Unit 1: Womenswear
The Prato Textile Museum online archive was researched to identify 3 examples of women’s fashion items that would offer a breadth of scope for exploring the selected research methods. The chosen examples are: Formal gown, needlepoint embroidery, plastic beads and pendants (1966/8); Wedding dress worn by Liliana Ciolini (1947); Formal gown worn by Beatrice Verity Manners’ (late 19th century).
The selected examples represent 3 eras of fashion. In addition, they each have a particular style of detail, through fabric manipulation and/ or embellishment, which provides further research inspiration, linked to subsequent units. The examples are all of neutral color, to provide a ‘blank canvas’ on which to practice the research methods.
Unit 2: Colour
(to be developed)
Unit 3: Pattern
(to be developed)
Unit 4: Menswear
(to be developed)
Unit 5: Embroidery
The Prato Textile Museum online and physical archive was researched to identify several examples of textiles that would offer scope to explore both research methods and the range of selected embroidery and embellishment techniques, to provide inspiration through research.
The examples have been selected for their particular style of detail: colour, pattern or surface texture, to provide further opportunities for research and inspiration linked to the unit subject area and/ or subsequent units.
The selected examples will add diversity to the pilot units drawing on Western and Non-Western sources within the museum. The textiles are not all embroidered, and as such, will demonstrate how diverse objects within the museum can be used to inspire embroidered and embellished textile design. The textiles will be supported by the selection of further artefacts from the museum again that may be selected for colour or pattern or relation to intended embroidery sample method and include prints and artists’ sketchbooks These, have been being selected with The London Embroidery Studio and other external designers.
Embroidery is a vast subject area with many historical techniques. The techniques that have been identified as most appropriate to textiles and fashion design to be included within the timeframe are: stitch, beading, appliqué, cutwork and quilting. As a related technique laser cutting and/ or engraving may be included.
Unit 6: Knit
(to be developed)
Unit 7: Consolidation
(to be developed)