Quarter 4 Portfolio Show

Today is the day of our Quarter 4 portfolio show, which also marks the end of the first year at AI. Actually, it was quite a let down, as not much "advertisement" was done. People walked by, asked a few questions, flipped through some stuffs, and that was it. People as in people in school, teachers and students (usually friends). And I felt like it was kind of rushed.

Everyone was unprepared. And I wasn't as prepared as I hoped I would be.

But nonetheless, I pulled it off. Laid out all my stuffs, and realized how much I have actually grown in this past year. From not being able to stitch a straight line to actually being able to create an one-of-a-kind dress from scratch. This process is mesmerizing.

I put out five manneqins. It displayed works from classes, and some works I did in my own time. And what put me down was the fact that fellow classmates were complaining that I was the only person who got a whole table to myself. I am not going to say "I'm sorry" for that. The teacher acknowledged the time and effort I put into my work and told me that I could take any table I want by myself. Obviously, I chose the prime spot. Who could you blame? I knew what I was doing, I was prepared, and I was up for it. I felt like other people where more like "whatever," "I don't really care," and anything along that line until the time really came. Everyone started to care. Everyone started to compare. Everyone started to complain.

Well how about this.

Take more time and effort to do all your homework and projects.

Organize your stuffs.

Do not rush everything ON the due date.

Finish everything ahead of time so you have that extra "safe" time to make any last minute changes.

Do not freak out.

Do no complain and blame everything on "not enough time."

Because HELLO! Yours truly finished. And we all started at the same time. And I believe I am not less busy than any of these people, in fact, I might be even busier!

So I do not get what is the big deal.

My evening dress, The Emerald, inspired by Lake Emerald in Alberta. The waves, the color and the ripples are all contributing elements in my design.

The dress is basically all boned. The bustier and the skirt is entirely boned. Fully lined and all ruffles sewn on by hand. The shoulder piece is attached to the belt. This dress could be worn with or without the belt.

The feeling of completing something, is amazing.

But for now, I am exhausted. I need a massage

URBAN NOMAD PROJECT COMPLETED

So this group project has finally ended. The duration was this, I suppose was dreadful. I love the idea of this project, putting people into teams, assign a theme, and have the team come up with a cohesive collection of day dresses. Though there were complaints about this project, even by me, but now, just looking back, I believe I was prejudiced, which, in this, has taught me a lesson, "Not to just label people from what you've heard," simple, but still, it happens. My team was two teams clashed together. I would very much prefer the old team formation as it was just me and another classmate who does not seem to have a problem to cooperate. But as our team got merged in with another team which contained a classmate that I have trouble working with - or everyone has trouble working with. I believe being a team player is extremely important and I try my hardest to be a team player but I also need to keep my own "priorities" in eyes, in this case, my grades. I do not want to sacrifice my 4.0 GPA just because a fellow classmate wants to do it that way. Communication is key. And when a team member refuses to communicate and believe only what she says is right, then the communication and the working environment will become unbearable. Giving attitude when things do not go her way, calling people stupid in a "nicer way," judging other people's designs and acting like a know-it-all, getting all frustrate just because something does not work out and not try to solve the problem, blaming "time" when a grade is not pleasant, I call it childish. And for the record, if you are not going to be nice, I will not be nice. But I won't be a rude person and say that no women will wear your dress but a prostitute.

Overall, I learned quite a lot from this project.

But mostly on the "how to be a nice person" part instead of the design/construction field.

Now, on to the evening dress project.

I am so glad that it is not a group project!

plaid

I have a thing for plaids.

So for our construction class, I was the only person to use a fabric that is not just one color.

Though plaid is challenging, but I decided to challenge myself.

Turns out, I overcame the challenge, and I was the first one in the class to finish.

The jacket was due today, but nobody else finished.

Where are the strict rules?

Where are the standards?

Whatever.

I like to push myself.

I don't want to just sit back and relax.

So, I'm going to work on my own stuffs simultaneously.

I love those gold buttons.

So gorgeous.

perdant

A video I made for a project a year ago when I was still at SFU.

It still pisses me off how I got a bad mark on this because the professor thought this wasn't appropriate.

Like seriously...

photoshoot inspirations

below are photoshoot inspiration sources

models

http://www.modelmayhem.com/722215

http://www.modelmayhem.com/901026

http://www.modelmayhem.com/795710

compromise

Design Specialties is full of obstacles. First, our group got merged, so this was not the intended group and we now have four people in our group and all the ideas have to be reconstructed. After showing the sketches, it was said that our dresses are not cohesive though they all have strips detailings but according to the instructor, they are not the same. Who said dresses have to have the SAME concept to be cohesive. Silhouette, color, and elements are enough to make a collection cohesive. I just don't get it. I go to fashion school, and I can't use my design skills, I have to compromise and make something simple and easy just because the instructor thinks it is hard. Like seriously? I want to challenge myself. The afternoon was one of the most frustrating I've had in a while. I took away my design completely, and some immature person just decided to give everyone attitude and not contribute in any discussion but saying that our design is not "wearable.' But given credits to the customer profile, a fashion assistant for a fashion magazine living in New York CIty, the customer would not be exactly wearing something that is wearable like your everyday girl next door. I guess some people's fashion taste just reaches a level and stops there. I would love to accept suggestions as to change my design but I don't want to lose my design asthetics. 

And I think it is unfair to tell a student not to do something just because it is hard, like, seriously?

stimulant

These are potential locations for my photoshoot.

I loved the weather today, dim, dull but with a slight trace of sunlight here and there. It's the best condition for a photoshoot. It's love! 

goal board

From now until 2014...

It's okay to dream.. right?

mummified

Strips of linen and cotton, pleats, beading sums up the Design Specialties project. I am now in a group of four. Good thing that I got to keep my theme instead of changing it to the other one, because seriously, if my theme was Beijing, I would have absolutely no idea what to do...

I like this project, the whole thing, but I feel like there is no sense of competition, and I am the kind of person that is driven by competition and rivalry..

I want challenge..

I want something that I go to sleep thinking about it and wake up thinking about it

I hate when people tell me it's too difficult, because I know I can do it.

design specialties day dress project

So my theme for the project that I've totally been looking forward to is URBAN NOMAD!
At first, I was like, what's that? Then I realized, it's Egypt!
The theme city is Cairo, and the assigned colors are sand beige, brown, nile green, light blue, ivory... you get the idea.
And we are grouped in groups of two to three. And was I relieved! I was in a group of two, with someone whom I believe would not have a lot to say about my design, which is good! That way, we wont clash.
So I sketched and thought. I decided to go with the idea of urban mummies. Strips and strips of linen in beige, cream and ivory would be cut out and I would use the strips, literally, to create a knee length, long sleeved day dress.
But the thing is, we have to come up with five designs, so I am still thinking, thinking, thinking. I don't even know if we could go over the board, or if I could even make the pattern for what I am trying to make.
And! And! And! I can't express my love for making up fake people as our customers. It's just so much fun!

(image source : www.style.com)