Waltamstow Market-where to buy fabrics.

This week I had a trip up to Walthamstow Market, around the outskirts of London.

I had never previously been there and to be honest I didn’t really know what to expect. It was a day trip out and I found it a really useful place to know.

It consisted of a main street which did have a little market all the way along but it was the shops on either side of this market that was the jewel in the stone. There were quite a few fabric shops on either side full to the brim with roles of different fabric. Most of them were quite cheap but you need to know which ones to really go in as there were a couple that were selling fabric-obviously not the highest quality!-for 50p a metre! Yes, you read right; 50p a metre!

Walthamstom Market.

 

A part of me just wanted to grab everything as even if you were making toile’s or rough samples you could afford to buy it. I also found it a bit overwhelming as well as it confuses you as there is so much option.

Saeed's fabric shop.

 

I had a look at a larger fabric shop called Saeed’s-this shop is apparently not as cheap as others but it was interesting to have a look around. I did buy some organza-type fabric in a beautiful wine colour from a shop called Sai Fabrics (I’ve got a card and it’s address is 70 High Street) The wine organza cost the staggering amount of £1 per metre; so I pushed the boat out and bought 2 metres.

Looking down the other side of the street.

Another shop I bought fabric in was across the other side, called St Pierre Fabrics; 91 High Street. Which I bought a hound’s tooth print P.V.C. which I thought was the coolest thing I had ever seen! It cost £2 per metre and I got 2 metres as well-so hopefully I can do something substantial with it.

Fabrics in one of the shops.

 

There were also haberdashery shops with plenty of buttons, beads and nick knacks to buy although I had no idea what I should have bought. I think if you travel up there plan what you want to buy and what you want to use before you go as it can be like walking into a sweet shop and just want everything!

Haberdashery shops.

With my amazing tutor Claudette Joseph!



 

Another place we visited was a ware house in London. I could possibly tell you where it is as if I told you I would have to kill you! It was called Woolcrest Textiles Ltd, and was a big wear house down the back of a dinjy road.

 

It was the most amazing fabric place I have ever been! It was huge and had nearly every fabric you could have wanted. The only fabric I didn’t see much of was silk, but there was wools, p.v.c’s, pleather, jersey, linings, sequined and beaded fabrics… And the best part of this was that it was so reasonable priced!

Inside Woolcreat Textiles Ltd.

 

There were wools from £5 per metre-and I’m saying nice looking wools!                                                    I bought a snake skin P.V.C that was £3 per metre. And I also bought a beautiful sequined matt black fabric for £7.50 per metre.

Some amazing wool fabrics!

 

It was the most amazing place and a part of me doesn’t want to tell anyone about it as it is such a rare gem but I appreciate as I was lucky enough to find it and buy some fabric from there, other people should make the most of it too.

Just don’t tell anyone else!!

Last week saw the opening of London Fashion Week!

The shows are showing new Autumn Winter 2013 lines and started a few days ago.

I’ve just had a little oogle and I have found some really inspiring collections. The first was David Komas collection which was inspired by the vinyl record which once known, you can recognize it easily. I found the collection exciting as the fabric he has used shows the inspiration and has given the garments structure and texture. I will possibly include him in my inspiration this term as I really like the collection.

Another collection which I was amazed that I liked was Top shop. I have to say I find it a little strange that a high street shop show cases their collection at such a prestigious event as London Fashion Week-but in the same breath I think it’s good that high street shops are being included in the show. Most of Top shops clothing is very popular and although I myself don’t shop there, I like there A/W collection-especially the fur patent leather and the fur.

Jonathan Saunders is another designer which usually I don’t automatically pick up on but I love his patent leather in his latest collection and the corset/bodices that he has teamed up with softer and brighter dresses. There is a 1940s feel to some of the dresses,very tailored collection which then has a rockier edge with the bodices-fab!

 

 

 

 

 

Felder Felder consists of a designer duo of two sisters. Their latest collection has a very feminine feel and towards the end old school glamour reminiscent of the 1940’s with fur and long flowing dresses. But it was the funky material that stood out; the tight legging come trousers that looked like they had been slid into and the peach plastic-looking fabric that was used for coats and dresses. I love that it was included in such a feminine collection and looked so beautiful.

Victoria & Albert Museum Fashion.

While I was at London I also visited the Victoria and Albert Museum.

It’s a beautiful museum with so many different collections; while I was there I found other departments that I had not come across before such as the architecture rooms and the jewellery rooms.

If I could have taken pictures of the jewellery rooms, I would have done as they were beautiful! There were so many different metals from different eras; the oldest was a gold necklace from 700 b.c.

I also visited the fashion section which I believe has been moved around. I still look in awe at the V&A fashion collection as they have garments from Elsa Schiaparelli to Helmut Lang. I walked around taking loads of pictures of everything as I could not decide what to focus on! So I’m going to put these up so everyone can take a look.

Helmut Lang A/W/ 2003

Evening Coat from the 1920's.

Evening dress 1925 and a fan made from ostrich feathers 1920-1930.

I think this is a beautiful 20's dress, in such a vivatious colour and straight lines typical of the 20's era.

Evening coat Marshall & Snelgrove 1895-1900.

Dolman Emile Pingat 1885

This is an amazing coat,the fabric looks so luxiourious-I love it!

I’m thinking about focusing more on the 1940’s and 1950’s as I really like the feminine silhouette and the fitted style. I also think it was a beautiful era just after the war and possibly an optimistic time; looking forward to their future.

Christian Dior S/S 1952

Jean Desses A/W 1948

Michael Carlos Place 1954

Jacket and Skirt 1895

 

 

 

 

Pure 33 London Trade Show.

So I travelled up to London again recently, hoping to get inspired!

I went to the London trade fair of Pure London 33. It is usually a business trade event only but one day (which was Tuesday) is a student day so commoners like me can go and take an oogle!            And I have to say I really enjoyed it, I didn’t expect it to be as big as it was; on two levels including Footwear and Accessories. I walked around trying to take everything in; the floor was filled with all different types of fashion stands, whether it is knitwear, evening wear, young adult…etc. I enjoyed just walking around taking a look, picking up some brochers and cards.

Entrance to Pure 33 London.

One of the stalls within the trade show.

Other stands in the show.

 

 

Bag stall from the upper level within the show.

 

Walking around I came across an Iron Fist stand in the middle of the floor. I must have looked totally dazed as one of the workers came up to me and asked if I liked the stand. I certainly did and with this started up a conversation with him. It was really nice not to be shunned by stand workers because of my position as a student and the man I spoke to was really friendly and talkative. I ended the conversation with saying that “when I graduate I would like to work in a place like this”-well you have to be up front don’t you?! And on that, he gave me a card to contact when I do! Result!

Iron Fist Stand.

Iron Fist shoes.

 

Other young adult stalls.

I liked this one-a knicker stand!

 

 

I am now re-thinking where I want to be in the market and what kind of job I really want to do. I’ve always thought couture high end but I feel I might have a flare for a more high street quirky style such as Iron fist or Red or Dead. If so then I have to sort it out now before I do my final project.

Fashioning Veneer Wood

It’s the beginning of the new semester and most school children will be looking forward to having a week off of school! Sadly though I do get the time off as well, I won’t be going to any adventure parks but will be staying in writing my dissertation and working out what I’m going to do for my Final Major Project! So a trip to London was in order.

At the end of last semester I came to the conclusion that what I had been working on since before Christmas, I no longer liked and didn’t want to do this for my final project. This was a bit of a spanner in my works! I had loved the beginning of it when I started it and thought I had done a really good job, but now looking back I think I could have done a lot better. But I am also hoping this is a trait of a good designer-being a perfectionist and never being content with what you have done!

So…… what did I do last semester? (No it’s not a horror film!)

I started with using where I had grown up in Spain as a base. Torrevieja in the region of Alicante started as a little fishing village many years ago and from fishing and importing salt from the sea has now become a well known town. It also has many salt lakes around this area which are also used for their salt. Within the town is a museum based around this, Museo del Mar y de la Sal, which was where I visited to get my primary research.

Salt structures from the Museum of Sea and Salt.

After I took pictures in the museum of their sculptures made from salt I also went down to the salt lake near where I had lived and picked slabs of salt off of the bed of the lake. The clumps of salt were hard and quite sculptural and linked in well with me wanting to include alternative materials like plastics and P.V.C’s.

So after looking at designers such as Thierry Mugler, Gareth Pugh and John Galliano, I knew I wanted a heavily sculptural collection that including the plastics and metals. After talking to tutors and developing my ideas, I also ended up including wood as well-veneer wood. I thought this was the most amazing idea ever! But as I now know I tend to love the design and the illustration more than the actual making and completion of the dress. Nevertheless, I am proud to say that I did sample my veneer, found out how it bends and works. It can be sewn on an industrial machine if using a larger needle and a Teflon foot; it can also be glued; as I glued it to leather. It is a really fun material to use and I enjoyed defining everyone and using it, although it is very temperamental. You have to be aware of how it spits and splinters, to sometimes give it extra support in either facings or tapes but I am glad I did it.

 

Veneer wood sewn onto fabric.

 

The end result of these last months has been a made toile-a version of what the finished garment would hopefully look like, a messy sketchbook and a portfolio showing my 6 outfit collection.

My toile with the veneer wood, pvc and leather.