4. MANUFACTURING

4. Design Aim

I recently had a delivery of this striped fabric. I want to experiment with making up my garments with the stretch stripe fabric outer and see how my lining fabric holds the shape.

4. Manufacturing Aim

My manufacturing aim is to pay a fair wage for all the hours worked, to brief out in person and to name my manufacturers at the point of order.

I have always designed and made up my own collections. At craft level, I was able to build up my dream capsule collection but my pricing didn’t allow for business expansion. It was not sustainable to continue at craft level.

I was invited to be mentored last year by David Jones, www.davidjonesfashionconsultancy.com . I was guided on expanding my business through industry pricing and reaching out to the luxury market.

I was put in contact with www.heba.org.uk in Brick Lane for briefing out professional sample duplication and manufacturing. I gained insight into manufacturing briefing methods within the fashion industry. I had already set up organised systems for briefing out patterns and instructions, based on over 10 years working as a production manager in publishing and advertising agencies. It felt like a major step forward, not only the thrill of having my garments made up by someone else but also the potential to create work and grow my business with a group such as Heba. Sadly, due to funding cuts Heba have recently closed.

Future orders will be made up by manufacturers in London. These companies have their own overheads before they pay their seamstresses wages. My prices will reflect this.

4.Design Influences

You Tube search listed below for trailer for Ava DuVernay’s documentary on slavery in prisons.

13TH official trailer (2016) Netflix

32K views

You Tube search listed below for concepts, costumes and lyrics

Hozier-Nina Cried Power ft Mavis Staples. 8.6M views

Bananarama - Love In The First Degree (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) 2.1M views