Blog 3 – Project Outcome Reflection
For my chosen creative project, I decided to take on the In and Outside of Fashion: Sportswear Fashion Language and Sub-cultures project.
Our project brief was considering contemporary sportswear styling in a global context, whilst defining new ideas for sportswear and streetwear. To do this, we were encouraged by the course leaders to bring in our own personal experiences to respond to sportswear as a fashion sub-culture.
Throughout the lectures, we looked across a variety of diverse sub-cultures, considering how we can link them to sportswear, being pushed to think outside the box, whilst considering the Better Lives themes, through our styling processes.
In our first masterclass, our group chose the normcore subculture, as we loved its simplicity. We put together a Moodboard of our initial ideas on what we wanted our photoshoot to entail and potential looks. For the shoot, we used our own clothes, linking to sustainability, and put together the looks in Figures 1 and 2. They show how we wanted to incorporate the simplicity of normcore, but mix with a hybridity of uncommon combinations of sportswear. For example, using a bra over the dress is uncommon, but shows the style of a sports bra in Figure 1. Alike the high and tight pony with a headband, mixed with balloon shorts in Figure 2.
Our second masterclass’s brief title was ‘Fitness at Corona Times Stay-at-Home style’. We needed to produce one styled look, consisting of our favourite subculture-related garments form our wardrobe, sportswear materials that we have at home, improvised accessories, or DIY headpiece, related to the Better Lives themes. Due to COVID-19 circumstances, we were creatively challenged to work with our own at home resources of garments, as well as the camera and backdrop too.
For my final outcome, I wanted to capture a reflection of what I’ve been doing and wearing at home, whilst considering the Better Lives themes. Therefore I chose the 90s subculture, drawing from their athleisure street-style and animal print usage. As well as choosing a yoga mat representing my fitness practice and the iconic Adidas 3-stripe popper track-pants. Both looks seen in Figures 3 and 4.
Whilst being at home in COVID-19, I was able to up-cycle an old pair of pyjama bottoms into a crop top, bag, scrunchie, and a protective mask, linking to the sustainability theme. By re-using the material from a single pair of unworn trousers, I was able to make four items that I can now wear and use, avoiding the depletion of resources from the unwanted bottoms. This linking to social responsibility, by thinking about the current pandemic in society, using our new free time to be productive and creative.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the styling project, as it has made me re-evaluate my future purchase habits, avoiding fast fashion brands, and instead choosing brands more considerate of the three themes. Also, it has made me realise I can upcycle and swap my unwanted clothes with friends, instead of constantly making unnecessary new purchases.
References:
Figure 1: Nabridnyj, L (2020) Look One from Masterclass One. [Photography].
Figure 2: Nabridnyj, L (2020) Look Two from Masterclass One. [Photography].
Figure 3: Nabridnyj, L (2020) Moodboard images from Masterclass Two. [Photography].
Figure 4: Nabridnyj, L (2020) Final outcome from Masterclass Two. [Photography].
9th May 2020 @ 3:42 pm
For my project, I chose the In and Outside of Fashion: Sportswear Fashion Language and Sub-cultures project and so I wanted to review one of my peer’s blogs who did the same project. Whilst looking through many, I found Louise Nabridnyj’s third blog and first wanted to review it because of the amazing photographs.
I thought that her use of photography really enhanced her detailed discussion of the Better Lives themes, such as diversity in relation to various sub-cultures; social responsibility in improvising accessories and using material found at home rather than going out to the shops to buy new things during the pandemic; and sustainability in up-cycling old or unwanted garments.
The final paragraph, where Louise talks about how she is rethinking her purchasing habits is my favourite part of the blog post. She cites how, “I can upcycle and swap my unwanted clothes with friends, instead of constantly making unnecessary new purchases.” Personally, I have never upcycled my own clothes. I often send mine to charity shops when they are out of use, but after reading this blog post, my mind has been changed. I would like to experiment with being more creative with my clothes to make new, practical garments. I was especially stunned with how Louise was able to make four items out of “a single pair of unworn trousers”. She linked her activity to the theme of social responsibility and sustainability, which worked very well.
Her discussion of diversity when talking about the first physical masterclass was interesting. She talks about how she mixed different fashion trends like normcore with sportswear by using uncommon garments and accessories, such as a bra on top of a t-shirt and dress which evokes the feeling of a sports bra. I noticed a lot of creativity in her project outcomes, which is very exciting as it shows an ability to be proactive in a range of disciplines across the fashion industry, not just in our chosen degree subject.
Finally, the main thing that stood out to me from Louise’s blog post was her self-efficacy and resilience. During COVID-19, it was not easy to conduct a styling masterclass all on our own, but Louise not only achieved an incredible outcome but also communicated it very eloquently in her blog. I think her efforts and successes should be commended during these challenging times, as she made these tasks seem effortless with abounding curiosity to delve further into styling.
10th May 2020 @ 6:49 pm
Aw thank you so much! Really appreciate it Emma, such kind words!