Experimentation with an unconventional raw material as a form of self-expression in fashion design

Abstract

The study within my context is one of a personal nature with regards to the suitable selection of fabrics for a ladies clothing range. I've always played around with the idea of designing a ladies clothing range using hessian as my fabric of choice, not for any particular reason in mind just simply, ... ."that's what I felt like doing at the time", this however was not received well, it was considered by lecturers, my peers and family members, as an inappropriate selection of fabric for a ladies clothing range. This lead me into thinking that as a designer I am bound by design ideals which restricts my creativity to explore and experiment. Is it then not a possibility that I could set my own design ideal? Given the negativity surrounding such a proposal, I chose to research this concept regardless, that is after all what research is about, exploration and experimentation. I chose to follow in the footsteps of the late Gabrielle "CoCo" Chane!. "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." Chanel(icelebz.com,2009)