There's only one world, and we only get one chance. This year we're asking students to design an outfit inspired by flora and fauna and incorporate fibres that are gentle on the earth. Naturally, your hero fibre will be wool but then think of blends with other natural fibres or recycled materials. Wool should make up at least 70% of the outfit, comprised of up to four pieces. Your designs should reference flora and fauna, which resonates with your design style and personal taste, honouring nature and all her wonders.
Information & inspiration for students
Need some floral inspiration? Try these websites:
Flower Glossary - a list of 150+ flower and plant types, along with pictures of each one and details on the best way to plant them. You’ll find everything from common favorites like roses and tulips, to exotic plants and flowers. Find the flower names, a brief description & a photo
Gardening Australia Plant Finder - online database of colour photographs and informative plant descriptions
Bored Panda
Fashion Inspired by the Natural World
Victoria and Albert Museum
Trendhunter
Acquiring fashion inspiration from nature
Fibre2Fashion
This book will help you find the fabrics that suit the affects you want to achieve, show you how the fabric will perform, and recommend ways of using it. This new edition has information that is key to industry professionals (including designers and owners of fashion businesses) and explains textile issues and their impact on the environment. Find the perfect fabric for every design.
Examines the qualities of different fibres and fabrics, and encourages students to use this information in selecting a fabric for a particular job.
The book explains the details of textile production and examines the properties of different fibers and fabrics. Other topics include textile dyes, finishes, economic and social issues, and consumer considerations. Practical exercises are provided.
Uses straightforward explanations and clear diagrams to provide a comprehensive reference bank of important concepts and skills to support coursework and make revision easier. Topics covered include: generating a design; small to large scale manufacturing; properties of fibres and fabrics; using information technology. Each double page spread features learning objectives and differentiated questions which make it easy for students to use in independent study and revision.
The history of the world can be read in textiles: the rise of civilizations and the fall of empires are woven into their warp and weft along with the great stories of conquest, religion, and trade. The legacy of textile design, form, and pattern that has resulted from this global endowment can be seen here in all its spectacular richness. Eight sections cover every aspect of materials and techniques, each giving a succinct summary of characteristics, production, and geographical distribution, accompanied by hundreds of color illustrations and drawings. Nonloom and loom-woven textiles, painted and printed, dyed, sewn, embroidered, and embellished techniques are all covered, as well as the materials themselves. From simplethe clothes made of skin or hide in prehistoric timesto complexmaterials elaborately embellished with tasselsworld textiles are both beautiful and beguiling. This unrivaled guide is completed by a glossary, further reading, and information on collections open to the public. 778 illustrations, 551 in color.
Fashion is the definitive guide to the evolution of costume and style. Tracing 3,000 years from the early draped fabrics of ancient times to today's catwalk sensations, this is your own personal fashion show through history.
Comprehensive treatment of fibres as a material. Suited to project work at all levels in secondary schools.
Get Into Textiles - Part 1 - Recycled and Sustainable Textiles
Using case studies from top fashion houses, textiles designers and the world's most innovative companies, this series showcases textiles in the 21st century.
Designing Fashion
This program investigates the steps taken by fashion designers to develop their ideas into end products, from that initial spark of inspiration to final production. Throughout the program viewers see how fashion designers use various tools, equipment and drawing techniques to visually display their inspirations and ideas, how they use of computer aided design (CAD) to enhance and support their work, and finally, the steps involved in sampling, pattern making and production. The program is further enhanced by insightful interviews with top fashion designers including legendary Australian fashion designer, Akira Isogawa, Vanessa Rochman, head designer at Metallicus, and textiles designer Kaffe Fassett.
References
ABC. (n.d.). Gardening Australian Pant Finder. https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/plant-finder/
A-Z Animals. (n.d.). Animals. https://a-z-animals.com/
Brassfield, M. (2008, December 1). 15 Nature-Inspired Fashion Collections. Trendhunter. https://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/nature-fashion
Fibre2Fashion. (2012, March). Acquiring fashion inspiration from nature. https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/6145/acquiring-fashion-inspiration-from-nature
Flower Glossary. (n.d.). Everything about Flowers, Plants & Gardening. https://www.flowerglossary.com/
(2011). Get Into Textiles - Part 1 - Recycled and Sustainable Textiles [Video]. ClickView. https://clickv.ie/w/-Jsn
Hidrėlėy. (n.d.). Fashion Often Draws Inspiration From Nature And This Instagram Account Proves It (30 Pics) - Interview With Artist. Bored Panda. https://www.boredpanda.com/fashion-nature-similarities-fashion-biologique/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
National Geographic. (n.d). Animal Pictures and Facts. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/topic/facts-pictures
VEA (Production Company). (2011). Designing Fashion [Video]. ClickView. https://clickv.ie/w/p3tn
Victoria and Albert Museum. (n.d.). Fashion Inspired by the Natural World. https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/fashion-inspired-by-the-natural-world
Cover Image Credits
Gold, D. (2018). [Person holding woollen blankets] [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/aJN-jjFLyCU
Sikkema, K. (2017). {Knitting needles and wool] [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/8A7qKkvm_ew
Cavallini, F. (2020) [Woollen blanket] [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/p-jSyx8V5ZI
