Stefanie O'Dea

Designer: Stefanie O'Dea
Thursday, January 6, 2011
New York City.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
4th December 2010.

3rd December 2010.
Initiatives in Art and Culture
Vintage: Value, Values and Enduring Design
Conference
Day 12
Today I attended the Initiative in Art and Culture Conference, the topic discussed was, Vintage: value, values and enduring design. The first speaker Catherine I. Moellering who discussed Fashion's Power Play: Consumers Take the Lead, she briefly touched on the key factors that are currently reshaping the retail world. By exposing how the industry went from market driven to consumer driven, referencing movie 'Funny Face', it became clear that the power has indeed shifted into the hands of the consumer. The discussion moved onto how consumers are now aware, they expect more from the product then just the product itself, they are now seeing the value in a good cause, weather it be environmental or ethical. As a design student I found Moellering's discussion educational as she explored avenues in which designers, brands, retailers and manufacturers can navigate through these new conditions and arrive on a more profitable, stable outcome. The advice given was to employ engagement strategies, know your consumer and utilise the Internet by empowering the consumer. Throughout this discussion I took as many notes as I could fit onto the blank page provided, as I believe every grain of information will prove to be highly useful for me as a designer trying to break into the industry.
Conference Cocktail party
What Goes Around Comes Around
What Goes Around Comes Around, vintage store, hosted the second and final cocktail party for the Initiative in art and culture conference. With the option to shop, it was brought to my attention that Chanel and Valentino were once again casually hanging from the window cills. Books were open for viewing across the jewellery cabinets, which is where I found an image of a women being man handled, wearing a bra that caught my attention. I am still unsure of what attracted me to it, weather it was the shape or the hint of texture, but I was instantly inspired.
Note: Design Inspiration, braziere, textured, vinatage, hand sewn flowers?
2nd December 2010.


1st December 2010.
30th November 2010.



29th November 2010.
Day 8
Today I attended the Balenciaga Exhibition, curated by Hamish Bowles. Although I was unable to take photographs in the exhibition, I will never forget the amazing display of Balenciaga’s work. It was a three story exhibition, with the top floor containing a film/ documentary on Balenciaga, beside it, an array of books, magazines and sketches on display behind glass. Downstairs was an exhibition of Balenciaga’s garments with blurbs explaining the fabrics, techniques and inspiration of each garment. It was a lifetime experience , not only to witness Balenciaga’s masterpieces, but to also gain insight into how and where the Spanish Master drew his inspiration from and furthermore the design process that he undertook. Balenciaga, more often then most, worked with Spain as a common theme, drawing inspiration from the theme to design each garment. Having learnt this process, I feel that I will be greatly influenced by Balenciaga’s practices in my design process, specifically in my search for concept inspiration.
Note: Design Inspiration, Evening coat of scarlet silk ottoman, winter 1954.
Fabric Shopping
With the afternoon free, we decided we could not wait until tomorrow to begin fabric shopping. On foot we set off to find the Fashion district, which was where the fabric store featured on Project Runway, MOOD was located. After a few decent hours of walking between and around blocks, we walked into our first New York fabric store. Overwhelmed an unable to move between the spools of fabric we hastily exited and entered the neighboring store, Prime Fabrics. I was in owe of the detailing and embroidery of each individual textile I picked up. I wanted a sample of everything I touched. I was instantly inspired by one fabric featuring cotton flowers, individually hand sewn onto a light tule. I bought just a sample, as I decided I would recreate the fabric myself, I want to cut out and hand sew individual flowers, in a variety of fabrics and patterns to create my own individual texture and textile. Today, at this moment I decided that my theme/direction for my third year collection would revolve around femininity, however I am yet to find my inspiration that will give birth to my concept. Next was MOOD, where fabrics were displayed over two- three levels, every type of textile imaginable in every colour, along with designer prints. Again I wanted a sample of everything I touched, and this was allowed but I was so overwhelmed and frantic about not wanting to skip over anything, that I ran out of time for even one sample. I came home with a 100% Silk, watercolour like print, at $70 a yard, It will be a feature in my recreation of the sample from Prime Fabrics.
