Found Garments Design Challenge

I am infinitely more creative in a sandbox. Put some guidelines around a project, toss me some parameters, and the ideas flow freely.

As I’ve been focusing on refining my drawings and articulating my own design language, I started to hit walls. Without sharing the work with a creative community, getting a sense of progress is difficult. With only my own inspiration and intuition to draw on, finding continuity and maintaining motivation is tricky.

I love walking: the pace, the experience, the spontaneity, the exercise. I often find myself taking photos of street art, architecture, and other bits of ephemera that catch my eye along the way. At times, I’ve shared the photos on Instagram but, mostly, they sit on my phone, tucked away to inspire me again later.

I decided to put them to use in a design challenge to keep things fresh and ideas rolling: turn photos from my walks into garments.

Here’s what I came up with…

Found Garments

Photo:

Note to self: Take straight photos.

Architecture never fails to inspire. This arched doorway caught my eye. (Can you tell I live in a city with little regard for decorative architecture? Brutalism abounds.) The iconic crescent moon and tonal beige/gray tones were subtle but intriguing.

Garment:

I love an arched neckline for an otherwise very simple dress. The relief in the architecture would add beautiful interest and volume around the neckline and the dark grey and grey-blue play together in a way that is elegant and calming.

Ultimately, I think this is my least successful concept. The skirt comes across as juvenile and the contrast between the fluid skirt and the geometric, structural top doesn’t quite work. Lessons learned.

Photo:

This textile was hanging in a window for privacy and it immediately made me want to go on a beach vacation. It feels vintage and fresh, with the repeated pot plant motif shining through a toile-esque repeated print. The maroon and (previously white?) beige feel island-ready while remaining neutral.

Garment:

I wanted this to be cut into a simple wrap or a-line skirt immediately. Paired with a simple crop top, with sleeves inspired by Jil Sander’s Tangle Bags and anchored with neutral, earthy shoes and accessories for texture… chef’s kiss, I would wear this right now. I find prints like this timeless: detailed, organic, and recognizable but not identifiable.

Photo:

This window grate (grill? Is there a proper word for these decorative/security elements?) offered a beautiful balance: delicate and strong, structural but fluid. My mind could picture it interpreted with knots.

Garment:

Seeing those knots brought to life, I adapted the swirling and intersecting metal into a statement back on a formal gown. Keeping with classic black and letting the silhouette do the talking, a simple skirt with a slightly longer sheer hemline keep the dress from looking too laboured. Bold gold and orange accessories and pumps that nod to Valentino add a little extra oomph without distraction.

What look do you think is most (or least) successful? More often than not, I’m finding simplicity and focus garner my favourite results.