Back Home

So if you didn't know, the reason Fairydust has been somewhat abandoned over the past six weeks is because I was traveling Europe! What an experience that was. As compensation for the gap in posts, here are (finally) some photographs of Escape. Enjoy and comment!

Special thanks to my models, Ross, Leandri and Shani and to Laurette, my photographer, for their enthusiasm towards the project!

Two Things

First, here is a photo of one of my skirts from Escape, featured in a photoshoot for Elle Magazine SA. The Photoshoot was done by Elle New Talent Search fashion photography finalist Gerhard Coetzee.

Second...

I WON OPTIMISTIC REBELS! YES! A big thank you to all my supporters who voted for me and put up with all my annoying begging and bugging.

Jessi

Fashion Show Dreaming

So.. The big night is over. Escape has been released. Sorry this post is so late, I've literally had to force, drag, excavate myself out of the lazy haze brought about by post fashion show exhaustion! Suddenly everything seems so... slow... it's like there's no urgency. It's really very disorientating. I'm still trying to get myself back onto my running plan. Before the show was a nightmare week of no sleep, showering or sanity. There was time for nothing except fashion and preparation. Living on Red Bull and Bioplus Booster, I've heard, is very bad for one's health, which is why I'm currently on one extreme detox plan. But all complaints aside, one body and mind sacrificed, it was all so worth it.
Escape was received very well by the audience and judges, I went to bed that night with two cash prizes! I had one audience member come up to me during interval and confess that my first outfit had her in a near-tearful state of emotion. This, my dear readers, is satisfaction, knowing you designed something that spoke to the heart of a stranger. And people call fashion "superficial". I am fully puffed up with pride.
I designed a range meant to speak directly to the needs of the wearer, psychologically and emotionally. We had a discussion in culture of fashion class the other day about what a design really expresses, the intent of the designer, or the intent of the wearer. I said that truly good design will reflect both, or rather, the intent of the wearer guided into skillfully conducted beauty at the hands of the artisan, the designer. This was a year full of doubt, at times it was very difficult to see wether I was on the right path. Working so hard on something, for so long, and with so much debate from hard-headed lecturers, one tends to get discombobulated and discouraged. It's hard to keep focused and remember your goal. After the show, though, with the responses I got I know I must have done something right, having my audience understand my vision is true satisfaction.
So now the question remains... What comes next? How do I take Escape out of PE, and penetrate the global fashion industry? I guess it's about looking for the opportunities rather than waiting for them. Cliched but true. Here goes nothing.

Jessi

P.S. Escape is on show at Sliced Bread, Richmond Hill, Port Elizabeth, for anyone interested in checking it out and making orders!

P.P.S I'm still waiting for the photos from my photographer. She must be caught up in the post-show laziness too. But I will post them when I get them.

Expressive Illustration

I actually did this one a while back. It's about my showstopper for my range, Escape, which is made of the most gorgeous (expensive!) ribbon-rose emellished mesh cloth. I will post photos when they become available.

Jessi

Actually... Models are Important

I never really believed in the whole principle of the model speaking 90% of the message of your design. I always pretty much thought that good design speaks for itself.

Cue tonight, Free Creative Fashion Show first fitting. Unfortunately we student designers are still at that dismal point where we dont get to be picky and choosy about models, we get who we get and have to work with them. Tonight we were randomly allocated models for the first fashion show.

People, up until tonight I have been feeling confident about my range. But apparently the wrong model really can ruin it all. It seems that, taken off the perfect size 10 dress-makers doll these garments have been molded to, they lose all their magic and intrigue. And a too short model, even slighlty so, DOES in fact ruin the look! My skirts are not supposed to be knee-length!!

Suddenly Escape seems tasteless and frumpy. I need a miracle. Perhaps it just seems gloomy right now because I am tired. Maybe our next fitting will bring brighter things. Hope with me.

Jessi

Tailored Cashmere

So this week I'm working on another creation for Escape, a 100% worsted cashmere men's tailored jacket. The fabric is to die for; so lustrous; however, welt pockets are not. I already had to re-cut an entire panel, and I now no longer have cloth left over for mistakes. I'll post a related illustration shortly. In the meantime, wish me luck...

Jessi

Escape

Thanks to my dearest friend Nina for reminding me to post my first range movie, Escape, also made by Ross Charnock. It gives a very good feel for what my range is overall all about. My third year range (surprisingly, called Escape) is an exploration into the psychological experience of the clothes wearer, and what I've done is really tried to create a range that subconsciously gives off vibes of cool, calm and collected and allows it's wearers to feel like they are ecsaping the chaos of daily life. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like much of an escape to the designer (myself), who has spent countless hours making patterns, sewing, writing theses and rushing around town to numerous fabric shops trying to find bits of this and that, cloth, buttons, etc. I must admit... I can't wait for the end.

Anyways, have a link: http://www.vimeo.com/12291524

Enjoy!
Jessi