gardens taking pictures i also made some quick sketches in watercolour pencils, example of a daisy above. I then worked into these once i was home and made some simple repeat patterns as a starting point. I took a picture of the flowers at each stage of sketching so i would have more to work with. The print at the bottom was created from the inital watercolour without any outline, instead i traced around it on illustrator. I prefer this effect as the lines are cleaner and more graphic which compliments the painting.