Katie Eary

Katie Eary is a designer I recently came across when reading about London Fashion Week, I decided to blog about her, as she is a very inspirational menswear designer who graduated in 2008. Her work is new, interesting and very unusual. I could imagine Lady Gaga being a fan of Katie Eary’s pieces as much of her work is very eccentric. As Katie Eary is only in her mid 20’s it is exciting to see where she is today…could this be me or one of my friends in a few years time?! I also came across the following interview from 2008, which may be of interest: http://www.dazeddigital.com/article/1428/1/Fashions_New_Optimism_Katie_Eary

Below are some images of Katie Eary’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

Paul Smith

I love bright colours and recently some of Paul Smiths work caught my attention when I was flicking through Elle Magazine. I like his use of bright, clashing colours and the mixture of bold prints. I think his work is fun, yet quite sophisticated due to the tailoring of the garments. The pieces shown below are part of one of his collections.

http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/collections/index/women,245,PSC.html

Alexander McQueen

I have always liked a lot of Alexander McQueen’s work as much of it is unusual, colourful and very inspirational but this is not why I decided to write this blog. I decided to write this blog as recently everyone from my mum and my friends to people on the train and even my grandma has been talking about those ‘ridiculous shoes’! Yes I do think to some extent they are ridiculous, but do I hate them? No I don’t, I love them. Perhaps they are not the most practical shoes and I don’t know that many people could actually even manage more than a few steps in towering 12inch heels, but is everything that goes down the catwalk practical? Will it actually be mass produced and affordable for the average customer? I love these shoes as they make a statement they are quirky, new and very eye catching. Below is a video of the shoes on the catwalk:

Sandra Backlund

I came across Sandra Backlund a contemporary knitter on http://monomoda.com/ which is a graphic design based website full of visual inspiration. I really like the diversity in Sandra Backlund’s work, her knitted garments are usually created using only one colour of yarn but she creates interest by using unusual structures to alter the body shape of the model. I think some of her work relates well to what I was creating in the knit workshop this week. Below are 3 images of Sarah Backlund’s work and an image of a sample I created based on a page in my sketchbook.

Mixed Media Inspiration-Shizuko Kimura

Shizuko Kimura creates work using hand embroidery, working directly from life models. The variation of mark making with thread is very interesting. I think this is something I may attempt in the future. Below is a piece created by Shizuko Kimura.

Mixed Media Inspiration-Claire Coles

I discovered Claire Coles when looking through a wallpaper design catalogue, I love her beautiful embroidered/collage wallpapers. Some of the work I created only a week or so ago is quite similar in that I used a range or materials and machine embroidery to create a sample based on research in my sketchbook. Below is some of her work.

Mixed Media Inspiration-Alison Willoughby

Alison Willoughby is a textile designer, who creates mainly skirts as well as some other garments and installations. I feel her work is quite unusual, I like her use of appliqué, bold prints and bold colour pallets. I particularly like the two pieces shown below. The first because it is very vibrant, very textured and an unusual mix of materials. Although perhaps it is not so practical. The second piece I like because the combination of print and sewn circles all on a diagonal is interesting.

Dawn Dupree

Since the lecture based on composition that I had on Monday I have had a look at the work of some of the artists and designers mentioned. I particularly like the work of Dawn Dupree who has been creating textile art since 1990. I like the bold colorful semi-abstract prints she creates, I especially like her work based on a shopping trolley and her range of ‘domestic’ cushions. I think her work is original, unusual and vibrant.

I like to know what inspires people and on http://www.themaking.org.uk/Content/makers/2007/09/dawn_dupree.html Dawn Dupree says 'I like urban wastelands and empty spaces which have once been very busy or are about to be busy – they have a strange anticipatory, slightly loaded atmosphere that I like to express in my work' which I find very interesting.

The images below are taken from http://www.dawndupree.com/domestics.html#and are two of the cushions from Dawn Dupree's domestic range which i particularly like.