Pic of the week!

I was happy to stumble across this photograph today during an on-line hunt for a cloth measuring tape. Taken in 1950 it shows a London seamstress with the tools of her trade. This image, one of a set of 252 black and white photographs assembled by the photographer, was shown in an exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum last year called "Irving Penn - Small Trades"

Apprentice Appointed

Announcing a very warm welcome to my Nine Trades Apprentice Carrie Ferguson - a third year Textile Design student at DJCAD (soon to enter her final year). Carrie and I have been working hard during the past weeks developing ideas and producing test swatches for new designs. These fabric designs are inspired by the conversations and encounters I've had with Dundee textile trade workers during my Nine Trades research trips. You may remember for instance I've been asking people about the tools of their trade. I wanted to translate this unique collection of tools into a Nine Trades textile design and a bepoke garment and Carrie is actively helping me on realizing this project. The Textile Detective concept just took a new turn....more on that very soon!

Carrie showing me some recent examples of her work at out first Nine Trades meeting.

Drive-in-tastic!

Although sore wrists threw a spanner into the blogging works for a while there - I've never the less been busy with Nine Trade business.

For instance I couldn't resist the urge to get dressed up and head down to a very special Drive-In Movie night in Dundee a few weeks back.



As part of his work at the Michelin Factory, fellow Nine Trades artist Chris Dyson, hosted a drive-in for workers at the plant. 'Grease' was the flick and this chick wasted no time on arrival in town dashing down to her trusted Dundee costume suppliers 'Utopia' to select the appropriate outfit.

Blogging

Blogging temporarily interrupted due to wrist injury.  Activities will resume soon

Textile Tales

I was intrigued by an image in today's Guardian Guide of a new work by artist Naori Priestly. Currently on show at Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth the show is called Under the Table, and this piece specifically is entitled Follow the Yellow Jacket. Its described as a 'sweetly subversive work' - If you look closely skulls and kitchen knives have been craftily worked into the design.
I like a garment that tells a tale or two don't you?!

Watch this space as a garment idea of my own is gently simmering away...

Old Friends Fresh Trends

When I was across in Glasgow I was thrilled to catch up with an old friend Marina Maclean. She's a fashion designer who runs her own couture wedding dress business but confesses she is 'coming out' as a menswear designer! And boy is she coming out in style! Marina just designed the suit Pete Doherty wore to perform in @ Paris Fashion Week - The Telegraph's Hilary Alexander christened him a 'style icon' in it!
Check out the article:


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/7404513/Pete-Doherty-becomes-a-style-icon-at-Paris-Fashion-Week.html

And Marina's fashion blog:
http://stylescanner.blogspot.com/

Reading Materials

Currently enjoying...

Elizabeth Wilson's
Adorned in Dreams

&

Malcolm Barnard's
Fashion as Communication