Growths
Fashion Cultures – The Iron Man Suit
For this section of Fashion Cultures with Dene October, we are to find and research a costume of our choice – look into the designer, when it was showcased and my thoughts about it.
I have chosen to look at the Iron Man (Tony Stark) costume that was presented in the Iron Man film starring Robert Downey Jr. Iron Man is a fictional superhero first appeared in the comic books published my Marvel Comics, the character was created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby.
In the story the Iron Man suit is suppose to be a powered suit of armor to save Tony’s life and escape captivity. The suit is designed to hold a variety weapons that allows to be used in combat, the suit is constructed out of nickel-titanium alloy called nitinol. Nitinol is light enough to not weigh Iron Man down as he’s flying around in the sky, at the same time durable enough to protect and withstand damage inflicted during combat. The suit is painted in metallic red and gold and the main colour theme.
The Iron Man suit that was worn by Robert Downey Jr. in the film was created by Shane Mahan, an American make up and special effects artist. Shane was also well known for being a part of the concept team for the film Avatar. The costume was first presented in the first Iron Man film that was released in May 2nd 2008 and has been development through the years up until the recent up to date film Avengers: Age of Ultron featuring the costume released in May 1st 2015.
Inspiration – Karloff & the EDGE
Fashion Cultures – NikeTown London
NikeTown – UK’s flagship Nike store is located at Oxford Circus. The store extends across 4 floors and covers roughly 42,000 square-foot showcasing all of their latest merchandises, making it the largest Nike retail location in the world.
From the ground floor the store presents their latest and newest products along with installation artworks and occasional DJ performance to compliment the line. Each week Nike will put on special events, athletes come in for interviews, they even organize a fitness club that is taken place in the store.
On the first to third floor are products from Nike that are selected and organized in specific sport sections. Products are displayed on shelves and racks allowing customers the ease to browse around.
In the center of the building is a section that connects all the floors of NikeTown; this is the Nike ID Studio – a unique campaign that allows customers to customize the colour, material and combination of footwear to their liking. The room showcases products of different possible footwear combinations and computers to allow customers to customize their footwear online.
The forth floor of the building showcases the women’s line of products, which is presented in the same manner as second and third floor, specifically organized into sport sections. Installation artworks can also be found on all of the floors and is replaces regularly.
Fashion Cultures – Mademoiselle Privé
Chanel’s Mademoiselle Privé exhibition was opened at London’s Saatchi Gallery between 13th October – 1st November. I was lucky enough to be able to attend and see it in person, the exhibition explores the creativity of both Chanel’s founder, Gabrielle Bonheur Coco Chanel and current creative director, Karl Lagerfeld.
It was installed on all three floors of the Saatchi gallery space, the exhibition begins at a room of a modern and contemporary garden it was meant to symbolize Chanel’s life. As you proceed through the exhibition space it interacts with the visitors Mademoiselle Privé application that is downloadable on any smartphones.
In the second room there is presented a giant rotating bird cage that holds a enlarged model of the star covered diamond necklace that was created by Coco in 1932.
Another interesting room was the fragrance room where it is a scent filled room filled with bronze and white tanks that opens revealing the fragrance inside, following the Chanel no 5 as the main reference.
In the exhibition Chanel has also brought back their designs in the haute couture space along with framed photographs of women celebrities taken by Karl Lagerfeld on the walls. The clothing pieces were presented on mannequins suspended on bright light tubes in a low light space, which brings out a delicate yet powerful atmosphere to the space.
Fashion Cultures – Interviews
For this weeks Fashion Cultures session with Dene October we were given an activity to find a published interview with a fashion designer and see how the interview was designed, conducted and worded.
I have chosen an interview from the Stylist that was with Carol Lim and Humberto Leon – the two creative directors of the fashion brand KENZO.
The interview was very interesting, as a viewer I was able to understand more how the two designers that KENZO announced as its new creative directors in 2011 were able to redesign and give a new image to a classic fashion brand with their iconic street inspired prints and logos.
From the interview Carol Lim and Humberto Leon seem very open and informative with their feedbacks, I believe this may be the interview was structured and well put; interviewer had done background research of the designers to avoid duplicate questions that may clash with other existing interviews leading to dull feedbacks.The questions were short and directed to a single issue, leaving room for the interviewee to expand on their thoughts.
I wasn’t able to find out whether the interview was conducted through messaging, phone or in person however the interview was able to capture designers experience, opinions, attitudes and perceptions.
Fashion Cultures – Shoooo
In our first Fashion Cultures session with Dene October, we were given a photograph of a shoe to research and discover what it means to us.
Above is the photograph given to my group, after research and examining the photo we have discovered it to be an early Regency footwear, about 1790 into 1810. Its main features are a pointed toe, small curved heel, side seam and natural materials (Leather or silk upper, leather sole).
Based from the photograph, I can see the footwear could possibly be from a high end line, due to the amount of decorative elements and gold-coated lining and heel. The luxurious and formal design makes this footwear most suited as a component of an eveningwear.
“A headdress must be-first becoming, second-beautiful, and third useful.”
A quotation from ‘The fashion history reader, global perspectives. Page 276. Edited by Giorgio Riello and Pater McNeil’. Although this passage is directed towards the headdress however I believe it can still be linked with the topic of shoes – as the evolution of shoes progress, many are designed and created with different purpose in mind, the original practicality use of the shoe is no longer placed as the priority.
CTS – Catalogue
Project 04 – Branding (phase two vision)
BEN LI 