A few months ago my mum was throwing out 20 different old coloured t-shirts, but I saved them to upcycle for use in this degree, or as a personal side project. In this course I saw the perfect opportunity to use these colourful t-shirts to make an interesting garment for myself to wear. I began experimenting with many different iterations of patchwork shapes and styles and decided on this horizontal, wavy pattern. I chose a 60’s style ‘shift’ dress because it’s a very simple pattern and I wanted a simple style dress to really show off the detailed patchwork pattern.
inspiration and design development journal excerpt design development – chosen design journal excerpt sewing details and process prototype development finished garment
In general, when people think of reuse, clothes will transform them into another new garment. Although I had the same idea at first, considering that my handwork is not yet very confident, so even if I transform to a new garment, I may not be wearing it when I go out. Therefore, I just wonder why not transform it into something beneficial to me? I have always believed that only by transforming an object into something that will be used frequently can it indeed be given new value and extend the life, so this is why I choose to transform my jeans into the shopping bag I need.
This project of mine demonstrates the concept of re-meaning old materials, transforming jeans fabrics that I didn’t like into durable and practical shopping bags, thus fundamentally solving the problem of wasting old clothes and effectively extending the service life of clothes.
This bag can be fold like this when there’s less stuff.
In my project, it’s focused on key terms of ‘re-design’ ‘re-arrangement’ and ‘childhood’. I had found that 85% of the textiles we buy to landfill every year, fast fashion is leading to a mountain of clothing being thrown away each year and has a huge impact on the environment. There we have an opportunity to re-design and giving it a second life, to working on it I choose the ‘childhood theme’ as the centre point. In extension, I had looked up all the clothes my family were no longer wear and the same extra materials like lace and wool.
RESEARCH THE IMPACT OF TOY WASTE TO OUR ENVIROMENTAL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT INSPIRATION AND CONCEPT DETAIL OF PROTOTYPE
To greatly establish the concept of using single use materials we’ve conceptualised illustrations through the photographs displaying the fashion pieces. With the approach of recycling and being considerate towards the environment to reflect this, the photographer use a suitable filter to help bring out the colours in the environment location we were in. The Choice of location, it additionally benefited our concept of being environmental as for being in ‘nature’. Each photographs exhibits the overall look of the clothing pieces including the accessories up close it detail which therefore displays to the viewers how it has been styled. With the close up photographs it additionally illustrates every detail that has been taken to create this piece of work, further elucidating stories behind each materials.
The paper sculpture inspires me that “everything can create fashion”. Using the paper that bears the words to create fashion is very novel. In my opinion, it not only pays homage to what the author is trying to say, but it also supports the concept of environmental protection. Inspired by this, I wanted to make a fashion plastic product that also spoke to the environment.
My design development
On the left side is the methods which how to use plastic to create this fabric. Also, it shows the difference between the front and the back of the fabrics. On the right side will be my design for the final outcome. My garment is single-use garment, so I want my design to be more funny.
Prototype outcome Model: Zhixi Li photographer: Cellina Peng
Combining my garment and the nature, it appeals to people to love nature, because plastic is harmful for the environment. It also implies that people waste plastic bags because the plastic bags they waste are enough for people to wear different design on the plastic fabric every day.
Detail of prototype
The detail of the prototype is the top of the skirt which have some “dark flowers” as decoration. These flowers imply that the plastics are seriously harming nature and they are causing flowers to wilt and wither. Therefore, this shoot is focus on the “dark flowers”
Moving image
On this moving image, it should be clear to notice that people wear this garment can move freely which like the normal garments. There is a sleeveless top and a short skirt, so that this set of garments will not restrict people’s movement.
