SoLoveToSewLikeTheBoys

An image created by Andrew Broughton, from 'a cloth-covered button', is a fun introduction for my new blog...

In March, 2009, Sarah Mower reviewed Rei Kawakubo's A/W 2009 Comme des Garcons collection, which is known as 'Wonderland'.

 
The collection consisted of layers of tulle, pieces of jackets, sweaters and blankets. Sometimes, 'wearability' is considered an issue in CdG's collections, but as Mower stated "Kawakubo is so smart at retail practice that she will undoubtedly (as always) be rendering the ideas in this collection down to a line of T-shirts."

One such sleeveless t-shirt that came out of the collection

September 2014, Rei Kawakubo presented an intense 2015 Spring/Summer collection, which she described as "Roses and blood", with red being the optimum colour.  It had reviewers wondering if RK was wanting to turn something disturbing and distressing, such as war and destruction, into something strongly expressive and creative.
Anyway, check out some of the fantastic garments from this collection, and some of the cool t-shirts that came out of it.

 

The A/W 2015 collection, which some reviewers considered might be RK's last one (gasp, I know one day it will happen! ), was known as "The ceremony of separation".
It was quite 'out there', and followed on from some amazing design features found in the S/S 2014 collection.

These are some of the T-Shirts that came out of that collection

                   
                                                 

I guess this isn't, strictly speaking, a t-shirt, but it's still an interesting top garment..the sleeve makes it so

This is a dress from the Spring/Summer 2014 collection

and this is a t-shirt echoing design features from the dress, although the flowery fabric didn't feature.

CdG's fabulous A/W 2012 collection was the flat felt one, "the future's in two dimensions".  I don't think any other designer had done anything like this before.  I loved it, and still do.

and a t-shirt reflecting aspects of that collection

again, strictly speaking, not actually a t-shirt, but a cool top inspired by the above dress.  

RK's A/W 2008 collection was a somewhat "trashy" affair, yet still very inspirational (I thought so. I created a fab. skirt and shirt, inspired by this collection... I really should wear it a lot more than I do!) 

                                                  

 

and some great t-shirts CdG designed, so people could wear the collection in an everyday way.

                                               

 

The A/W 2007 collection appeared as a rather playful one...rabbit ears, padded hands and such like

with a long sleeved t-shirt such as this one, reflecting the look of the collection in a coolly casual manner.

S/S's 2007 collection made a great feature of a big red spot. It was reminiscent of the Japanese flag. Rei Kawakubo considered the red dot of the Japanese flag to be "the purest form of design in existence".

An interesting aspect of this collection was the presentation of t-shirts within the collection

and sleeveless t-shirts

'Persona', the wonderful A/W 2006 collection, also had aspects of the design features rendered down to wearable t-shirts.

                                         

 

So, isn't it cool, Rei Kawakubo Comme des Garcons, also appreciates the wonderful, ever so humble, T-Shirt.

Like a pair of jeans, who hasn't got one in their wardrobe?

Hiroaki Ohya, whom I wrote about in my 'Origami' blog, created a cool series of 'Alphabet T-shirts', maybe they inspired Andrew Broughton. (These images came from www.we-find-wildness.com)

Aren't they fun!
Here's a challenge to you..... create a t-shirt for one of the letters not included in these images, D, H, I, N, T, U, V, Z.

T-shirt, Tee shirt,
however you like to write it....here is some background information...

Do take in this link, some of the icons, mentioned in the above poster, feature...and, it just might, "make you happy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd-PnbPYK04

Credit: www.toptenz.net

This is the '3000 BC' preserved garment referred to in the above poster.  It's a linen shirt from a First Dynasty Egyptian tomb at Takan, which is about 30 miles from Cairo.  It has tightly pleated sleeves and yoke. There are creases at the elbows and armpits, indicating it had been a worn garment, and apparently it was found inside out. 

So, the T-shirt....it originated from the 'Union Suit', a 19th Century undergarment, which was eventually separated, creating 2 garments,

and that upper garment evolved into the T-Shirt, so named, due to the t shape of the torso and the sleeves.

Credit: www.clipartbest.com

A t-shirt usually has short sleeves, a round neck, known as a crew neck, is collarless and made from cotton knit material.

This site is a very interesting look into the cotton cultivation and all the people who might be involved in creating your T-Shirts.  There are 5 parts to it, do try and take them all in, it's very informative, and I think it is important that we are aware of the whole process involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYa4zneKbeY 

I have come across a really interesting group known as, 'The T/Shirt Issue'.  They started in 2008, with a project which involved creating a dimensional shirt.  The concept involved using digital tools and personal memories of 3 people to create 3-D sculpted shirts.  Amazing garments came out of this idea, and the triangular polygon was the basic unit of digital substance and wearable form. 

Mashallan t-shirt

This site will show you some of their  cool creations, and click on the www.hoid.co connection to see some other really interesting work.

http://the-t-shirt-issue.com/home.1.0.html

Here's another link connecting with more cool stuff from The T-Shirt Issue, especially the 'Folding T-Shirts' video.  It presents a good view of the '1/10 EDITION' (10 white t-shirts sewn with different seam arrangements). It is a great concept developed out of inspiring pattern work...(thinking beyond the square)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVx9FWhkrXU

and just one last link regard this fabulous collective.  You actually view the work that goes into some of their creations, and will see triangular polygons being sewn together. You never know, it might inspire you! 

https://vimeo.com/111617922 

It is quite straight forward drafting a T-Shirt pattern...have a go at it c/- Winifred Aldrich's method

 With your own t-shirt pattern you can create all sorts of CdG inspired designs, like these ones I had lots of fun with.....

...and my take on the top reflecting the dress from the A/W 2012 collection

and my A/W 2007 concept

This is my one and only, actually purchased, CdG t-shirt.  It is from the 'Play' collection...I ended up stitching it on to a black t-shirt ala Rei style, 'cos although it was a L size, it was a Japanese L size, and I needed a little bit more wearing ease!

 

I do a T-Shirt unit with my Yr. 10 students.  It's an opportunity to learn about, the construction of a T-Shirt, how to carry out various methods of applied decoration, and expressing something about yourself via the clothes you will wear.

The various results are always lots of creative fun.

Here are some from a number of years ago...

And last year, wonderfully creative Ana designed and constructed this t-shirt...I love the way she cut out the back sections to create a wings effect.

This is a cool top garment, from the fabulous "the future's in two dimensions" collection.

It inspired me to create, not a t-shirt as such, but a very creative top garment...

working out the shape connections...

cutting out of felt and testing the fit...

                                            

 

and my completed result.

This is a super book with lots of creative ideas for up-cycling a t-shirt.  There is a whole series of  '99 WAYS TO...'

If you go on this site, you will see the women who put the series together.  They will take you through the up-cycling of a worn sweat shirt.  It might give you some great ideas for what you can do with some of your own "tired" clothing.  It is good to always keep on thinking creatively!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuRUYwb-uXc

Here is an 'I t-shirt' I've created

                                        

and just for fun,a conjoined t-shirt I made a few years ago...all about working it out as a team...

Now, it's probably time to finish, sort of, where I began.  Sarah Mower reviewing CdG's very latest collection, S/S 2016, and like she states, the clothes are kinda unrecognisable, as we usually know them on the street...

 This collection is called "Blue Witches", who, according to Adrian Joffe (RK's husband), " are powerful women who are misunderstood, but do good in the world" 

Once again, Mower comments on RK's highly conceptual designs probably reappearing "in simpler wearable forms, right down to ranges of T-shirts which indicate her original runway styles in cool ways".

So, wonderful, humble T-shirt, you will always have a strong and fun role to play in my wardrobe.

SLTSLTBsigning off

('a cloth-covered button', which I mentioned at the beginning of this blog,  was a wonderful Melbourne-based publication, with a non-commercial bent. Sadly it only lasted 2 editions!)