FMP PRESENTATION

Maison Martin Margeila and Yohji Yamamoto are two of my favourite designers who I will look to during this project. They come across as ani-fashion, or at least anti-trend. Both designers share the same aim, to find alternative ways to construct clothing and new starting points in designing collections. Deconstructing ideas of dress making and traditions and reassembling into something new, making people think about the processs of fashion design and the way in which we wear clothing. The clothes have a certain timelessness and can exist for more than one season. This is what I would like to achieve as a designer, and in final major project. Ikea set out to achieve similar goals, to design innovative, well designed home wear that is long lasting and that can be easily incorporated into our own lives. I believe that strong links can be seen between both designers practises.

Certain Hussein Chalayan collections are appropriate to reference for this project, especially the autumn, winter 2000 collection entitled 'After Words'. The concept of flat pack furniture is explored in this collection, presented through transformable garments. Ikea is known for its ready-to-assemble idea of furniture. Research into other artists and designers who have experimented with this concept will also be carried out. I have read extracts from a biography of the founder of Ikea, and done online research into the history of this idea. Incorporating this into my fashion designs is important.

It is essential that I visit the Ikea store to take photographs and sketches that will be used for my design development later on in the project. These images will directly influence my designs.  It is also important that I analyse the materials, colours and construction of their products to support my designs. Moodboards, colour palettes and customer profile boards will be produced to inspire my design work. My idea is to mimic Ikea's aesthetic and targeted customer to finally create a range of garments that reflect all sides of the Ikea concept.

HUSSEIN C H A L A Y A N A/W2000

'After Wards' (2000) was inspired by the horror of having to leave your home at the time of war.Initially Chalayan took the inspiration from how Turkish Cypriots (including members of Chalayan’s family) were subjected to ethnic cleansing in Cyprus prior to 1974. After talks with his family Chalayan explored the idea of how we may want to hide our possessions or how we may want to carry them with us on departure in such an ordeal.In this light a living room was created where clothes were disguised as chair covers, suitcases as chairs and each object in the room fitted into a special pocket which was specifically designed to contain them.[1]

For Chalayan's finale, four models clad in simple gray shift-dresses approached the set of four chairs, removed the covers and literally put them on. IKEA has built its entire business around this concept of flat pack or ready-to-assemble furniture/clothing, since it was introduced in 1956. Ever since Swedish draughtsman, Gillis Lundgren developed the idea when he needed to fit a table into his car. According to reports, Lundgren broke the legs off his table so he could fit it in the car and then reassembled the table at home.[2] I am interested in the thought of taking this concept and applying in to interactive clothing design. A wearer having to semi-construct garments to their own specifications and personal preferences. To have multiple options in how to wear and style their own wardrobes, to create different combinations to create truly individual looks.

[1] http://chalayan.com/collection/view/album/id/59
[2] Jennings, Jason (2002). A Furniture Dealers Testament. Portfolio Books.
video- www.youtube.com
image- combination of own photography and images from www.chalayan.com

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT PROPOSAL

The title of my project will be ‘IKEA’. IKEA’s minimal and utilitarian aesthetic is influential in my own work. This is how I plan to approach designing a small range of unisex clothing that reflects my theme. I wish to have no cultural influences in my project, apart from designers who may design in a similar way. I will explore all aspects of the brand, from the products, advertising campaigns to the shop layouts. Using similar colours and fabrics, recycling IKEA products as much as possible. For my research I plan to visit the store and the warehouse, taking photographs and sketches in a documentational way. The final products will be photographed in the same setting, using as wide a range of models as possible and presented in a catalogue style, to be presented with the collection. Mimicking IKEA’s motives, the items of clothing will be made for a wide range of people, with focus on efficiency in design, function and the construction of the garments to ensure optimum fit and quality. Being as un-decorational as possible, and if so, to create an illusion, inspired by IKEA’s reach for affordable grandeur.