Poppy Eagle
Week 1 – Introduction to Sustainability
As a response to this weeks lecture on sustainability, This week I have looked at using recycled materials such as bubblewrap, cardboard and a plastic bottle to create various kinds of patterns.
I really enjoyed finding ways to be creative that aren’t harmful to the environment. For instance, by utilising recycled materials, we can diminish how much waste, that artists make and therefore limits the depletion of our environments natural resources.
Week 2 – Emerging technologies in fashion
As a response to this weeks lecture on emerging technologies in fashion, I explored the new ways that technology is changing the fashion industry. For instance, these new technological ways include possible solutions to a broad spectrum of problems, that cause harm to our environment. Therefore, many corporations all over the world have began to invest in science and research studies that can help them make their production less harmful to the planet, and more appealing to their consumers. One example of this is the use of digital tools to reduce production waste, designed to limit waste generated by fashion in the production stages when companies are trying out samples and constructing models. Furthermore, we are also able use artificial intelligence to help customers try on their outfits in virtual reality, and as a result, reducing the carbon footprint produced by returns in online shopping.
Furthermore, I also used a digital tool such as photoshop to manipulate images I had taken from various gardens and parks I had visited throughout London, such as Kensington gardens.
Week 3 – Nature
As a response to this week’s lecture on nature, I have looked at various techniques including mark-making as well as creating natural dyes using natural products such various vegetables like beetroot, spinach and corn, with the hopes of creating both new and unique patterns and natural red and green dyes. I found that the boiled beetroot produced quite a strong and dominating, therefore incredibly promising natural red/pinky dye. Whereas, I was disappointed although not surprised to see that the green dye produced from the boiled spinach had no pigment. I think it would be incredibly worthwhile to look further into using natural dyes, in an attempt to gradually introduce a more sustainable approach into the textiles community.
Week 4 – Cultural sustainability
In response to my lecture on cultural sustainability, I decided to look into some traditional textiles techniques such as weaving. Upon further research I discovered that weaving is one of the oldest traditional techniques to date. For example, before it was used to make cloth it was used to create baskets and shelters.
Furthermore, I used 2 different kinds of fabric both pink and plain white cotton and pink cotton as well as blue denim fabric, and as a result of the intertwined technique, I created a chain-like pattern.
Week 5 – Empathy
After attending this weeks lecture on empathy, I decided to look into the poor working conditions of fast fashion production workers. I was shocked to discover that in 2021, 131 people were killed and 279 people were injured in garment and textiles factories. Furthermore, these “inhumane working conditions” also involved working 96 hour weeks as well as not having the option to turn down over time, due to their appallingly low wages.
Therefore, as a response to this weeks lecture on empathy, I created a collage using snippets and cutouts from various fashion magazines like vogue, as well as some different mark-making techniques using different mediums such as watercolour, highlighters and posca pens. I have used darker colours like blue and black, in an effort to create and mimic feelings of sadness and aggression and draw extra attention to the negativity and frustration within this situation.
https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/working-conditions
Reflection:
Over the course of the last five weeks of better lives lectures, we explored topics such as sustainability, emerging technologies in fashion, nature and empathy and in doing so, I feel that I have done really well exploring different techniques within my responses each week as well as showing in depth research to the topic at hand. I really enjoyed looking into sustainability, as I feel that it’s an incredibly important issue, but I managed to vary my responses. For example, one way in which I explored sustainability is by utilising recyclable materials by using them for mark-making such as bubble wrap, cardboard and plastic bottles, I found this to be a great way to be fun and creative without bringing greater harm to our environment.
However, when looking into emerging technologies in fashion, I really struggled with my response due to the fact that I have always worked by hand. For instance, drawing, painting and sewing, rather than digitally through a form of software such as photoshop. Therefore, as a result I don’t believe the work that was produced was to the best of my ability. Although, I fully intend to improve my technical skills.
In addition, for week three, I found research into nature, and the negative impacts of the fashion industry on our environment to be incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea of the severity of the pollution that the fashion industry produced and loved researching exploring sustainable alternatives. Therefore, for my response I looked into creating my own natural dyes, using beetroot and spinach, I thoroughly enjoyed this process and would love to explore using natural dyes in more detail.
Furthermore, when exploring empathy in week 5, as my response to the lecture, I decided to create a collage to raise awareness of the poor conditions of the fast fashion production workers who are mistreat, over worked and under paid, as many have no idea of this, despite it being big issue. Having said that I do believe that I could have explored a broader range of colours throughout my responses as I see that I have used a pretty limited selection. Nonetheless, I’m still incredibly happy with the overall outcome of my responses, as they pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and got me to try different techniques.
Observing this blog, I see that Poppy is exploring a wide range of media, including acrylics, natural dye, collages and digital media. I enjoy how she is very experimental in week 1 and 3, where she experimented with mark making and natural dye. In week 1, I appreciate the way she collaged her mark makings together and how aware she is on being sustainable when she is working. In week 3, she experimented with dye using natural products. She used beetroot and spinach to create patterns, which demonstrates how thoughtful she is, in considering how natural dye can make the textile community more sustainable. I think that she could experiment a little more week 2 and week 4. In week 2, with respect to emerging technologies in fashion, Poppy experimented with photoshop by manipulating various floral images from Kensington gardens; I feel like Poppy can explore further with how Photoshop can be used in her own designs and prints, not just in with photos. If she wants to use these photos as her prints, she could try this technique with more photos and maybe try to zoom in and out and experimenting with perspective. Perhaps try looking at the same photo on different scales? In week 5, thinking about cultural sustainability, Poppy explored the technique of weaving. I enjoy her take very much, but I consider the designs relatively simple. She can try using more diverse choices of colors and different materials. Overall, I really enjoyed Poppy’ s blog.