Since being at Ravensbourne I have broadened my skills immensely. When starting my. Foundation my knowledge on fashion was quite limited. Now I have a good knowledge of the processes of fashion from Research to Production. At the outset I had very little drawing skills but now further into the Foundation I would say I am more confident in it. My researching techniques like paper manipulation, shape extraction and draping I also have gained confidence in. Alongside this showing my work and having discussions about it with others I have become much stronger on also. Prior to starting the Foundation I was not 100% sure that the fashion field was what I wanted to do but having reached this point in the course I am now 100% certain that this is the career path I want to take.
For my final major project I am going to be researching ‘Acne’ [something I suffered with badly myself] It is a common skin condition that will affect some people at some point in their life. It causes oily skin, spots and skin that is even too painful to touch. Having had it from the age of 13 to 17 it made me extremely self-conscious and really took a toll on my confidence to the point where I would not want to go out in public.
After numerous visits to doctors and dermatologists to try and help me and being given many different types of pills and skin creams, nothing was working. At that point I thought to myself nothing was ever going to help and I was going to have it forever. Every time I looked in the mirror I would burst into tears thinking I looked ugly. Every morning I would wake up and cover it up with countless layers of foundation which would notably suffocate it and make it worse but I didn’t have the confidence to be seen without it being covered up.
Having lived with Acne I want to bring something positive from it. It is such an emotional issue and one that I would like to turn around and make the sufferer feel beautiful in their skin and I hope to do this through my FMP. By researching influential / famous people who have had acne or are still suffering with it will help me to achieve this. Also acne campaigns to make people more aware that it is a normal skin condition to have and that you are not alone as a sufferer and to be proud of yourself whatever your skin condition.
Part of my research I will interview a close friend to me that has suffered with it also to see what their emotions were like during the worst stages of it alongside my own experience with it and translate this into my work.
Different textures of skin I find fascinating – not just human skin but I would like to look into the decay of fruit and vegetables and how it can relate to acne also. My vision is of a garment being sold in a high-end designer boutique, which represents acne as a different form of beauty this audience would most likely be more of the upper class who have more money to spend on garments. For my FMP I would like to look into hopefully making my own print and create at least one final garment that encapsulates this ethos.
Since starting my research for this project I have been thinking of what positives aspects of my course I have achieved and enjoyed and which areas I have felt I have not achieved so well with throughout my Foundation so far. From this I will draw from the skills that have been working for me to my advantage so that I can work to my full potential. The techniques that did not work for me I will avoid. Throughout this final project I will be documenting each week onto my blog all that I have done which will include my weekly reflections.
OPB_ Fashion 