'No Fun at the Funfair' - Workwear Research

In my research so far I have been drawn to the idea of 'work wear' within the theme of 'Fairgrounds'. I like the rough 'n' ready look of the workers, and the idea of durable design and fabric use. I looked at brands like Dickie's and a vintage 70's Wrangler denim jacket for research and inspiration. I experimented with jean buttons and eyelets and hope to use these ideas in my designs. 

Drawing from back in March. Caravans & workers at Plattfields Funfair.

Wrangler denim jacket, brass button, pencil sketch. 

Introduction to denim button machine. 

Researching denim as a 'work' fabric, and pockets. 

Drawing of Dickies work jacket and high-vis vest.

Boiler suit flats.

Research into traditional workwear. Experimenting with eyelet puncher on hessian and denim. 

Research into dungarees and denim. Images from HBO show 'Carnivale'.

Research - Cullens Fun Fair, Derry, 'Not All Fun and Games'

On a recent trip back to my hometown, Derry, I was able to access a travelling funfair, ‘Cullen’s’  as it was just about to be opened. It was a great chance to see the hard work and graft that goes into making the fun fair, well, ‘fun’. I was attracted to the high-vis vests and waterproof work wear of these rough ‘n’ ready workers. I am interested in exploring this side of the fair further. Instead of going for the obvious bright lights and show costumes of the circus, perhaps I could look instead at the durable work wear of those who construct the rides and the tents.

Designer: Alan Taylor

Alan Taylor, graduate of NCAD in Dublin, was approached by Simone Rocha, with whom he worked closely for 3 years before venturing out on his own and developing his own brand. Alan Taylor now shows in the London MEN Collections, showcasing new young menswear designers pushing the boundaries within such a typically restrictive market. Taylor's work is based on creative pattern cutting, taking preconceived notions of garment construction and throwing them on their head.

Technical drawing and Illustrator exercise

In class one day during our garment drawing research lessons we were asked to technically record the shape and measurements of an old riding style jacket using graph paper. This was quite a challenging excercise for me as I am not the most acurite and technical of thinkers. Together in pairs we had to record the jacket exactly how it was onto graph paper; the outcome was very rewarding as we were pleased with our representation of the jacket. Then using Adobe Illustrator I scanned in the drawing and developed the drawing further on Illustrator, getting to grips with layers, drawing with a cursor and adding colour etc. I am quite pleased with my outcome.

I also experimented marring both the deconstructed jacket work and the accurate observation of the riding jacket. 

Hall of Mirrors - Jacket Deconstruction, placement

Some sketches illustrating ideas developed from the jacket deconstruction. I quite like this idea of a dropped-crotch, 'baby-grow' kind of feature.

Hall of Mirrors - Jacket Deconstruction, development

Here is some development of the ideas I started on the stand using the deconstructed pieces. Below, turning the piece upside down and mirroring it on itself to create new ideas for possible shape making silhouettes. I am intrigued by taking the front of the jacket and applying it in a way that questions proportion and structure.

Hall of Mirrors - Jacket Deconstruction, research

As part of our initial Hall of Mirrors research, Eleanor our tutor asked us to deconstruct a jacket to learn more about its construction. I was surprised at just how many layers I had to get through when taking the garment apart. The 80's tweed jacket had layer upon layer of tweed, lining, and in the shoulders 4 different materials creating structure. The jacket was made of a total of 22 pieces which we were then challenged to play about with to maximise 'Zero-waste' cutting. We were also asked to share our thoughts about the construction of the jacket as it was a group activity, we all learned something from the varied styles and cuts of jackets, made from very different materials.