New York Evaluation

While in New York I visited various studios including Judy Ross, a hand embroidery company who creates various interior products, which were all hand embroidered using only the chain stitch. I visited Maharam, the weave company who produces interior fabrics, and I found the colours and patterns of this work inspiring. I preferred the textured pieces; I feel I could use these fabrics as inspiration by using similar colour pallets or similar yarns for the textured affect. My most enjoyable studio visit was Francis Bitonti, the 3D printing company. I have never researched 3D printing before however I found this studio visit highly inspiring. I enjoyed my visit to the collection, ‘Faking It: Originals, Copies, and Counterfeits’ at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The collection focused on copying designs, and how designers use other designer, companies or brands as inspiration.

From the collection 'Faking it: Origionals, Copies, and Counterfits'

At Francis Bitonti I found out a great deal about 3D printing and how 3D printing is an up and coming technology. The 3D printing company creates accessories for fashion as Bitonti works towards “Blurring the lines between fashion and technology.” At the studio they showed us small interlocking samples that consisted of small shapes that were attached like chainmail, giving it a draped affect. The samples they created could be adapted into fashion accessories and detailing for garments. One particular piece I found interesting had a rubbery texture and looked like it could be a knitted piece. This was created through the use of Ninja Flex that has a high elasticity. Francis Bitonti is extremely well known for the Dita Von Teese dress that consisted of 3000 3D printed pieces which were all joined together to create the dress shown below.

Francis Bitontis 'Dita Von Teese dress'

This visit has inspired me to look at future technologies to incorporate into my designs. It has showed me that using different technologies and computer systems can be interesting and add more detail into my work.

For my current unit, unit X I am looking at ‘future forecasting’, finding new and upcoming technologies that can help society and be adapted into something new and exciting. 3D printing links in well with this idea, as plastics could be recycled and be used to create accessories. For unit X I would like to use different technologies when approaching my practise as I want to start using Photoshop and Illustrator in my work because this is used in many larger companies. I carried out a placement in Foremark the design company; all of the prints they created for Dorothy Perkins and Evans were created using Photoshop and Illustrator. In addition, I would like to start using more unusual materials in my knitting, using a rubbery material would relate well to the work I saw at Francis Bitonti, and add a more texture into my work. 

I would like to start carrying out more work placements in companies that do not specifically relate to knitwear but look at using different technologies to gain more skills and knowledge. By doing this I will source new materials to knit with and learn new skills on different software to add more into my knitting.