Current Project

Traditional countrywear and luxury city suiting have always been at either ends of the fashion spectrum, but for my first collection of my final year I have pulled the two fields together to create a luxury and diverse range of woven samples for Indigo, which is to be held at Primier Vision this February.

Creating a destinct and sophisticated style for the younger generations of traditional countrywear lovers, and a subtel touch of traditional counrty style to enhance neately polished but classicly understated suiting and outerwear for city chic young proffessionals.

My "Chanel style tweed" designs using British wool, form the foundations of the fabrics, that are then enhanced by traditional herringbone and houndstooth designs to add flare and colour. British wool is brought into its own when combined with leather cording and suede ribbon to create pattern structures as well as contrasting texture to the cloth.

This collection is aimed to set the foundations for my graduation collection later this year. I feel with the development of these pinciples I have put in place, I will be able to create an innovative fresh take to traditional countrywear, that can be worn both in the field and in the city.

As a young and influential textile designer I hope to change peoples perception of British wool from the traditional wool clothing to a fabric of innovation and luxury item to be treasured for generations to come.

Wool for thought

As a designer I am concerned that with the development of new modern fabrics and the economic state of British sheep farming, our traditional fabrics could be at risk in years to come.

I am already a keen support for the Campaign for Wool, and to feel that I need to do my part as a young textile designer, in the promotion of British wool .

There for, for my dissertaion I am researching and writing a indusrty report discussing ways in which to prolong the production of woollen fabrics in Britain. I am hoping to highlight ways in which new textiles designers can have a possitive effect on the environment and how consumers can help by changing their buying habits to ensure that British wool is sustained for future generations.

Start Rite shoes update

Today I had the fantastic opportunity to present my design concepts to the company. This experience was fantastic; by doing so I have learnt how to pitch a concept to a panel of judges and gained confidence in my design work from the positive feed back I received.

British Wool

Currently I am working on a Research Report to investigate "How to prolong the production of British wollen fabrics".

http://www.aboutwool.com/

The Ireland Shop

I am very excited to announce that The Ireland Shop website launched today and the scarves I have designed for them are available to view! There are also lots of other exciting products on their website, so make sure you have a look through the other artisan, craftmen and designers!

www.theirelandshop.com

Start-Rite Shoes Ltd Live Project

This week I have been introduced to a Live Project to design a range of children's shoes for Start-Rite, a Norwich based shoe company. This is a fantastic opportunity for me to explore new ideas and concepts and a great insight into the shoe industry.

Roothies scarves update

I am very excited to have finnished making the first red and slate scarves for Roothies! They are now on their way to London.

Work placement

Currently I am on a two week work placement at Stephen Walters, Sudbury. It is fantastic to see each stage of designing a commerical fabric! I am looking forward to seeing what next week brings.

Full images of the scarves can be found on the knitwear collection page x

Photo Shoot

Yesturday I traveled to London for the photo shoot arranged by Roothies for my cream scarf. I was so lucky to be invited to spend the day watching the shoot! Now I am looking forward to seeing the final shots on the website! A big thank-you to Alisa and Tracy and all the team.... the hair and make-up stylist, photographer and model, for such a fun day!

Workplacement

Next week I am starting my workplacement at Stephen Walters, Silk weavers in Sudbury! I've been looking forward to it all summer, and can not wait to start!

The Roothies scarves have been designed and a photoshoot is planned for 10th September! Watch this space for more news or you can follow my updates on twitter!


http://twitter.com/#!/emilyrosefabric

Design work for Roothies

Currently I am working on a collection of knitted scarves for Roothies. My inspiration has come from the structures found in wild Irish flowers. Having experimented with a variety of different wools, I have found the perfect yarn to create a luxurious soft scarf.

You can now also follow me and my progress on twitter!

Woven samples

Inital Samples

"Eco-luxury"

My Current project explores the concect of "eco-friendly" being transformed into elegence and luxury. By sourcing yarns from my local sheep farmers I wish for the fabrics I create to have a low carbon foot print as possiable. This also supports the British wool industry, wish I am very keen to promote.

For this project I intend to design and create a collection of woolen woven fabrics for evening wear for the season autumn/winter 2012. I imagaine my samples to be of varying weights and I wish to extend my colour pallet.

My intail inspiration is from beautifully natural minerals and crystals. The textures and colours of the rocks will create an interesting starting point.

Previous collections

Final collection for Azsu alpacas

Woven samples

Research boards

Merino wool

Merino.com, "No finer feeling"

Merino Fibre

"There is wool, there is fine wool, and there is Merino. Nothing else feels like it, or looks like it, or wears like it. And no man-made fibre can compete with the attributes nature has given Merino in such abundance. The way it keeps you warm in winter, but cool in summer. The way it yields to the softest touch, but stubbornly resists creasing. The way it shrugs off stains and keeps its colour when washed. And unlike any synthetic material, Merino fibre is an entirely renewable natural resource. As long as there is water and sunshine and grass, and sheep to eat it, there will always be Merino. And as long as there is Merino the designers and retailers of the world’s most beautiful clothing will accept no substitute." Merino.com

Merino Research

1. Finest and softest wool of all sheep
2. Used for highend performance wear,
   
3. Finer fibres and softer scales

Knitwear Inspiration

Sandra Backlund has always been a great influence on my 3d work, however her spring summer 2011 reflects my theme of arcitecture as well as an element of natural processes!

Knitwear Inspiration

Ruth Cross is a knitwear designer, whom has influenced my ideas of what contemporary knitwear can be!

Sustainability and ethical textiles

Today I watched a documentary on a demin jean factory which opperates in China. The programme both shocked me and brought to my attention change needs to happen in our ever developing textile industry. The programme followed a 17 year old girl, who left her family and way of life and moved to the city, where she worked as a thread cutter. Both her, living conditions and working conditions where shocking!

I feel as a designer I can implient small scale changes which will help the long term effects of ethical textiles as well as textiles that are sutainable. After watching the documentary I attended a seminar to discuss what we had seen. A few areas of conversation interested me and I intend to look into them further at a later date;

Anaya Hindmarch- Im not a plastic bag

• Frabric reusable bags to replace plastic carrier bags from supermarkets ect.
• The company tried to "do their bit" by advertising a fabric reusable bag as fashionable.
• Bleached cotton fabric bag sold at £5 from Sainsbury's
• Promoted through celebrities
• Soon caught on to be a fashion fad
• However the fabric bags where being shippped from China, and therefore had a big Carbon Foot Print.
• Positive side however raised awearness to a mass audience and made sustainable textiles fashionable!

Alpaca Project

This week I am beging a live project that has been developed by AsZu, a company that produces materials, products and garments using Alpaca fleece and yarn. AsZu wish to develop a contempory range of items for their shop.

My brief is to create a new range of materials or a collection of products, which will bring the "alpaca material" into the 21st century and make it become a commerically viable textile product.

The company wishes for the end product to be sustainable and enviromentally friendly. Also it is to have a low carbon footprint, which is sourced locally, and where possibale organic.

My main material will be the Alpaca yarn, provided by the company, but this can also be combined with other "natural" yarns, such as silk, cotton, mohair ect.

The dyes I use must also be natural or organic, which would mean dyes from plants, fruit, vegetable or flowers.

I intend to use a combination of hand knitting and machine knitting, as well as weaving to create a range of fabric for fashion garments.

Alpaca Research

1. Alpacas come from South America
2. The yarn is ideal for loose spinning, creates hard wearing and very light garments, which are very well insulated.
3. There are two different types alpaca which generate two very different types of wool, huacaya and surial alpacas.
   
4. Huacaya: dense, soft, sheep like wool, with a crimp.
5. Suri: silky, very fine, mop-like long fibres
6. Woven in England in since 1836 in Bradford.
7. Potentional realised when woven with a cotton warp.
8. 
   

Development for Knitwear