CRS Blog 7

Alivia A. Esterly
CRS 231-01
October 31, 2008

Sweatshops

Sweatshops are a very controversial topic for many people. When I think of sweatshops I think of beyond poor working conditions. A small room with hundreds of workers packed in like sardines sewing their lives away in forced and unpaid over time. Rats crawling along the floor and people coming to work coughing and sneezing because they do not want to loose their jobs. Small children who are barely big enough to touch the peddle of the sewing machine being paid $0.02 an hour in order to help their family survive.

The stance that I have taken on sweat shops is most likely similar to what many people other than myself feel. I feel that sweatshops are awful, the employers hardly pay their workers enough to even survive themselves. Many of these workers are attempting to provide for their families and working for $0.02 an hour can in some cases hardly be enough to buy a cup of rice.

Yet on the other end of this argument the people who have these jobs need them to survive. Despite the low wages they are paid the money they receive still allows them to survive. I feel that while the working conditions are horrendous, sweatshops are needed for those people to survive. That is why in th long run I feel that I am pro-sweatshop. While I do want to fix the working conditions of sweatshops both in and out of the United States I feel that right now some people depend on these jobs, despite the current working conditions.

CRS Blog 6

Alivia A. Esterly
CRS 231-01
October 26,2008

Fashion: Art or Usability?

Milan's fashion week is known for not only its world renown designers but for the artistic and in some cases unwearable designs. Looking through many of the designers from Milan's fashion week (such as Versace, Gucci, MaxMara, Dsquared, and Marni) many of the designers clothing seemed wearable. Two designers that I felt stood out above the rest were Versace and MaxMara; both of which had very wearable collections.

Versace's collection was extremely sculpted pieces. He used hearts as an inspiration all throughout his collection and he also incorporated zippers all though out his collection. He did not just use the zippers to fasten and be a closure to his clothing, as is the norm. Versace used zippers as a decorative touch to his clothing to give the pieces their shape as well as form some of the many hearts you see on his clothing through out his collection. He has a very high class feel to this collection and while it shows his clothing as forms of art the pieces we see are also extremely wearable.

MaxMara has a very wearable collection as well. His clothing had a very masculine feel to it. None of the pieces he brought to the runway were extremely form fitting. The clothing had a very professional/business look to them. I saw many blazers, long pencil slacks, and there was even a piece that looked to me like a mechanic's jumpsuit. MaxMara's collection was not very sculpted at all, it was an extremely wearable collection that could easily be worn on a day to day basis in an office setting.

CRS Blog 5

Alivia A. Esterly

CRS 231-01
October 3, 2008

Our Inspiration

Every designer has some form of inspiration, whether it is from a dream they had, a different culture, or even a swatch of fabric they may have come across. Everyone is inspired by different things and in different ways. What one person sees as grotesque and not worth any creative time, someone else may see it as a challenge and use that object or thought and create a ravishing piece of clothing.

For my design my inspiration was simply the thought of a girl in a garden. If I ever picture a girl in a garden I always think if warm pastel colors such as yellows, tans, purples, and greens. And when I imagine these colors I always visualize a lacy appearance. I feel that lace give a garment an extremely classic and elegant look (when used properly, other wise it can over power the actual design of the garment). The green fabric that is on the back of the skirt is sewn into where the center seam would be. It is would be a lose fabric in order to give the skirt a flowing appearance. I chose green as the color for that area to visually represent the natural color of a garden as well a nature in general.

I try to gather as much inspiration as I possibly can day by day. Anything I see or imagine is fair game for creativity and design. Inspiration can come from anywhere and I feel that a good designer can draw inspiration from anything. The thought process may take hours, days, or maybe even weeks but in the end a design will emerge and in some cases these designs can "WOW" the world.

CRS Blog 4

Alivia A. Esterly
CRS 231-01
September 26, 2008

Ethnic Influences On Apparel Design

In every culture there are different styles of clothing. The styles may be different because of the functions that the clothing must perform (such as working in fields or even covering the whole body because of a particular cultural belief system). Some designers may travel all over the world to find an inspiration, and some may find their inspiration in form of clothing that is popular with a culture. The inspirational style may be from a current style or even a classic style of that culture.

Designers such as TIBI have used ethnic influences. The designer Amy Smilovic has used an oriental inspiration for the TIBI spring 2009 collection. Smilovic used oriental button lines near the shoulders with a wrapped skirt that gives the dress an almost kimono appearance. In another one of her designs she uses an oriental collar. The high mid-neck collars that come together in a narrow "V" shape on the center of the neck.

Several designers have used a Grecian style in their collections. Designers such as Reem Acra and Venexiana, used this inspiration. They both used a single over the shoulder strap and the fabric on the bodice (leading to the strap) is gathered. The designs crate the appearance of and ancient Greek motif.



Reem Acra

http://www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork/fall2008/designers/reem_acra/index.html

Venexiana

http://www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork/fall2008/designers/venexiana/index.html


TIBI

http://accessories.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/Tibi-Spring-2009/Red-Sash-Belt.htm

http://accessories.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/Tibi-Spring-2009/Tassle-Belt.htm

CRS Blog 3

Alivia A. Esterly
CRS 231-01
September 18, 2008

Main Trends of the New York Fashion Week

All over the world people wait for Fashion Weeks whether they are in London, Paris, or New York. Designers from all over the country show their collections to the world during this one week dedicated to fashion. In my opinion this year Luca Luca's collection stood out. This collection is filled with shimmering fabrics. No colors that really pop but subtle colored fabrics with a very natural look. There are not many pieces in his collection that are extremely fitted, they have a semi loose, comfortable, and an almost sporty feel to them. His gowns are semi-fitted until they reach the knee and then you can see how the fabric flows like the waves on the beach.

Another designer whose collection really inspired me was by Nicole Farhi. Her collection has an Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady) feel to it. It is filled with floral patters, and many of the blouses have slightly puffed sleeves. The skirts and shirts are loose and flow beautifully. There are not only floral prints but also many striped pieces as well. Everything appears like it would fit into a beautiful garden.

Finally there was another designer whose collection was fabulous beyond words! Max Azria, everything in his collection looks like it is made of a stretch fabric (it has an almost swimsuit material look to it). Many of the pieces do not have sleeves and just some thick straps. He made swimsuit cover ups out of what looks like sheer chiffon. None of the skirts or dresses have an even hemline, all the designs he has created have uneven skirts. Everything in his collection has a very angelic feel to it. You would think that there were angels walking down the runway.

Luca Luca:

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/S2009RTW-LUCALUCA

Nicole Farhi:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid372302730/bclid1768641335/bctid1801242441

Max Azria:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid372302730/bclid1768641335/bctid1786849052

CRS Blog 2

Alivia A. Esterly
CRS 231-01
September 12, 2008

Organic and Environmental Friendly Clothing

Through out history people have been attempting to create bigger and better things, at a faster pace. Apparel is no different than any other product subjected to quicker production pressures. Man-made fibers have been manufactured in order to create quicker and a more predictable production rate. Producing synthetic fibers has caused our air to become more polluted than it would be if we would only use organic materials. According to the Organic-Nature-News (website) many deaths each year are caused by the pesticides which are used to help make natural fibers (such as cotton plants) produce more fibers.

However, natural fibers are being manufactured in more organic ways. Instead of pesticides and fertilizers organic farmers use ladybugs and manure (Organic-Nature-News). Every year the organic clothing market grows at least 11% each year and is expected to obtain over $3 billion dollars in profits by the year 2010 (Organic-Nature-News).

The world it attempting to become more environmentally friendly. Using organically produced fibers such as organic cotton, silk, and hemp (which is still illegal in the United States) are being used to produce clothing all over the world. The only obstacles which farmers face when attempting to produce organic fibers are the costs it requires. But with the demand for organic products weather it be foods or clothing has been increasing steadily over the years. Hopefully the costs to produce more natural products will decrease.

CRS Blog 1

Alivia A. Estery

CRS 231-01
September 4, 2008

My Favorite Designer

While I am far from a fashion expert (for now anyway) it is my personal opinion that Ralph Lauren has had beautiful clothing in the past and I am sure he will in the future. Lauren established the Polo label for his new company in 1967. He began his business by producing ties, he then moved on to crate a line of menswear, and eventually broke into womens' clothing. He gave his collection for women a sexy and empowering look. Lauren used "masculine" styles and tailored them to fit a women's body.

Lauren's Fall/Winter 2008/2009 collection is filled with extravagant feathered hats, leopard print jackets, bags and other accessories. He used colored plaids such as deep purples, emerald greens, reds, orange, and of course classic black. His collections never seem to have the same fit or look, for some of his peaces he creates a formfitting look while others are rather loose.

I love how Ralph Lauren creates clothing and accessories for all genders and ages. The way that he creates clothing for women that is so strong and beautiful. I look at his collections and everything that I see catches my eye and I fall in love with his new collection and how versatile and wearable all his clothing is.

Ralph Lauren: Fall/Winter 2008/2009 Collection

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4k672_ralph-lauren-fall-winter-0809-full_events