Category: AD394 – Creative Research

W E E K 3 ethnobotany: natural plant dyes

I conducted a still life shoot based on the concept of ethnobotany and natural dyes in textiles. I wanted to focus on vibrant colours and bold shapes to give the images a contemporary look and make them differ from already existing images around this subject (which often focus on neutral tones, minimal styling and low contrast photography). I purposely picked plants that are known to give strong/vibrant colour results, such as pomegranate, beetroot and turmeric, so I could create bright and fun images with them. I intend for the these photos to feature alongside samples of fabric that I have actually dyed with the plants to demonstrate how natural dyeing is possible and effective…to hopefully inspire a change in the way we think about the designs and colours of our clothing – maybe we should be dyeing garments naturally ourselves? Maybe we should simply source more ethical brands that do this already? Could this inspire a larger interest in up cycling and DIY fashion, that has so far only been picked up by outsider groups that do not “associate” themselves with mainstream trends?

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W E E K 2: Kew Gardens visual research

I visited Kew Gardens to get initial visual research to kickstart my project. I focused on interesting shapes, colours and textures that could be translated into a fashion context. I am looking to be able to use these as inspiration or even incorporate them into illustrations, fashion illustration and collage to be included in my publication.

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ACTIVISM: W E E K 1 initial research

I begun my research for this brief with Li Edelkoort’s trend forecasting, someone I constantly return to for inspiration and research in the area of future fashion and lifestyles. Edelkoort’s Anti-Fashion Manifesto highlights how fashion is becoming repetitive and no longer capturing the interests of consumers, especially of our generation that are now more concerned with altruism – working together and helping each other, not necessarily being at the top…and I therefore became set on an idea of perhaps helping the planet or environment, something not typically associated with fashion but a trend that is definitely appearing in our attitudes and lifestyles, particularly of my generation.

To begin gathering exciting visual/artistic research I visited exhibitions that interested me in London:

Basquiat BOOM FOR REAL at the Barbican allowed me to learn more about this artist, his values, techniques and processes. Basquiat’s often surreal messages formed in his work were created by the use of mixed media, often layering appropriated images or photocopies with paint, photography and text to create large pieces of work with many different thoughtful visual elements. I was particularly inspired by his work as it made me think about pushing boundaries with my image-making, taking risks and experimenting more, rather than sticking to safe practices that I know well already (which is something I often struggle with).

I also visited Rachel Whiteread’s exhibition at the Tate Britain – a sculpture artist whose work I’ve always loved for its aesthetic qualities but also the intrigue behind her processes – most of her pieces are so large you cannot imagine how she possibly constructs them. I especially like the colour palettes of her work; when seen collectively in an exhibition I could admire the pastel colours of her sculptures, in purples, blues, yellows and pinks – which helped me to think about placing pleasing colours and shapes together in my work, especially as I’ve started to think about creating more of a trend or look book rather than a typical magazine.

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