Architecture

Here are some photos that I have found on the internet over the last few weeks which are becoming very inspiring towards my design work. The way the architecture is photographed to capture shape and shadows is the main attraction to me. I feel that they method of photography shows a very modernist perspective and sharp edges and right-angles look brilliant in the light they are in.

Perry Anchors

I have never attempted creating a logo or using text whilst designing, but today i have tried to experiment with the Fred Perry logo, by giving it a unique twist. I have been looking at Royal navy badges, and other logo's linked to navigation and sailing a lot recently. I felt like I could try and incorporate the Fred Perry logo with something like an anchor, so that i could produc a fresh and original logo for the company, which would be used as a sewn on badge or attachment on to the piece of clothing. The images above are a few of my attempts.

The Business

The Business is a film I have been meaning to watch for the last year, and this weekend I finally had the chance to to. The film follows The rise and fall of a young cockney who moves to the Costa Del Sol and gets involved in drug smuggling, with 4 ex gangsters from Peckham, London . I have wanted to see the film for so long for 2 reasons; Firstly, Nick Love who produced the business has produced other films such as the football factory and the firm, which are two of my favourite films. Secondly, and more importantly, The Business is very influential to me because of the clothing worn throughout the film. It is set in the 80's and the rich drug dealers and business men involved wear brands like Sergio Tacchini, and Fila. The slick sport look makes the gangsters look rich, stylish and shows off the authority that they have. This is a trailor from the film below..

Best Dressed Man In Tennis?

John McEnroe is one of the most successful tennis players in the history of the sport, but it isn't his accolades that make him so interesting to me. After reading more about football casuals throughout the era's, and really thinking about the fashion of the football firms in the 1980's, it has become evident that tennis gear was a major influence in the fashion of the football fan. With labels such as Sergio Tacchini, Lacoste and Fila all being worn by the tennis player, the style was quickly stolen by the casual, football fighting lads of the 80's. The continental labels had a mixture of youth/sport/style and pride about them, and I believe this is the reason why football fans invested so much money in this sport wear. As for labels these days, the more preppy and vintage companies design with this style in mind, and take into consideration terms such as nostalgia, vintage, and culture.

FMP Sketchbook - an insight

I have just scanned in a few pages of my sketchbook which are showing a variety of my deifferent thoughts throughout my design process. You can see how certain found images of modernist posters and naval military badges are influencing some of my ideas and designs. I have also began considering garment shapes (taken from predicted shapes from view 2 magazine) and considered styles of how to wear certain garments, as you can see from the page on the 'fisherman' style.

Football Casuals - The fashions

I have been looking across various websites and found that footballcasual.com really explains the sub-cultures and history surrounding Casuals fashion as it has changed through the years. I found the following information on footballcasual.com, which I believe helps understand what a football casual is? what clothing they would have in their wardrobe? whether or not its about more than just fighting? or whether fashion and music are also influential on this sub-culture..

"The need for a country like Britain to have a youth culture which is either led by teenage angst, political anarchy or musical revolution has always been evident. Most recently, ever since the 60's when the mods took on the rockers - these type of tribal clashes of various youth cultures have dominated our shores. I cite the mods in particular, as I believe that many of the fashion principles of mod culture (clean lines, minimal styling) also lie at the heart of the Football Casual subculture. Obviously there also some musical links, but that's where it ends really. The whole art and jazz thing (the original modernists) are certainly things which don't translate in Football Casual culture. Every movement needs a vehicle and with mods it was music, scooters and fashion. It just so happens, that the Football Casual subculture originated from the football terraces and their vehicle was football, fighting and fashion. If you were a mod, it was arguably easier for you to move across - as brands such as Fred Perry and (less so) Ben Sherman could translate."

"By the mid 80's there were brands which were almost essentials and others which varied from crew to crew. Stone Island and CP jackets were essential, as well as vintage adidas trainers. Fila BJ, Ellesse, Sergio Tacchini and Lacoste track tops also grew in popularity. Tennis chic is the look which has probably defined the casual look more than any other. Before long the likes of Armani, Burberry, Aquascutum, Berghaus, Fiorucci and Lois were soon being added to the wardrobe."

I have been researching and gathering photographs on all my themes for the last few weeks, and these are some select few photographs which really highlight the fashions of the football casual.

I have also found a great article on GQ Magazine's website, which discusses what a football casual should be wearing, and where you can shop for this fashion on the high street and make sure your getting the perfect look. You can read it below on their website...

GQ Magazine

Lyle & Scott Competition Winner!

Since my visit to Lyle & Scott I have been following their blog and facebook page so that i am up to date with their new collections and news. At the beginning of the week they held a competition on their facebook which allowed entrants to upload a picture of themselves in their favourite Lyle & Scott garment, and the winner would receive a free polo shirt. I decided that I would upload a photo of one of my designs that I created and attach my head to it, apparently it caused quite a stir with the design team and got them laughing. Unfortunately I didn't win the competition however i was a close runner up. You can see the feedback I received on their blog post here

blog.lyleandscott.com

The day later, I entered the competition again. The pictures they wanted to see would hopefully reflect their 'funny Friday' day, click here to see the the image which won me the free polo shirt and to read what the design team thought of it. If only they actually made car stickers!!

Kid British..

Just got tickets to see this band at the new FAC251 club in Manchester. I have followed their music for a couple of years by going to gigs in and around Manchester, and now and they are finally getting the success that they deserve. I love so many things about this band; their clothing, their lyrics, their personalities and their unique sound. It's really clear to see how they are inspired by bands such as Madness and The Specials. They seem to be getting better and better. I am also really excited about seeing the new FAC251 club, which is inspired from the Hacienda and owned by New Order's Peter Hook. Ill be sure to tell you all about my night after the event... I really can't wait!

Colour Blocking & Dirk Bikkembergs

Colour blocking is always a big hit in spring/summer collections, and it is something I want to work with, for two reasons. Firstly, it will allow my theme of modernism and Swiss poster design to appear really obvious and slick. Secondly, it keeps in trends with my sportswear/football casuals theme and could be seen as a really contemporary and original garment, whilst still having that nostalgic edge to it.

I have been looking a lot at Dirk Bikkembergs sports ranges from this season and last and its excellent, his use of blocking really makes his clothes look sporty and casual.

"Dirk Bikkembergs has turned his name into a brand, which is known across Europe and beyond. He has managed to create a buzz amongst fashionistas and within the global fashion scene. The Belgian fashion designer is renowned for his unique capacity to merge the exclusivity of fashion with the universe of football."

Major Project Update..

I have been working solid on developing my ideas and linking research to them in my sketchbook this week, I have been experimenting with colour and drawing up garment shapes which I will post about at some point over the next couple of weeks. I have been drawing up initial ideas for designs, and then developing them on the computer, which I will continue to do over the next 2 weeks. I have experimented with a check design (something I haven't done before), and I feel that in my first few designs I have really combined my themes of nautical/football casuals/modernism and 60's. The designs which you can see below have not yet been visualized on garments but they will be once I have decided on the garment shapes I want to work with. I have chosen to design a collection of spring/summer wear for Fred Perry. This decision took a lot of time to reach, I had considered other brands and even thought about creating my own label and designing for my own company. I have decided against this idea though because I want to be able to keep a brands existing identity in my mind throughout the design process, because I feel I could create a more exciting collection this way.