Mollie Fowles

Week 1 – Sustainability

When starting my research into sustainability I wanted to learn how to integrate the use of scrap materials and off-cuts into my sample and re-use plastics thereby preventing these materials from going to waste or being discarded into the oceans.

Over twelve million tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean each year. Single use plastic pollution threatens our food quality and safety, human health, the health of sea animals and also contributes to climate change.

This lead me to find used plastic packaging and threads and create a new purpose for them within my work. I painted a fish design onto paper then transferred it onto fabric which I went on to develop into my sample.

Week 2 – Emerging Technologies

Digitalised imaging can create an illusion giving a focus on pattern and design rather than texture and technique. I am particularly interested in the art of projection which creates the illusion of an embellished garment by projecting an image onto a blank canvas. Digital art through fashion can be displayed in this way using a digitally created design and a projector and focusing this onto a plain fabric or item of clothing.

In Frank Sorbier’s Fall/Winter 2012-2013 collection the art of projecting pattern onto garments is displayed perfectly demonstrating a blend between fashion and technology.

Incorporating these methods into my work I edited a photograph to create a more vibrant image that I could then use in a projection.

Week 3 – Nature

In the current fashion industry 90% of clothes are dyed synthetically requiring the use of enormous amounts of water and toxic chemicals. These chemicals end up in our water ways and cause hugely harmful effects on wildlife and nature. With the addition of fast fashion trends the problem has only escalated.

Natural dyes are typically biodegradable meaning that once they are broken down they do not add harmful or toxic compounds to the environment giving them a diminished environmental impact.

Many natural dyes are sourced from fruit, vegetables, plants, flowers and trees meaning they are both biodegradable and renewable.

Week 4 – Cultural sustainability

Quilting is a very traditional technique that has been used in England since the 13th Century and can be traced back to medieval times. It is primarily a practical process using the method of stitching layers of material together with a layer of wadding in between. This could be used to provide both protection and insulation when made into a garment or textile piece.

Taking inspiration from a range of different quilting patterns that I had gathered from my research, I created some designs of my own incorporating some of the shapes and colours that I had studied. I took these designs and from them produced my own quilting sample.

Week 5 – Empathy

Empathy is linked to the colour blue through its representation of calmness. Soft blues are said to calm the mind and aid concentration.

I took from this and created two paintings, purely working with a variety of shades of blue. I used gentle, fluid brush strokes to continue and reflect the calm theme and developed these into a sample with the use of weaving.

Self reflection

Within this project, through research on the topics sustainability, emerging technologies, cultural sustainability, nature, and empathy i have learnt about the issues and challenges that we within the current textile and fashion industry face. I was specifically intrigued by the sustainability aspect of the project, this led me to in depth research into sustainable materials and processes and how it is that I incorporate this into my own work such that its importance is represented in my samples. The reason for my interest in sustainability specifically is due how pressing it is is in todays world and the need to face the challenge as quickly as possible. I incorporated this into my work through reusing materials that otherwise would have been thrown away. Repurposing materials such as plastic, scrap materials and threads. Whilst doing this i did not get to pick and chose what colours i could use so i found it an enjoyable and creative opportunity to be able to use these different colours to create a coherent piece which bloomed with colours i otherwise would not get to use. However there were challenges in my week 1 work as i had to use small pieces of materials and a narrower range of materials which i would not usually chose to use so i had to be more creative in my work.
I also worked on samples in the four other weeks using skills such as digital projecting, natural dying, and working within the 2D and 3D.