Christopher Kane

 Christopher Kane is a Scottish fashion designer who now working in London. He is also part of the apparel company Kering. He studied at the prestigious art school, Central Saint Martins in 2006. He quickly gained the attention of icon, Donatella versace after he had won the Lancome Colour award. This landed him work in the Versace atelier. He also made small jewelry collections for swarovski. Although, Kane is somewhat of a new name in the fashion world, he is quickly establishing himself and making himself a brand. His aesthetic with each collection shifts. He always surprises his audience with new ideas. His work is sold at some of the best retailers around including Barneys NY, Browns, and NET-A-PORTER.COM

Source: (www,wallpapers.com)

Levels of Quality

   Quality is the level of excellence of a product when compared to other products of similar kind. When it comes to garments, quality can usually be identified by the attention of detail in the construction. Quality is also reflected in the choice of material, the durability and the level of design ethic. Apparel quality is generally described as high, medium, or low. Price is usually, but not always indicative of clothing quality. High quality garments have a high attention to detail, good design, the best materials, and are durable. Medium quality garments are well made and durable and constructed from quality material. Low quality apparel is constricted poorly with non durable material. Although, high quality clothing is of the highest standard, it isn't always the best to purchase. For example, it would be smart to buy a high quality garment that will be worn for multiple seasons. To the contrary, it would be ideal to purchase a garment that is low quality if you know it will go out od style or will only be worn a few times.

Source: (www.americancraftsmanproject.com)

Halloween Fashion

 When the fall season comes around, people from all over transform themselves by dressing up on a highly anticipated evening, Halloween. The holiday originated in Britain as a pagan holiday until it evolved into what we know it as today. Originally it was a day to celebrate and remember the departed. Many people do put immense effort into making and planning their costume. To the contrary, I usually don't stress too much about dressing up, but I do like to partake in the festivities.  Every year there is a ton of parties where me along with an abundance of teenagers spend their night.   I think that people now have more flexibility to express themselves during this holiday. The day is reserved to enable an individual to transform into a completely different person. The day also allows for one to show another side of themselves. The world is evolving and becoming more liberal towards the current perception of the "norm."

Source: (www.Guff.com)

Sewing to Survive

      

 Factories around the take advantage of people's desperation to exploit them for their labor. The garment industry, even though they deny it, is a  massive contributor to sweatshops and child labor. Basements with children as young as 7 years old are forced to hunch over a sewing machine and work just in order to survive. They work for as little as a dollar an hour where they construct garments for some instantly recognizable fashion labels. One particular region with a child labor epidemic is in Turkey where there has been a recent migration of Syrian refugees. Many of the undocumented children coming into the county are main targets for these illegal operations. Investigations into these factories are extremely challenging to Turkey's strict laws pertaining to secret filming. Among the Syrian refugees, an estimated 400,000 children are working in sweatshops and factories. A way to combat this dilemma is to give the children education. This will help them learn the language and become part of their new society. It will also give them strong foundational skills that will be sought out by real employers. Another way to challenge this issue is to research and find out what brands are using child labor to manufacture, and then boycotting the company.

Source: (www.media_cache_ec0.pinmg.com)

Vulgar Fashion

 While looking at the photo gallery in the article I got the sense of the vulgarity in the designs. Designs like these will be exhibited in the Barbican Centre in London. The garments featured are all avant garde masterpieces that challenge the current aesthetics, ideas, and perceptions we have in fashion today. This exhibit, featuring designers from all over the world cover over 500 years of history! Works from couturiers like John Galliano, Riccardo Tusci, Gareth Pugh, and Maison Margiela will all be in the shown. The gallery is composed of manuscripts, photography, film, and of course vulgar fashion ranging from couture to ready-to-wear. To be vulgar means to lack sophistication, that means that the current pieces in the exhibit go against what the majority of society considers acceptable and the "norm." Vulgarity also comes from the clothes excessive and extravagant nature that can sometimes be very costly. Critics will say that exhibiting fashion in an art gallery is nonsense. But like CoCo Chanel said, taste is in the eye of the beholder.



Source: (www.brankopopovic.blogspot.com) Source: (www.highsnobiety.com)

Peter Popps

 Peter popps is a self taught shoe designer who emerged from Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is known  for his experimental pieces and extravagant novelties. His career sprouted from working as a sales associate for a small shoe company. While working he began to study product design and architecture. In the years following, Popps stayed in Italy where he was able to work closely with small factory samples in a hands on environment.  This is where he was able to discipline his craft and develop his unique aesthetic. He has always been fascinated with experimentation opposing cultural norms. His inspirations include Gareth Pugh, Paco Rabanne, Iris Van Herpen, and of course Alexander Mcqueen.  In 2003, he opened his own design studio with the goal of developing exclusive collections for companies that appreciated his work ethic. With over 24 years of experience, Peter continues to create stunning avant garde pieces that juxtapose the mainstream and intensify the feminine ideal.

Sorce: (www.peterpopps.com)

Supreme X Vans

 This Thursday, Supreme's highly anticipated collaboration with Vans will be released to the public. This project will be part of Supremes FW16 installment. Supreme has left us with a preview of the designs and colorways of the shoes. They will come in three colors which are black, red, and blue. The printed pattern will be joined with the Vans classic checkerboard Sk8-hi pro and authentic low. The pattern is a combination of Supreme's signature typography and the Vans checkerboard design. The shoes are the Vans that we all learned to love with the exception of a few extra features for maximized comfort. They shoes are constructed with premium suede and canvas along with leather lining and a vulcanized outsole. The project will be available in-stores in LA, London, Paris, New York and online on October 20th. The project will be available in Japan on October 22.
  
Source: (www.supremenewyork.com)

Teamwork

 Teamwork is an essential component in the 21st century work world. In order to have order in a fast paced environment everybody has to be toing their jobs simultaneously with efficiency. In order to do this people have to communicate which involves listing.  This exchange will create a smooth flow in the workspace. Teamwork is what makes productivity manifest in any environment. Last year I studied film and video production. That class was entirely communication and teamwork based. In order for anything to work in that class, we all had to work together towards our common goal. That class conditioned me to work in fast paced environments and to follow directions efficiently. I now know that teamwork is what builds the foundation of a productive efficient environment.                      
Source: (Fastweb)

Cover Girl's first male ambassador

 This week Cover Girl just announced their first male ambassador, James Charles. James describes himself as an aspiring makeup artist living in New York. His disciplined artistry has racked him up over 70,000 subscribers on Youtube and over 400,000 followers on Instagram. This is an extreme accomplishment when you consider he is only 17 years old! His success as a male beauty vlogger is a continuing trend. Others like Manny MUA, Jeffree Star, and Frank B., have all collaborated with major cosmetic manufacturers. In his interview he speaks about his family questioning whether or not he was transgender because of his passion for makeup. People were believing he was trying to emulate a woman because of wearing cosmetics. His goal with this campaign is to break the gender normality in the world of make up and to show that the art is for all genders. A direct quote from James states, "It took a lot of thorough conversations to explain that it's an art form for me. I'm still confident as a boy and I will always be a boy. I can be confident with bare skin and with a full face."
    
Source: (www.fashionista.com)

Jobs in the Fashion Industry

 The fashion industry is the 3rd biggest industry in the world. The industry itself is worth 3 trillion dollars! With this perspective it is easy to see that the fashion industry is massive and has a huge variety of jobs. Three kinds of examples would be a visual merchandiser, social media assistant, and a brand representative. Visual merchandisers create those beautiful window displays we see on the store fronts. This job requires knowledge of design, mixed media art experience, and a grasp on color theory. There is travel involved in this job because they usually get hired by different companies. Social media assistants are those who run the social media accounts for the company. Employers for this job look for younger individuals who are passionate about social media and know how to get reblogs and attention. Travel is not involved in this job because social media accounts can be accessed anywhere in the world. Brand representatives pitch products to the press and boutiques and track samples. Travel is required for this job because you have to preview collection and talk to buyers from all over.

Source: (www.complex.com)



                                       

Chanel Spring2017

 The 2017 Chanel runway show in Paris was a masterful and elegant event. Mr. Lagerfeld yet again transformed the Grand Palais into a stunning set to display this season's collections. The set was a technological landscape fitted with aisles of supercomputers and bight colored wires. It was very clean and futuristic. The theme for this season was refined modernism. Many of the pieces in the collection were composed of vibrant colors made out of the classic Chanel tweed. The models in the show were wearing sideways baseball caps. The silhouettes of the garments were contemporary and modern. This seasons aesthetic appeared to appeal to a more younger generation than most of Chanel's extravagant shows.  Although the 2017 Spring show brought on a never before seen theme in Chanel history, Karl Lagerfeld once again executed this season and continues so bring new ideas to the fashion world.
  
Source: (www.instylelook.com)

Comme des Garcons

 The show started with the audience sitting in a minimalist room equip with a blank white runway, plain black fold up chairs, and a washed out grey background draped in ominous yet seductive lighting. As the first model stepped onto the runway, an operatic soundtrack began play, filling the room and inducing a dream like quality. The model was wearing a large puffy coat made out of neoprene, stark white lace up boots, and a elegant headpiece that resembled a cross between crystal formations and crinkled plastic. The first minute of the show really set a mood and tone that followed through the entire collection and fashion show. The aesthetic was very abstract and minimal. The models in the show walked at a consistent slow pace and appeared almost lifeless with a vacant look in their eyes adding to the ominous tone and theatrics of the show. Almost every design was black with a little splash of grey and white. All of the pieces in the show were excessively over sized which enabled the designer to create new shapes and silhouettes that altered the human form. The textures of the collection was mostly smooth with the occasional garment sewn with ruffles. This show was very avant garde and unconventional. The entire show felt very dreamlike and had an emotional power that almost felt ritualistic.

Source: (www.businessofffashion.com)

What are hems? How can they affect a garment's appearance?

 A hem is the edge of a piece of cloth that has been folded, pressed, and sewn. This is to give a neat finish to the edge of the fabric and also prevent the fabric from fraying or unraveling. Hems may be sewn with an invisible stitch called the "blind stitch", or sewn with a sewing machine. Decorative embroidery is sometimes called hem-stitch design. Other methods of  securing a hem call for no any sewing at all but instead using clips, netting, iron on materials, and other kinds of fasteners. These kinds of thread-less hems are not very common, and are used mostly for temporary use. The hem's seam allowance effects the way the fabric on the finished fabric will drape. Heavier fabrics require more of a shorted hem. A "dressmakers hem" can also be used when working with heavier fabrics; an extra line of loose running stitch is added in the middle of the hem, so that all the weight of the cloth does not hang from one line of stitching. Modern sewing machines designated for home use come equip with decorative and functional stitches that make the number of possible hem treatments large.

Source: (www.wikihow.com)