Textiles

Context

Design task

A - Many young people choose to express their individuality through the clothes they wear, the accessories they use and the products they decorate their rooms with. Alternative, offbeat, unusual, out of the ordinary, crazy style fashion, the ‘in thing’, the chic, a new trend and street style are all words that inspire our nation’s up-and-coming textile designers.

A1 - Current trend forecasts show that the following three trends are set to influence fashion styles in the near future: Japanese Street Style; Shabby Chic and Modern Vintage. Choose one and show how the trend lends itself to the creation of textile products which make use of a range of materials, including discarded clothing and components. You have been commissioned by a popular High Street store to design and make a textile product which reflects one of these influences.

A2 - Design and make a textile product suitable for the 18-23 year age range taking your inspiration from either ‘The Age of Punk’ the ‘Swinging Sixties’ or ‘Gothic Influence’. If the product is successful it will form part of a limited range to be sold at Music Festivals throughout the country.

B - Nature is one of the richest sources of inspiration to textile designers all over the world. The styles and shape of many textile products are based on such forms as insects, plants, seeds, flowers, animals and birds. Decoration and embellishment is often inspired by the patterns, colours and textures of nature.

B3 - Design and make a textile product taking inspiration from the Natural World and using a range of fabrics and components. If your product is successful it will be sold in a Natural History Museum Visitors Shop. They are keen to promote the sale of sustainable textile products that make use of some recycled fabrics and components.

C - Different cultures of the world provide textile designers with a wealth of inspiration. Through their artists, fashion designers, special occasions, music, festivals or seasonal celebrations they all provide pattern, colour and texture essential to the development of inspirational textile products.

C4 - A popular High Street store has commissioned you to design and make an original textile product inspired by the colours, spirit, and pattern associated with one of the following cultures: African, Australian, Asian and South American.

D - Hobbies and interests not only give pleasure, they can stop us from being bored, relieve the stress of modern living, improve health, enhance CVs, bring people together and sometimes they can earn you a living as well. Gardening, animal care, sewing, dancing, swimming, football, skateboarding, interior designing, painting, fishing, camping, cooking, bird watching, photography, keep fit and music are some examples of the nation’s favourite interests.

A national retail company is setting up a new ‘Hobbies and Interests’ store and you have been commissioned to design and make a textile product that would appeal to a follower of your chosen hobby or interest.

E - Technological advances have resulted in the production of a wide range of exciting modern fabrics and components. This offers enormous scope to those designing in the world of textiles. The special effects, properties, textures and the range of finishes available allow designers to create products that push the boundaries of textile product design.

E6 - You have been asked by a Modern Art Gallery to design and make a futuristic textile product inspired by modern fabrics, components and technologies that will appeal to the visitors and be sold in the gallery gift shop.

F - Books, films, musicals and theatre productions provide Textile designers with a wealth of inspiration. Many costumes used on stage are only worn for the duration of the production. Costume designers do try to use recycled garments as part of the designs when they are creating new and original costumes.

F7 - The costume department of a national theatre company has commissioned you to design a costume for a modern production, which is set to appear in the West End next year. The emphasis must be on modern and not be a copy of costumes used in the past.

G - Traditionally children’s clothing and fabric toys were well made and treasured and often handed down to other children in the family. This practice saved money as well as being good for the environment.

G8 - Innovative and unique children’s toys are very popular as gifts. A craft shop that sells interesting textile products has commissioned you to produce a new, original design that will appeal to their customers. Design and make a textile product that will be an interesting toy for a young person to play with.

G9 - There is a vast range of children’s clothing on the market today. In order to be successful they must be comfortable to wear and easy to care for but above all they must be fashionable and reflect current trends. Forecasts show that the theme for a summer range is ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ and a winter range ‘Winter Wonderland’. Design and make a garment that will reflect one of these themes and prove popular with customers visiting a High Street store.

H - Designers have a responsibility to design products that address environmental issues. It has become fashionable to design sustainable textile products, using recycled second hand products, re using fabrics and components as well as fabrics from other industrial sources e.g. hessian from rice sacks. The use of organic cotton, biodegradable fibres/fabrics has become a strong feature in the sale of many high street brands. Fair Trade textile products are becoming increasingly available and their sale helps to support developing countries.

H10 - In recent years it has become popular to ‘Upstyle’ home furnishings, clothes and accessories. Design and make a unique and individual textile product that reuses clothing, home furnishings and accessories and will appeal to the teenage market. Your product must be challenging and complex, not just a decorated existing design. If successful your design will be sold from an Internet Upstyling Website.