Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida

This is the AW2011 collection of a Portuguese collaboration between Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida. I love their story as much as I adore this work. They met whilst enrolling for Fashion School in Portugal, from which they both graduated with distinction in 2007. In 2009 they moved to London and gained industry experience working for Vivienne Westwood/ Anglomania (Marta) and Preen (Paulo). In 2009 they both started the MA fashion course at London Central St Martins. Having just graduated, this is their first collection. I found them in the wonderful magazine TANK.

Aprons and Apron Dresses from Kate Emerson Designs

These aprons and apron dresses from Kate Emerson Designs use bold colours, layering and contrast to great effect.

Aprons by Vittoria

ApronsByVittoria is another etsy shop specialising in vintage style aprons with a full, 1950's style skirt.

Dressed for fun

Last week was dress for 'Fun and Humour' day for NC's attending college. Here are a few glimpses of their outfits . . .

housewiferevolution

DaWanda is another forum for artists and designers to sell their work. These aprons by Sheela of housewiferevolution have a clever feature detachable Kami.

Aprons

Etsy is a rich market place for designers and artists to have an international platform for selling their goods. As such it is also a great place to research trends and get inspiration. Danielle of Sugar N Spice Aprons has some wonderful examples of retro style aprons made from vintage fabrics, which will hopefully inspire the NC's for their apron project.

Recycled Knickers

Amazing underwear made of upcylced embroidered linens from Sow's Ear.

Sow's Ear

Marion of the Sow's Ear Studio is an amazing self taught fashion designer, who upcycles old kilts jumpers, scarves and tablecloths into amazing clothing items. A dynamo of creativity who came to fashion through an awareness of the toxicity of the modern fashion industry.
The quality of the vintage fabrics upcycled is key to this designer as is the whole process of transformation. A beautiful fabric formed into an 'unfortunate piece of clothing' can be given a whole new existence in Marions studio.
" I make clothes because I could never find anything I felt like myself in or that fitted me. I love vintage pieces but they don't seem to work on modern bodies. Working on the premise that everyone wants to feel attractive in what they wear and true style comes from feeling comfortable in your threads, i favour bias cutting which affords free movement. With an innate aversion to man made fibres I use silk, wool, cashmere, mohair and linen, deconstructing vintage and pre-owned garments, curtains, bedspreads etc, to free up beautiful materials which have been locked away in deeply unflattering styles. Working directly on a mannequin I build a new dress/sweater/coat which is informed by any interesting features from the original donor garment (maybe keeping a pocket or patch of embroidery) but which has a unique new identity. My clothing must be flattering, comfortable (no tight waistbands reminding one of how many biscuits . . . Sow's Ear on Etsy

Sabrina Shirazi

Sabrina Shirazi is just starting her final year in BA(Hons) Textile design at Falmouth College and has had a great start as she has just been awarded 2ND prize in the prestigious Hand and Lock's student embroidery competition 2011. Sabrina's piece I thought was very suitable as inspiration for the NC 'Fun and Humour Brief' and Sabrina's story, I hoped might inspire some of you to enter next year's Hand and Lock prize . The 2012 Hand and Lock competition opens on October 1st 2011 and works have to be submitted March 31st 2012 . . . go on take the challenge!

Roy Jeans

A really inspiring man, Roy started making jeans in his apartment. Roy's jeans are made by hand by Roy, everything from the pattern cutting to the cowhide leather tags. These are beautiful jeans with soul because they have been lovingly hand crafted from stunning 15oz unsanforized fabric woven at Japans Nihon Menpu Mill. As he became more skilled Roy broadened his range and invested in quality antique machinery. Now he has honed his production to one style that he likes, he has a studio but he is still experimenting. There is an interview with Roy on Grain and Gram

Bas Kosters

Bas Kosters at the London Fashion Week 2011, this designer should give you some food for thought for your fun and humour brief.

Fisherman's Friends

The new NC's have done a fantastic job of finishing the project for Anstruther Fisheries Museum, completing no less than five outfits created from three waterproof sets and three pairs of rubber gloves, it is amazing how inventive you can be, especially when you have limited resources. These outfits will join the wellington corset and shoe collection, made in the last week of last term with the former NC group, being exhibited at the Cuper Arts Festival in October.

Kat Mcleod Working Practice

A small stop motion video of Kat Mcleod's working practice.

Kat Mcleod

Introducing the illustration of Melbourne artist Kat Mcleod, which manages to combine a crisp line and accuracy, with collaged rubbish, papers and textiles for passion and style. Thanks charismagic.

Marithe Francois Girbaud

Love the presentation of this SS 2010 collection by Marithe + Francois Girbaud the campaign was created by Steve Hiett.

Dundelina

Dundelina is a Norweigan Children's company that makes fashion, accessories and literature. The clothing has a wonderful pale pallet and uses lovely natural fabrics. The interesting and 'fun' thing about Dundelina's collections is that they start with a story. This fashion house interacts with literature in a unique way, every year they release a new story written by renowned Norwegian author Roald Kaldestad. These stories become the soul of of the collections, the source of inspiration, the graphic elements and fabric characters. This may be a method that you could use to inspire your 'fun & Humour' collections.

Junya Watanabe

Junya Watanabe's winter 2011/12 collection has revisited classic Fair Isle and Aran jumpers and reinterpreted them into jackets. Junya has also turned back the clock on classic casual men's jackets bringing them into sharp focus with contrasting fabric and features, for example pockets and elbow pads.

A quiet revolution from one of the Comme des Garcons designers famed for his 'techno couture' and unusually structured garments.