V&A Sketch and 'My New Bomb'

Yesterday, I went to the Victoria and Albert museum to see the exhibition containing Yohji Yamamoto's work.


Obviously, one would know at exhibitions like this, photography is forbidden. The next thing to do is sketch which is usually alright...not for this exhibition!


Here below are the fast sketches I did before I was 'caught'...and yes...very crude lines!

















After looking at the series of videos of the fashion show and the display of garments, I bought the book, 'My New Bomb' by Yohji Yamamoto.

















I would recommend this exhibition to anyone who is a Yohji or fashion fan. In addition, if one is conceptual with designs, there are three books to browse describing his inner thoughts which were interesting. Don't expect sketchbooks.

The pump (almost completed)

Even though the project's completed, I'm still not satisfied with the results.


Sign, move onto the next project and no more dwelling about it.


Meantime, two angles of the pump with cleaning up to do.











The photo of the cleaned up and completed version will be next time (hopefully).

"Making the simple exciting?" Ballet Pumps for Drapers

This is one of the times where I would confess...I am stuck...

Literately, I am stuck with my design. I have come up with a form. The criteria of this project is to come up with some ballet pump designs; something exciting, yet easy to manufacture and marketable...

So far, this is what I have as the final form (with a quick (and rather crude) sketch).

Of course, this isn't the work I am most proud of (actually hated it at some stage)... Hopefully, with little more stitch details and other enhancements, I will be at least satisfied...

Own Shoe Designs (Re-Shot in February 2011)

Thought of doing some photographs for the designs I've conjured since I started my course.

'Costing the Earth' (2010) 

Here they are (which is much better than having pictures the shoes on my own bed spread!) The shoes they were made out of gloves. (Link here for the past entry: http://lisa-teng.blogspot.com/2010/06/latest-creation-costing-earth-glove.html) made in June 2010. Click to enlarge the pictures.

'Captured Visions' (2010)

This was a project brief where we had to do a study of a brand and reinterpret our own take on designs. Based on the concept of the mirage in the desert... In a strange sense, now to mention it, doesn't really make sense at I am typing this... 

I will post more angles as soon as I figure out the layout functions of this blog (super fustrating!).

Credit:

Shoes: By me

Photography: Cliff Tan (February 2011) - Thank you for your time, camera and your Photoshop skills! :)

Day at the Museum: Northampton Museum & Art Gallery (Shoe Collection)

Recently (less than a week ago), I took a day trip (with a friend of mine) to Northampton. Since we had time, we decided to visit the museum with a huge shoe collection!

Here are a few highlights...

Black and white syntetic platform sandal

Cypriana shoes, London 1980 - 1983

Made for 'glamour' market

Women's white plastic flip-flop

'Fruit Flops'

c. 1990

  

Bound foot shoes made around 1900 in China. Imagine trying to squeeze into those (it's like the size of the modern day few month old baby shoes)! 

 Bound foot shoes, in a Western style.

The Dragon Shoe by Thea Cadabra 

What a beauty! A drawer fill of heels! 

Red leather heels with a brass cage heel. 

A display full of old lasts.

A shoe 'fetish'?

That infamous platform (design) which made Naomi Campbell trip over on the catwalk (for Vivienne Westwood. Note: The original shoe was blue)

Shoe for an elephant!

 I tried on these pair of shoes and I must say, they were too big and heavy! Can you see the little fish inside the heel?

 Another part of the room which displayed how 'criminal' shoes can be (or how much criminal evidence the authorities can obtain from just shoes).

James Bond (007) (Roger Moore) weapon (see that little knife?)!

 Extracted footprints from the crime scene.

Never thought there would be evidence of some crime just by looking at a pair of shoes

hung over the telephone line...

I must say, the visit to the museum was educational and worth a visit (plus it is free to enter)! Though the museum is small, the massive amount of shoes (only around 1,000 displayed at the rest of the 12,000 shoes are impossible to display) is enough to keep anyone occupied.

Watch this short film: INFLUENCERS

Images from 'Influencer' website press release kits.

'How does a form of influence and trend become contagious?'


It's all shown in this short documentary released by R+I Creative.


Have to thank my friend from my course, Nadia who shared the trailer and the film for 'Influencers'


The series of films (so far, only one has been released) by Davis Johnson and Paul Rojanathara covers how influences from music, fashion, products...etc...becomes part of our everyday lives.


This is stuck in my mind from the film (which is an excerpt from Malcolm Gladwell's bestselling book, 'The Tipping Point'): 'The tipping point is a biography of an idea, and the idea is very simple. Ideas and products and messages and behaviours spread just like viruses do...'



INFLUENCERS TRAILER from R+I creative on Vimeo.

Keeping up with Singapore! Whew!

The last one week in Singapore has been really fast that I'm losing track of time....or even...my way...


Basically, I never thought I would say 'Gee, where the heck am I....?'... Yes, at times, I get lost in Singapore.... So many changes in Singapore in one year that it is so hard to keep up. I guess that's the beauty of Singapore! :)


Anyway, as I was typing an email to a friend of mine, I managed to compile a couple of places to visit in Singapore... Here are some of the places (no images but click on the links for a rough idea or search for the names on the Internet) I would usually recommend visitors to head to (that hopefully will still remain there until my next visit!):


- Nee Ann City for the bookstore called 'Kinokuniya' on the 3rd floor and the Japanese departmental store, Takashimaya.


- Cineleisure for the store on the 3rd floor called 'Editor's Market'. The concept of buying the items is the more items you buy, the cheaper the items will be. (http://www.facebook.com/theeditorsmarket )

- Mandarin Gallery for a range of designer wear (there are mainly international designers in this mall though there are some Singaporean and other brands as well such as 'Hansel', 'Ashley Isham', 'JBNY', 'EggThree'...

Another area I love to go to visit to photograph the building is the theatre called the 'Esplanade' (http://www.esplanade.com/). During some evenings, there are free musical performances outside the theatre along the bay. Nearest train station is 'City Hall MRT' or 'Esplanade MRT'

There is a new building (which I haven't been to) called Marina Bay Sands (MBS (Bayfront MRT). The main attraction for $20 (Singapore Dollars) is the 'sky garden' (roof top garden). Just a warning from some of my friends who has been there, DO NOT go there in the early afternoon (like between 1pm-5pm) as the it is really hot up there (the sun!).http://www.marinabaysands.com/SandsSkypark/Sands_Sky_Park.aspx

Sometimes, I love to drop by:

'Chinatown' (Chinatown MRT)
It's nothing like Paolo Sarpi in Milan. It's completely different. definitely the place to check out.

http://www.singaporeaninlondon.com/2009/04/singapore-chinatown-experience.html

The street that's the easiest to walk is 'Pagoda Street' which links to the end of the main road called 'South Bridge Road'

Check out some of the shops along 'Ann Siang Hill'. There is one store to visit called 'Front Row' and 'EggThree' along Eskine Road

Also, check out this temple exterior called 'Sri Mariamman Temple' at the end of Chinatown (along South Bridge Road):http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Mariamman_Temple,_Singapore

Near that area is an eating area called 'Maxwell Food Centre' where they serve up a lot of Singaporean cuisine.

'Arab Street' (Bugis MRT (5-10 minute walk, check the map for directions before heading there)

http://www.singaporeaninlondon.com/2009/04/singapore-arab-street-kampong-glam.html

Go to 'Bussorah Street' as well as there are lots of things to see near the Mosque. Great place to relax. Also there is a hostel you can consider along that street called 'Sleepy Sam's' (http://www.sleepysams.com/)

Also, try to go along 'Haji Lane' which is very near Arab Street to see individual shops). (http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/visit/haji-lane-our-best-loved-shops-889607)

Oh yes, read this article as well as it is some of the things to expect when you are in Singapore. :)http://www.singaporeaninlondon.com/2010/02/what-to-do-in-singapore-holiday.html

There are a lot of places to visit in Singapore but I can only remember a few places. If I remember any more places, I will let you know...

A little too late but still newsworthy: Steel Heel - Chau Har Lee

I know this is late in terms of footwear news but been lacking proper internet connection the last few weeks hence the lack of updates. Also had million of things to tackle which include my school project (which hopefully I'll post someday...).

Anyway, a few months ago, at Selfridges and in the Evening Standard I saw this shoe (to be custom-made according to the customer's foot size) by Chau Har Lee (RCA graduate with an impressive CV and achievements!), and in a structural and construction sense, it was interesting.

I've overheard from students in my school that the designer herself must have taken  around eight to ten years to develop the heels. I guess it could be one of the elements we do take for granted when designing a shoe...and should take in consideration...

I've seen the shoe and I must say, it looks great on the stand.  I've  touched the shoe as well but unfortunately, since it is only custom made, I couldn't try them on. Does it look stable enough to support the whole body? I keep visualising myself falling down on such thin heels (where the thickness of the heel is only around 5mm!). Does it look good in real life? 

View the picture on Stylebubble (http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2010/09/chau-it-down.html)

Though there are photos on Stylebubble, I prefer to show the official photographs from the website.

Don't get me wrong, I like the shoe (reason why I keep refering it as 'shoe' is because, only one side is displayed in Selfridges) design and I think it might be worth £1550 (as I recall from looking at the price tag)...it's just that I don't see myself paying that much...

Link up: http://www.chauharlee.com/

Lanvin for H&M - Fall Winter 2010/2011 Full Fashion Advert (Exclusive)

Yup, it's another designer collaboration. This time, it's between Lanvin and H&M.

...the collection below (click on the images for a clearer view)...

Photos: H&M

I've thought of queuing up to buy some items from the collection...probably one of the best looking garments since Victor and Rolf (and yes, Karl Lagerfeld!). However, I have something to do that morning...and I will have to give it a miss since everyone knows how quickly these pieces will snap up!


I like this video as it shows different ages and body types, in a way that everyone can enjoy the collection. 


Link to the video in case it doesn't show on your browser: http://youtu.be/5DJ75cQ3o3A


Enjoy the video!

The Folding Effect?: Issey Miyake

Question, is the origami craze back or has it always been around? Even so, no matter what, I like it! It's one of the ways I get my ideas.

This is the case for Issey Miyake's new collection. Known for his label "Pleats Please" where most of his garments are pleated, he comes back into the season with an 'origami' inspired outfit from his new line, "132 5".

According to Ecouterre,:


"The clothing is first designed using a program that generates 3D shapes from a single sheet of paper."



"132 5", derives from Miyake’s Reality Lab. A software program is used to design the clothing where 3D is produced from a single flat sheet of paper.

What is behind the number, "132 5"? 


“1″ is for the single piece of cloth used to make each item, 
“3″ represents the 3D shape the garment takes,
“2″ shows that the garment will be flattened in a 2D form
The single space (it is literately added, not a typing mistake) represents "the time between the completion of the folded form and the moment someone puts it on" (Ecouterre)
Lastly, “5″ is a symbol of the concept’s multiple mathematical combinations.


Interesting how the creases gives out a crisp yet clean outline of the dress. This will sure make packing a lot easier!


More on: http://www.ecouterre.com/issey-miyake-unfolds-origami-inspired-132-5-eco-fashion-collection/