Niamh Foley

2nd Year Fashion Design and Marketing Student @ Northumbria Uni

[niamhfoley]

4/1/21 - Further Developments

- Here are some of my favourite swimwear collection developments. I feel like I have communicated the 50s silhouette and femininity through my designs and ensured that they are appropriate for any size/shape.

- After reading multiple articles about how plus-sized and smaller sized women are totally looked over, leaving them feeling left out and ashamed, I was inspired to create a collection that would be ideal for all shapes and sizes. Looking to designers like Rihanna’s fenty savage - ensuring inclusivity is shown throughout their brand, from the designs to the models. I wanted to make garments that could be adjusted to where the wearer would be most comfortable, ruched pieces to flatter curves and timeless pieces that can not only be worn for swimwear, but following the growing trend of wearing swimwear as outerwear or lingerie.

[niamhfoley]

3/1/21 - Some more developments I meant to post!

- Developing bikini bottoms for my range plan. Experimenting with different details such as ruching, frills, bows, inserts etc. I wanted to communicate both the pretty feminine concept as well as the 50s beachwear that I am using for my inspo, as well as considering the wearer and their comfort.

[niamhfoley]

2/1/21 - Line up colour experimentation

- A messy look at my line up models drawn on procreate, not finished at all but I wanted to experiment with different colour combinations using my chosen WGSN colour trend

[niamhfoley]

1/1/21 - Shirt Observation

- When researching into the 50s beachwear trends I came across a lot of different trends and styles that are very much relevant to today’s fashion. One of those was layering swim garments with oversized shirt beach cover ups.

- I have therefore found some shirts to analyie and draw to help with my own design developments for a beach cover up

- (all images from my Pinterest board)

- Showing the styles and designs of beach cover ups in the 50s

- I really like the contrast of the masculine body shaped shirt with the feminine swimwear, also creating comfort for any of the wearers insecurities

[niamhfoley]

31/12/20 - Swimwear as outerwear

- whilst revolving my designs around sustainability as well as comfort and making her eweare feel confident, I wanted to research different ways I could make my garments sustainable.

- These are some images I got from Pinterest of swimwear being worn as outwear (usually in warm countries) but I wanted to show that it’s possible to style them for other occasions than swimming or sunbathing. This is a trend that I have seen a few times by influencers, for things such as raves, parties, layered with a blazer etc.

- Of course there are some other great ways that I could design my garments to be sustainable, like reversible, with recycled fabrics etc. These are all things that I could consider when creating design developments.

[niamhfoley]

30/12/20 - Ruching

- Due to my design concept being focused around women empowerment, particularly the “Pretty Feminine” WGSN predicted trend for 2021, I wanted to look into different ways that fabric/garments can be manipulated or deisgned to look more feminine/elegant. I particularly liked the ruching details that are currently a big trend within fashion, and according to WGSN, it looks like it will continue into next year.

- I have therefore looked deeper into this fabric manipulation and carried out a couple of my own samples, firstly on a scrap piece of cotton fabric (left over from my mask making from earlier on this year) and secondly with some swimwear fabrics that my step mam gave me a few weeks ago.

- It’s an extremely easy sample to create and I love the way it makes the fabric fall, creating delicate pleats. Ruching is definitely something I will be incorporating within my designs. I have also drawn some observational drawings of any ruching garments I could find.

[niamhfoley]

29/12/20 - 50s Research

- Here is a website I came across a while ago when researching into the 50s, particularly the swimwear trends that took place during this era

- I thought. Was really interesting to read about all the different styles and silhouettes that were used during this time. I have also used many of these as inspiration for my own designs

(Vintagedancer.com)

[niamhfoley]

29/12/20 - 1950s Vogue Covers

- Some vogue covers I found when researching through the vogue archive during the 50s era. I have picked the ones that show swimwear and would inspire me for silhouette and different styles during the 50s

- Here shows the bodycon, ruched trends that flattered women’s curves whilst at the beach - I have used this as inspiration for my own designs

(archive.vogue.com)

[niamhfoley]

29/12/20 - Fast Fashion and Sustainability

- Another Instagram post I came across, encouraging and advising people to invest in better quality clothing rather than cheap fast fashion that will be disposed of quicker.

- This post again highlights the massive issues of fast fashion and how clothing in general has decreased by 30% in the EU due to inflation. However a big problem with encouraging people to buy better quality products is that not everybody is able to afford these items - hence why shops like PLT, Primark, etc are the go to shops with people with low-income jobs. A downside to this is obviously the huge problem of under paid workers, slave labour and unsafe factory conditions.

(Instagram - @ssustainably_)

[niamhfoley]

27/12/20 - Sketchbook archive drawings

- Finishing some V&A Archive Musuem illustrations of garments that inspire my designs

[niamhfoley]

23/12/20 - Hand drawn and digitally coloured market research drawings

- I have hand drawn these Chromat looks from their S/S 2020 RTW collection. Looking particularly at the corset - like garments they’re wearing, with a futuristic twist.

[niamhfoley]

22/12/20 - Some more marketing illustrations for my marketing/promo boards.

- I have created a print from my logo for the packaging. I used some illustrations of swing tags and component packaging that I created during my short placement at the beginning of the year for prototypes.

- I wanted to make my packaging look quite fun and quirky - hence my usual looking clothes hanger, which features my logo as the head. I am mid way through designing scrunchies and masks with my brands concept for S/S 21 print and colour palette

[niamhfoley]

21/12/20 - Sketchbook Pages

- Going over some marketing lectures to refresh my knowledge on pestel, marketing segments etc to get a clearer idea for my marketing side of my brand.

- I have also made my competitive Matrix, marking on my own brand and the competitors from a range of price ranges, and from mass market to exclusive brands.

- I have also briefly justified why I have placed these brands where I have

[niamhfoley]

20/12/20 - Lingerie A Complete Course Book

- Again referring back to my book by Pamela Powell (that focuses mostly on lingerie) but applies to my project this year due to the feminine aspects of my garments like corsets and flattering shapes and cups

- It was interesting to see all the different patterns and how changing them slightly can give you a whole new silhouette. I took this into consideration when trying to make my own corset patten today

[niamhfoley]

20/12/20 - Sketchbook Pages

- This is a couple of pages from my sketchbook showing my market research into competitor brands. I took a particular interest into Chromat as they are a brand that I want my brand to strive to be like. Their entire brand/collections are inclusive - from sizes, shapes, race, gender and colour

- I have also looked further into the brand by analysing their websites, looking at the size range they offer, their brand philosophy and how well they connect with their customers - I have also looked at brands Isa Boulder and Patbo

- I have also got a couple of my own illustrations of the Chromat S/S 2020 RTW collections - here paying attention to the corset - like detailing on their garments

[niamhfoley]

20/12/20 - Drafting a Corset Pattern

- Today I tried making my own corset pattern draft to show that I’m experimenting with different aspects of fashion to help me form and develop my collection

- I actually found this quite difficult as it’s not something I have done before, so I watched tutorials on YouTube to try and help

- This is relevant to my collection as I have designs figure hugging garments and corset tops

[niamhfoley]

17/12/20 - An illustration of an body positive activist/influencer Nelly London. I am using her for my ideal customer/muse as my brand concept is all abojt inclusivity and providing a wide range of sizes to ensure every customer of any size feels confident

- This is my customer board - I may make a few changes but I feel like it sums up my customer really well

( @nellylondon - Instagram)