Sunday, December 14, 2008

Raffles Design Insitute Graduation Show DEC. '08 (Update: Better video quality and more pictures)


!UPDATES!: Added a little more pictures and more comments (in italics) to the photographs shown.

Raffles Design Institute showcased the works from more than 20 graduates from B(A) Honours in Fashion Design on Wednesday at the Ritz Carlton, Singapore.


In my opinion, going to school is the only time were one get to experiment and make a huge impression to the industry. From my observations, most of the collections were mostly dark in terms of colour scheme (some were way too dark!) and the themes were mostly psychological, a little ethnic or historical. Perhaps it's because it's the 'Winter' period, I'm not sure...

Many of the collection impressed me nevertheless. Here are some pictures some taken on my own (unfortunately, my pictures are a little 'old school' as I had no choice but to use a disposable camera) and some pictures which I found from other sources (which I believe might be better than mine) for the exhibition and fashion show.


I've compiled a video which was taken from my camera to get the feel of the show. Cramming 24 collections in a video was hard, so I just selected a few. The video quality isn't as good as I wanted it to be since it was taken from my phone (hence the reason why I made the video look like an old film!).

Meanwhile, enjoy the visuals...

Exhibition:Ideal shop display from the Fashion Merchandising students...
Streetwear?

One of the lamp shades shown in the exhibition.
Hmmm, so this is what I should do with my old sunglasses... A way to go green I suppose!



Display board...a little preview on what the graduating class were presenting for the fashion show.
Very promising...

Going psychedelic!!!


Drawing done by Shannon Lee.
Love, LOVE (!!!) the drawing...it's actually two layers....it's drawn by a piece of tracing paper and underneath is a printed copy of the drawing with a background.


Fashion Show:



Video Compilation
Been trying to upload a better quality on Youtube...hope this works!

Designer: Leslie Yong
Title of collection: 'Message From Unknown'
Comment: Impressed by the collection. There was one outfit (that will be shown on the scanned in version next time) which was embellished by safety pins and I must say...'This is NOT new!'. At least it was done nicely and not clustered! Impressive array of outfits shown and the only thing that will stick in my mind is the masked male figure as shown above.

Designer: Shannon Lee
Title of collection: 'The Anomalies: Mr. and Ms. Anonymous'
Comment: At first, I was really worried about the colour scheme when this collection came out. However, I was won over by the orange jacket which suddenly popped out in the line up. If it was not for that orange jacket, it could have been lost. I did mention that there were too many hoods in this collection but who am I to be picky over such things since I like hoods as well?! This collection has been well thought out. I would have liked to have seen the accessories up-close though...


Designer: Joyce Wong
Title of collection: 'When Fashion Meets Architecture'
Comment: The person who saw the title of this collection on the brochure got excited when seeing the title. However, upon seeing the pictures of the garments, well let's just say that person was pretty disappointed...and that person's an architect! Personally, I think there is not much relevance to these two connection but person could say the lines on the first dress? Can I say that?


Designer: Stephanie Emmanuel Puteri Subagyo
Title of collection: 'African Art Conceals and Reveals'
Comment: Love the draped dress and the way the prints fell in place in the outfit (even though I am NOT a big fan of animal prints!). However, I've seen this concept done many times though I won't say it's a huge crime since there are many ways to go around dealing with any African theme.


Designer: Yang Jing
Title of collection:
'Walking on the Moon'
Comment: Interesting backpack! (Well at least that's what I think it is!)



Designer: Anny Theresia
Title of collection: 'The Exotic of Sardanapalus'
Comment: Honestly, I only remember this outfit out of the whole collection. Even though this silhouette has been done so many times, I still like it! The brochure pictures is much better though!

Designer: Xia Mai Xena
Title of collection: 'The Scream for Alfred Hitchcock'
Comment: Hard for me to comment...I guess these two outfits are the most memorable out of the collection. I would like to have a vest like that though. Amazing how a vest can make an outfit look a bit smarter looking.


Designer: Risma Novianti
Title of collection: 'Black Iris'
Comment: Apologies to the designer, I only remember this outfit perhaps it was because everyone had to sit through many minutes seeing over 20 collections (in around two hours!). I wish we could wear hats like this in Singapore without being stared at like an idiot. I bet I can get away with that in Europe...I think...


Designer: Aven Kee Ai Wei
Title of collection: 'Self Re-Invention, Obsession of Beauty + Lack of Self Confidence = Plastic Surgery'
Comment: What a long title for the concept!!! I wish I had a closer shot of the dress (worn by the blond model) that was partially made out of plastic. I remember doing a concept similar to this many years ago and it was not successful at all! This is quite a successful collection with the concept although a bit more colour would have been great. A splash of red (I don't mean to literately represent surgery!) would be great. Great construction on the garments.

To the graduates of 2008, congratulations!

PS. Once I get a new scanner (mine broke down mysteriously...), I will post more pictures from the brochure for the show.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

What were they thinking?: Tug-of-Scarf

I was surfing through YouTube and I encountered this footage. I was curious on the reaction of the H&M-Comme des Garcon fans when they finally got to purchase the merchandise...(yeah, this is kind of late, been almost a month since the line was released worldwide)



Seriously, all for this scarf?! I know this is Comme des Garcon but this kind of act?

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Featuring: 'Designerman' - Blog with the drawn version of 'The Sartorialist'


I love to see raw and quick sketches. It captures the immediate essence of the image. Sometimes, it intrigues me more than some actual illustrations. This is a skill I would like to develop.

This fashion illustrator/men's wear fashion designer, known as 'designerman' on his blog 'What I Saw Today' shows his view on street fashion. The concept of the blog is like the Sartorialist. What's different is that the outfits are illustrated with colored pencils.

Some of his drawings from his blog (and a lot more if you go to his website!) and a little comment for the pictures (extracted from the blog and some of my own).



'My evil monito hat'. I love the little notes on this sketch.


It's a fashion 'parade'...at the check out counter? Interesting!


'Oops! These pants don't fit!'

More on his website: http://designerman-whatisawtoday.blogspot.com/

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Featuring: Ikea - Fashion and Singaporean Lifestyle Survey Results

Every now and then, I would go to my local Ikea website (or even the store itself) to stay updated with new products range and a great bargain (when I lived in Milan, going to Ikea was like being back home in Singapore. My father and I would go there whenever we can several times a year).

Anyway, this post isn't mainly about furniture...

Recently, Ikea Singapore launched an advertising campaign by doing a survey called "How is your everyday life at home?' (in Singapore).
This survey will give a little gist on the lifestyle at home lead in Singapore and I got to admit, I do most of the stuff mentioned! More on the links mentioned at end of this entry.


As a Singaporean, I think some of the facts are true and some are well...not sure whether it's true!

These fashion inspired pictures were used in another advertising campaign back in Scandinavia by advertising agency, DDB Oslo, Norway.

The advertisements were done a while back but I still think it's a strong advertisement plus it stirs on ideas in my head to perhaps use their textile selection to create some fashionable items.



Wow, now I need more fabrics!

Visit:

To get more survey statistics: http://www.ikea.com.sg/survey08/result.asp

For better views of Ikea's 'Fashion' advertisement:
http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/ikea_fashion_1

More creative use of Ikea's product range:
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Featuring: Li Xiaofeng

We have heard of garments made of paper, grass, flowers, chocolates...etc.

How about garments made out of porcelain?

Li Xiaofeng, an artist from Beijing creates clothing piece made from such media.

He constructed the garments with porcelain shards coming from different dynasties (like the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty...)

These shards are sewn together onto a leather undergarment (I figure, it's like doing embroidery). Here are some examples of compositions done...

This piece, "Beijing Memory" was created in 2007. The materials used were pocerlain from the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty sewn with silver thread. That's why it is priced at $85,000! (Pictures from Le Zèbre Bleu)



This piece, "Dream of the Yong Le" was made with porcelain shards from Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty. (Picture from "Design Boom" website)



Feeling a little 'fragile'?


Further reading/viewing on:

Design Boom: http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/4585/li-xiaofeng.html

ARTINFO: http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/29312/more-interest-than-investment-at-asian-contemporary-art-fair/

Hong Art: http://www.hongart.net/?option=art&collectionid=6&single=true

Le Zèbre Bleu: http://mariehelenesirois.blogspot.com/2008/11/li-xiaofeng.html

Monday, November 24, 2008

Target goes to McQueen! (Part 2)

There were some thoughts on how would this collaboration will go about...and what the clothes will look like.

Here are two photographs. Pictured below are the t-shirts in the collection.


Pictures from wwd.com

I think it's too early to judge...will wait and see what it will look like in Spring 2009.

More on:

http://www.chicintuition.com/?p=2785

...and the official source:

http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/mcqueen-on-target-1863903#/

Click here to read the last article.

Well, I guess it will be sold out as fast as the Comme des Garcon line for H&M!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Preview: JCDC Versus LEGO


Do you know or recall this?


...or these?


Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (also known as JD/DC), the Moroccan born and French through nobility fashion designer is known for his imaginative designs as presented above... Fancy watching a fashion show with some familiar figures?

This is a
CGI animation of a LEGO fashion show by Fabrice Pathier (Four H) (http://vimeo.com/user546241). The clip features designs by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (http://www.jc-de-castelbajac.com/). You will recognise some of the clothes from his past of the creations (well except you won't find the teddy bear coat...)...and also a familiar face we all know from Vogue!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Featuring: Phillip Toledano


Phillip Toledano (or known as Mr. Toledano on his website) was born in London in 1968 to an American father and a French Moroccan mother. When he was 11, he received his first camera and started taking 'odd' photos. However, he worked as an art director at ad agencies. A few years ago he started taking up photography full.


Today, he lives in New York City and take photographs full time.

He has a wide range of conceptual photos under different genre like enviroment, editorials, fashion, etc...

To date, he has released two photography books called 'Phone Sex' and 'Bankrupt', topics related to what's relevant in our world today.

Picture from the book 'Phone Sex'


Picture from the book 'Bankrupt'


Here are some fashion photos with my own little caption:

"The price to pay for fashion has been raised?"

"Looks like that idea has been scrapped for this season..."
"There goes my proposed idea..."

"Design ideas comes to life..."

"Oh dear...just a little fashion meltdown I suppose..."

"Literately, this was how we ended up being under the "credit crunch"...by shopping until we dropped!'

Really incredible and gorgeous pictures...there are so many interpretations to the photos!

More photos on these websites (fashion and non-fashion):

Official Website: http://www.mrtoledano.com/
Online Portfolio: http://www.behance.net/philt68