Felt on a catwalk

There are some images from high fashion collections by infamous and rising designers created based on felting technique. Great examples when craft is risen to a designer level.

Yohji Yamomoto Fall 2009 Ready to Wear creations which includes felt. Some very subtle, some very exaggerated, but all so ever trés chic.





Stella McCartney had included felt in her Fall 2008 collection as an alternative to leather/fur.




At NY fashion Week Fall 2010 by Sabah Mansoor Husain, a MFA Fashion and Knitwear Design student whose knitwear collection combines an eclectic set of techniques derived from both craft and design. She drew from traditional methods of felting fabrics, crochet, hand embroidery and Shibori (a Japanese technique of dyeing a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting or compressing fabric). Sabah also added jewel details to her entirely black and charcoal collection. Inspired by chandeliers, she worked with an artisan in Firozabad, India developing the jewel-shaped crystals.

Felt & Shibori

image from

image from


feltedkiwi

fiberarts

image from

Illustration

There is an illustration I done to make my first nuno-felted garment look more presentable ))


The background image created based on glass installation by an incredible artist Dale Chihuly

Changing skin...

Just a quick update. Thanks to friend of mine who is much better in adjusting computer programs including templates my blog now looks much more personal ) I've prepared some other wallpapers created based on my textiles designed for current project and will be changing background image from time to time )))

It"s working.

I'm excited - the network has actually started to build up )))
My blog was found by devoted felt creators from Israel (felt4you) and now I got bunch of links to a lot of interesting information and images about nuno-felting. Cool! Thanks!

First garment. Nuno-felting.

Have spent 3 last days making my first nuno-felt garment - skirt (but can be worn as a cover-up). Of cause reversible. Apart nuno-felting I have applied couple of shibori techniques ("mokume" & "marbling").




Just finally realised in how much trouble I've put myself again. Felting is so time consuming and very physical )))

My textile experiments. Other techniques. Part 3.

Some new textiles I've developed recently.

Masked Lady...

It's a photo of a friend of mine I've found in my photoarchive from my "party girl" period. Taking about masks...

Nuno felting. Technical tips.

There are some technical hidden stones I have learnt experimenting with nuno-felting:

Shrinkage

- Although averagely during "hardening" process piece of felt shrinks by 30% (if to spin in washing machine at 800+ speed can potentially shrink to 50% (by the way, help to dry felt much quicker too(!))) in case with nuno-felting it depends on what kind of fabrication is used as to incorporate it with. For example, stiff (but comparatively loose woven cottons) will prevent felt from shrinking to much.
- If you using resist to separate two layers of felt then depending on the way its applied it also can prevent felt from shrinkage. For instance, if nuno-felt is wrapped around to create seamless tube then expect to appear much more shrinkage at sides that are not wrapped (about average 30%) and much less (maximum 10-15%) on wrapped ones, especially if resist material is quite strong.

Suitable fabrication for nuno-felting

- Variable sort of wools including jersey works with felt beautifully;
- Most of silks (especially organza and chiffon) except taffeta (or dupion) and use satin densely woven versions;
- Some cottons, loosely woven;
- Cotton/silk or silk/viscose mixes, but once again, comparatively loosely woven;
- Some synthetics, such as poly or nylon organza, but take into consideration that to make them work with felt will require more rolling.

SWOP Analysis.

Strength:
- Rich, exclusive textiles;
- No one else does nuno-felting and has similar theme (in my year);
- Basic, accessible fabrication used for textile designs;
- In Russia there is no big competition in felt-making;
- In Australia, in spite of wide popularity of felting, there is not so much at the "designer" level;

Weaknesses:
- To get "carried away", overdesign;
- So far, still a lack of felting skills;
- To get to "costumy";
- Position myself at competitive price level

Opportunities:
- To make collection to "stand out" because of exclusive, specially designed textiles;
- To reintroduce felting as a top level, "designer" technique rather then a "market", "crafty" one;
- To develop unique approach to felting;
Even being put in "mass production" each piece still will be quite a one-off because of textile technique's uniqueness (especially felting & nuno-felting)

Threats:
- To get "crafty" instead of designer;
- To be really innovative in textile & fashion parts;
- Public perception of felting as a market craft, so price level can be questioned;
- Time-management. Textiles are serious part of the collection, time consuming & need mostly to be made by me personally.

Undercover - Camouflage & Masks of Jun Takahashi

Each time I search around I manage to find something fascinating in regards of my theme. Take a look at images by Japanese designer Jun Takahashi and his label Undercover Love bag and glasses!