2. Before designing outfits for any particular season, there are a couple of things essential for
any designer to know. Fashion trends and design details play a vital role to determine what
the consumers are expecting from the designers through their outfits in the coming season.
Thus, in order to come out with a collection for menswear , I did a research on the menswear
market in terms of designs available and the latest fashion trends before I could begin to
design my collection. Having understood the market, the next milestone to be crossed was to
choose an appropriate theme for the collection.
Since my target market was young working professionals in the creative industry
I chose my theme to be ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ a 1971’s musical film
adaptation based on the 1964’s novel ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. The collection
drew inspiration from the details extracted from the various settings of the film like the
Chocolate Factory, the Bubble Room and Egg Sorting room; clothes of the characters;
candies and even from its illustrated books. The color palette was chosen to be bright and
colorful with a tint of pastel to bring out a happy and cheerful mood. Inspired by one of the
main characters Willy Wonka, I even created a repeated ‘Hat’ pattern print using my
Photoshop skills to incorporate it in my designs as a shirt fabric. Similarly, I even created a
Squirrel pattern.
Having done this project , I learnt about the minute details essential in designing
menswear which when compared to womenswear. is a bit different in terms of finishing .
7. PROJECT 2: CHILDRENSWEAR
Designing childrenswear was a challenge in itself. As a part of the project, I was given the
theme by my lecturer and at the end of the month I had to come up with a collection to be
presented to a client who owned a kidswear shop ‘Ariel Baby and Co.’ in one of the malls in
Singapore. The theme given to me was ‘The Tin man’. Though the theme was fun and all
about robots, I still needed to be a bit cautious while creating my graphics because my
clothes catered to 7-year old girls and boys. Taking inspiration from the Astroboy, Lego,
Robotomy and various Robot films, I created fun and playful robot graphics using Adobe
Illustrator and Photoshop, keeping in mind that the graphics don’t seem too vicious to the
kids.
In course of my project, I understood that one aspect required to always keep in mind
while designing for children is the way the garments are finished for which I did market
research by visiting the various kidswear shops in Singapore like Ralph Lauren, Cotton On,
Zara, Gap and H&M as finishing of kids’ garments requires more caution so that kids don’t
hurt themselves while wearing these clothes. Apart from market research, I even did online
trend research in order to increase my knowledge about the various design details in trend to
incorporate it into my collection
Last but not the least, I even acquired knowledge that one needs to be careful
while choosing fabrics for kids’ outfits too keeping in mind that whatever fabric we choose
are soft and light and don’t stick to their skin as children’s skin is too sensitive and prone to
develop allergies easily.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. This project was a part of my final year fashion show in Singapore. Apart from designing a
collection, I even had to come up with a brand and decide on its 4Ps in order to be able to
market my brand in Singapore.
Based on the WGSN research I did for Spring/Summer 2014, Next Nature is one of
the trends for the season. Hence, I chose ‘Corals’ as the theme for my collection. The
intricate textures found on corals of different species and the vibrant colors were my main
inspiration which I incorporated in my designs through the use of Strong Textile Design and
Manipulation brought about through the use of embellishments, digital prints, silkscreen and
pin tucks , giving it a younger feel .
My imaginary brand, ‘Teal’ provides smart casual wear with a street wear chic creed
to its style; catering to the young, fun yet fashion conscious women. The color palette
comprised of both bright and soft pastel colors with accent of Turquoise and Coral Pink as
my main colours. The silhouettes are mostly flare and fitted constructed using an array of
light-weight fabrics such as cotton, chiffon and crepe georgette as it is not only suitable for
the Spring/Summer 2014 collection but also versatile and easy to handle, giving the
collection a softer, more feminine appeal.
Through this project, I have learnt that as a local brand, it is harder to break into the
industry yet I believe that through constant market and trend research and surveys, a brand
can gain a deeper understanding of the local market to be able to win the hearts of its
customers by catering to their desires.
13. Carrier Bag Swing Tag
Front Back
Name Card
Voucher
Packaging Box
Back
Front
Front
Front
Back
Big
Small
14.
15. For my S/S 2014 collection, I took
inspiration from corals under blue
and bright light. The main colors
used for Spring/Summer 2014 are
blues and vibrant colors with pastel
accents such as Lilac. Like most
pictures of corals I used Navy Blue
and Dusty Blue as my featured
principal anchors – to bring out the
bright colors such as Coal Pink and
Raspberry Pink. No black and grey is
used in the collection as ‘Teal’ is
known for its play with color;
drawing inspiration from 2 color
trend forecast; Digital Dream and
Dark Diversions.
18. PRINTS 3 PRINTS 4
For my S/S 2014 collection, I took
inspiration from corals under blue
and bright light. With my main
inspiration being intricate details on
corals and its textures; using the
blending mode in Adobe Photoshop I
created repeat patterns. Having
created these prints, I used digital
printing through heat transfer and
silkscreen printing techniques to
incorporate these prints into my
collection to give my entire collection
a young, playful and vibrant look.
Each piece is playful yet tempered
to allow the consumer to create its
own statement.
19.
20.
21.
22. Apart from pursuing Diploma in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing from Nanyang
Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore and Access to HE Diploma in Fashion Media and
Communication at London College of Fashion; I gained some real world experience too
when I interned with a Nagpur based Indian Designer label ‘Pinnacle by Shruti Sancheti’
for six weeks in the summer of 2013.
Pinnacle by Shruti Sancheti launched in Nagpur in December 2009; is a ready to wear,
retail only label offering elegant and classic styles at competitive prices. With its
design philosophy being distinctly refined and feminine, the brand portrays an underline
respect to Indian craftsmanship and tradition; with a fusion of color, style and glamour. The
characteristic feature of this brand is that though its styling is contemporary, its soul is
inherently Indian which can be seen through the extensive use of Indian textiles, weaves and
surface ornamentation along with in house silkscreen, block and foil prints and embroidery
in its each collection.
Through the course of this internship, I assisted the designer in writing her press release for
her Winter Festive Collection 2013 ‘Saaj’ to be showcased at the Lakme Fashion Week India
in August 2013 along with handling her fabric printing unit and seeing to it that the outfits
are ready prior to the deadline. I even gained experience in the various kinds of fabric
printing like block, silk screen and foil printing creating various samples for the same to
better understand the techniques required to make the prints look presentable in order to
attract the costumers to buy the merchandise along with learning how a fashion label runs.
23. Using a shoe polish brush as my
printing block, I applied paint to
it and then press it hard at 1
point against the cloth; and
rotated it to create these swirls;
giving it a rough texture. To give
it a dramatic touch, I used 3
different colors to fill the entire
cloth with repeat prints of these
swirls with some overlapping
another.
Using mesh stuck to a square wooden
block as my printing block , I applied
paint to it and by using the technique
of base block shifting, I kept pressing
the block against the cloth with
different forces to create a fading
effect as well as to create some
prominent mesh textures over the
cloth. In order to give it a dramatic
touch, I used different colors to fill the
entire cloth with repeat prints of this
mesh texture with some overlapping
another.
Crumbling a lot of newspaper together
I created a huge paper ball to act as a
block for me to create texture on the
cloth. Making sure that the paper ball
is intact, I cello taped the paper ball I
created and compressed it flat before I
could proceed to apply texture to the
cloth. I then applied paint to it and
kept pressing it against the cloth with
different forces to create a fading effect
as well as to create some prominent
textures. In order to give it a dramatic
look, I used 2 different colors to fill the
entire cloth with repeat prints of this
paper texture with some overlapping
another.
24. This print is created using 2
techniques. Firstly, I divided my
cloth into 4 parts and then using a
brush with light colors I painted
the base with 3 different colors.
Then using one of the block from
the many available at the printing
unit of the designer, I filled the
entire cloth with repeat prints of
that block. I used this technique of
applying solid base color and then
using block printing to create
repeat patterns to fill the entire
cloth in order to make the print
look striking .
This print is created using 2 techniques.
Firstly, I applied texture at the base by
using the technique of base block shifting
by making use of an abstract print block
from the many available at the printing
unit of the designer; to create a rough
effect. Then by using one of the silkscreen
traditional Indian motif print from the
many available at the printing unit, I filled
the entire cloth with this print using the
silkscreen pigment printing technique. I
used this technique of applying base
texture with block printing and then using
the silkscreen pigment printing to fill and
overlayer the entire cloth with the Indian
motif print in order to make the print look
striking and to give it a dramatic effect in
addition to experimenting how a
combination of two printing techniques
looks.
This print is created using 2
techniques. Firstly, I applied paper
texture at the base to create a rough
look. Then by using one of the
silkscreen print from the many
available at the printing unit of the
designer, I filled the entire cloth with
this print using the silkscreen
printing technique. I used this
technique of applying base texture
and then using the silkscreen
pigment printing to fill the entire
cloth with that print in order make
the print look striking and to give it
a dramatic effect.
25. This print is created using block
printing technique. Each block print has
2 blocks: one for the outline of the print
and the other is same print but called
the fill used to fill color inside the
outline Firstly, by using the fill block of
one of the traditional Indian motifs
block from the many available at the
printing unit of the designer, I filled the
entire cloth with repeat prints of that
block. I then used the outline block over
the previous repeat prints I created in
order to enhance the entire look. I used
this technique of using the outline and
fill block to create repeat patterns to fill
the entire cloth in order to make the
print look striking as well as to give it a
finished look .
This print is divided into 2 segments and is
created using 2 techniques. Firstly, the
above print (1st Segment) is created by
repeated patterns of the texture created
using shoe polish brush dipped in paint;
which is slightly pressed on the fabric in
order to create a grainy texture.
Whereas the 2nd segment print is created
using the base block shifting technique by
using one of the traditional Indian motifs
block from the many available at the
printing unit of the designer; in order to
create overlapping repeat patterns.
I used this technique of creating texture
on top of the fabric and repeat patterns at
the bottom in order to have a view of how
combination of 2 prominent prints look
when put together.
This print is created using block
printing technique. Using one of the
traditional Indian motifs block print
called Karvat or the temple print
from the many available at the
printing unit of the designer, I filled
the entire cloth with repeat prints of
that block. I created a smudged look
by moving the block up and down
when pressed against the fabric in
addition to using 2 different striking
colors with some prints in opposite
direction to fill the entire cloth with
repeat prints of these temple prints
in order to give it a dramatic touch.
26. This print is created using 2
techniques. Firstly, the entire cloth
is pinned down by creating equal
pin tucks along the entire length of
the fabric.
Having done that, I then used
different outline block prints
available at the printing unit; at
different position on the cloth to
create an abstract pattern.
After creating the abstract print,
I unpinned the pin tucked fabric
to see the outcome.
I used this technique of creating
pin tucks on the fabric and then
using block printing to create an
abstract pattern in order to create
and test how abstract prints at
regular intervals with plain fabric
in between these interval looks;
thus, giving me an idea of how
such prints are achieved in the
fashion textiles industry.
27. Apart from experimenting how to create textures as well as prints using base block shifting
i.e. block printing and silkscreen pigment printing during the course of my internship at
Pinnacle, I even learnt a new printing technique called foil printing.
Foil printing is quite a tedious and time consuming printing technique. In order to achieve
this print, I made use of the huge cushioned tables available at the printing unit as my
working space. Firstly, I carefully pinned the desired foil color with the right side facing the
cushioned table on to the table. Then without letting air settle in; I tightly pinned my fabric
with the right side facing the table over the foil I pinned previously. After that using the
desired silkscreen print, I created the print on to the fabric using the silkscreen pigment
printing technique. Giving it enough time to dry, I then unpinned the fabric and carefully
removed the foil in order to see my final outcome.
I have always been fascinated to see such intricate foil prints over fabric in shops; and
thus, I used this technique for creating prints in order to gain knowledge about foil printing
and to give myself an idea of how such prints are created in the fashion textiles industry;
hence, overcoming my curiosity to learn about it .
But foil printing has certain limitation too. In order to get the best outcomes, it can only
be used to create prints on sheer fabric like georgette and chiffon. Also, it requires immense
amount of time to dry; and thus, would work best in hot climate rather than cold and humid
climate.
28. Creating exciting window displays also plays a vital role in increasing brand awareness
among consumers. It is one of the easiest form of promoting the brand.
Through the medium of this project, I learnt the aspects involved by a brand to create
exciting and eye catching window displays in order to portray their brand image to the
trespassers so that they are fascinated to enter the shop .
To understand the significance of brand image and the process involved in creating
exciting window displays , I as a part of the project firstly had to pick a brand and create
mood boards portraying its brand image from my point of view. My selected brand was Miu
Miu.
Having understood the brand image of Miu Miu, which according to me is that of
ecstatic, refined and peppy; I created backdrops using images from the internet and my
Adobe Photoshop skills portraying a similar feel as I learnt that for window displays to be
interesting not only the props and the merchandise need to be interesting but also the
backdrop to give it a complete look..
With my mood boards and back drops ready, I then with the use of various props,
merchandise and backdrops created my own version of Miu Miu Window Display using my
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator Skills.
36. Rangoli is a decorative form of design , kind of more of a tradition followed by Indian
families to decorate their houses with colors during a festive season. Just as a part of a normal
conversation , I told my art teacher in my secondary school, the basic essence of Rangoli in
the life of Indian families. Fascinated by what I told her , it was entirely her encouragement
and confidence that allowed me to try out this tradition in school during our school
celebration “Our School’s Founders Day .” This was the first time I actually designed a
Rangoli all by myself.
Since then, designing Rangolis using flower petals and colorful powder during any
festive season has become my favourite hobby.
Furthermore, I linked my this artistic interest with fashion by using some of the motifs
from these Rangolis and the blending mode in Adobe Photoshop to create repeat patterns for
my own fabric prints.
