Fashion refers to the most popular practice or style in footwear, clothing, makeup, body piercing, furniture or accessory. It is a distinct and often consistent trend in the dressing style of an individual or established style in behaviour. The history of fashion can be described as the constant change that has occurred in the fashion industry, which deals with accessories and clothing. The history of fashion dates back hundreds of years, from different places and gives a detailed explanation on how these clothes were acquired or made. Throughout the world, there has been changing styles of different clothes depending on the century or time in which these designs were conceptualized. There are physical features that should be evident in the transition interlude, which included the linearity in women's dress that is accompanied by making the internal structure hardening of the dresses.
After I reviewed my test shots and ideas, it was clear that the result was unsatisfactory; the statement I wanted to make was still not strong enough. My tutor said, “it is just a loincloth to decorate various formats onto the body of a model”. At first I thought that the idea of using a loincloth was novel in itself. Using just one piece of fabric on the body can generate a series of thousands of images and fashions.
This concept started when I saw Thom Browne’s fashions in Metal Magazine. They reminded me of a Thai loincloth because of the colors and fabrics. Thailand is my homeland, and seeing these images made me want to wear a loin cloth as well.
Loin cloths used to be very popular, and they are acknowledged as culturally significant in Thailand. It is a shame that modern fashion consumers choose not to purchase or wear loin cloths. Teenagers, especially, see the loin cloth as out of fashion and boring, and yet it is an important symbol of Thailand.
The change that happened in these regions happened because of the change that was witnessed social, economic and religious development. The styles transformed when the world was discovered to be round in the 1400-1600. In a time such as this, people could adopt a new style and discard it the next minute. There were aiguillettes, bases, panes, bobbin lace, and petticoat, which are known as part of the outer garment that came to existence during this era. However, the rate at which the change was evolving became worrying and the people wanted to choose more and more conventional fashions, which is the Loin clothes. Fashion that is restrictive to the wearer emphasizes on class difference and has the power over the appearance of natural female sexuality.
After hearing extensive feedback from my teachers, I understand that more is required of this project. One teacher suggested that I “invent something new with the loin cloth, something that most people would not think of, which is unique and interesting.” My teachers were satisfied with the idea of a lookbook to display my designs. After this, I started my search of other such lookbooks, and focusing on brands such as Cavalli, Dior, Prada, Mulberry, Burberry, YSL, H&M, and Guess.
Most lookbooks are size A5, so I decided to do size A5 as well. It is already the standard size, and it is a comfortable size to be placed in the reader’s pocket. A5 will be the perfect size for the lookbook, because it is not too bulky but also not too small.
I want my lookbook to contain a variety of colors and different ideas. I have found a 30-page tutuorial which Dejan and I should master before continuing our work. It will be of great help to our fashion experience and in developing our creativity in design. These images act as a stained-glass window, where we can see and use as a source when designing dresses. Manuscript illuminations were made to portray more lay figures dressed in up-to-date set of clothes. Dent de Man is a designer who creates the type of fabrics we would like to use.
We can use his fabrics as a selling point for our loin cloth. My teachers believed there was nothing particularly unique about the idea of bringing the textures of cloth to become clothing fabric. However, I like the idea of bringing clothes from Dent de Man to create our fashion. He represents the era of the loin cloth in Thailand. The textile companies also advances gradually, which also leads to the increased production of a new texture that leads to the production of new clothes and fashion. At the end of the 16th Century, the upper class Thailand dressing wore not any similarity to the outfits that were worn at the beginning of the century. The modification came amidst the quest for new fashion led to the development of Loin clothes. From his argument the precise origin and development of fashion, the sequential changes in the dressing mode across these different nations are still debated by different historians. However, it has been agreed that a significant percentage of people recognize a certain style of dressing for a short time.
For now, I am waiting for loin cloths to arrive from Thailand. This may take up to 1-2 weeks, however I am looking forward to mixing cool and warm colors to create the most beautiful fabrics and fashions. The mixture between colors will make up a very interesting and good looking fashion. It is said that in fashion when you mix a dark color is mixed with a brighter one cloth is usually more attractive than those of single colors.When I receive a new loin cloth, I find a local article of clothing with a similar pattern or fabric, and stitch them together to brainstorm ideas for fashions.
The last time I did this, I took the fabric to my teacher to receive feedback and further identify the focus of my project. My teacher seemed to like my ideas, and this encouraged me to continue doing this kind of work.
Several days later, I received word that my grandfather had suddenly died. I needed to fly back to Thailand for 2 weeks, and I used some of this time to shop for loin cloth. Loin cloths can be bought in any color, and additional colors can be added at the time of purchase. I went to the company called Creal Designs and they gave me free loin clothes. That I would use as sample in trying to make my own designs. They are very helpful because of the unique features that would be of great help to our designs. We will incorporate some features from the cloths they gave us into our designs.
However, in the two weeks that I was waiting for the Loin clothes in Thailand, I could not do anything much as I was busy with my grandfathers funeral and all I coud do was get loin clothes as much as I can. After I came back I had to do all my shoot witin a week because I wanted to get all done, lay out all the pages on Indesign and Photoshop, make sure they all in the right page.I contacted Ngo Loincloth and told them about my project, which they met with admiration. While they did not give me any free fabric, I felt that my project was finally becoming a reality.
The Asian model I hope to find for my lookbook will be a replacement for the typical Thai style model. In terms of hair, I want to style high ponytails bordered in black; this is a hairstyle adapted from many fashion shows. It is neat and beautiful and often seen in high fashion. My fashion ideas are continuously changing, however my vision for the hair styles has remained the same. The Loin clothes historical age in fashion became known as the highest period of costumes, when people began expressing fashion in writing and pictures from different times and culture.
What I need to focus on is finalizing the clothing. I do not want to overpower my readers with too much color or style, so it is important that hair and makeup remain unchanged and simple. In terms of makeup, I still would prefer natural tone cosmetics for lips and eyes. For our design to appear perfectly good, the people put on the samples need to have some makeup on their body. This will help in enhancing their beauty and look there also making our clothes look good.
I recently had a tutorial with Abbie Fegent. He helped me understand how to apply patterns to backgrounds by using a projector and the website. Now, I will not have to rely on gluing a big piece of fabric or paper to a wall to obtain an interesting background. The main problem I had with Abbie’s method was that the projector light might be on the model, which would cause the images to come out wrong. Instead, I used a plain background for the shoot and added in some patterns with photoshop afterwards. And I think I came put good as I wanted it to be. A plain background would bring out the nature of the cloth and how it really looks as compared to having a colored background. He said that social and economic changes present the necessary environment for fashion and subsequent development in designs. Social stratification played a higher role in the shift from one style to another, because it was not rigid, and designers could easily imitate different social classes.
I found that finding model was so difficult for me because I was so picky and wanted model to be Asian, not of Asian in this university but finally I used one of my Thai friends. The photography I used one of my friends as well from Portsmouth University. The problem I encountered was how to put leave the edge bleed on all the pages of my lookbook. It was 34 pages but they said that it has to be either 32 or 36 for printing lookbook out. And I decided to get rid of another two pages and I couldn’t get another two pages adding up. And I tired to et www.printed.com to print my lookbook but they couldn’t get it done so I had to go to the shop the one on London road Southampton.
The one in university, they said the colour printer not working and they can’t promise when it can be fixed. The printing problem gave me a lot of headache and I had to move round and round looking for where to print but I finally got a place where they were able to print how I wanted the lookbook to appear. The spread of information on the changing style has catalysed the development of print medium. For example, the development of new styles could be spread from one region to another through travel, intermarriage, borrowing ideas from the royal class and using them to create new designs of clothing. I will use the same process to spread my designs across the markets and I will get a place where my designs will be accepted.
Finally, I have got my lookbook printed as a A5 and everything I was imaging came true, I am happy with the result and planning of giving all my lookbook to the company I was talking about to giving out my lookbook to clients.
Reference
Baines, V, (2010). Fashion Revivals from Ancient Days to Date: Meeting Fashion. London: B. T. Batsford, Ltd.
Byrd, P,. (2011). The Fashion Image: Fashion in Europe. London: Janis Press, Ltd.
Dillon, James (2008). “Renaissance Dresses in Italy, 1400c-1500c.” New York: Dress Humanity Press,
Marcel, T. The History of Dress in Northern Europe: Loin in Asia,.J.H University Press.
Masuda, Wilson, and Eubank, Gifford. (2009). Survey of Historic Costume.” Chicago, USA: Chatto and Windus Publications,
