10 October / First discussion about the project
Today our group discussed the project. The idea of the designers is to make an outfit that would be changeable such as a pressure button on trousers that could be turned into shorts and given to the homeless. We developed the idea to find a way for people to donate money to the project to be able to finance something that would help the homeless. The buying and management girls thought it would be good to market an outfit to fashion people as they are the people who would put money into a piece especially if the money is donated. I don't think that's true most fashion people don't have the money to buy expensive pieces especially because they want to make something that isn't the most universal and timeless outfit. We need to create excitement for a timeless unisex outfit, maybe by collaborating with a brand, artist, or athlete such as David Hockney or Tony Hawk, to reach a wider industry instead of just fashion. We should also make a limited drop to create even more craze for it. I don't think they understand that this project needs more financial help to create a full outfit to sell and then garments that would improve homeless people's lives. I have tried to explain to them that we need to think outside of just fashion people but they seem very stubborn on the fact that it needs to be marketed to a fashion crowd. They would like to create an outfit that would be baggy functional almost fashion hiking or construction wear for outdoor people. This doesn't work because why would hard-working people who don't get great pay buy expensive fashion workwear? The finance and client profiles are not working and they are not consistent with what they are going to do and for who. They would like to create a piece of work wear such as a vintage mechanic uniform to then remake it sell it for a higher price to a fashion crowd and then put this money toward a garment for the homeless. I don't want to be negative but people on the internet will say we are cosplaying working for the lower middle class, and we will get cancelled. And I don't believe the fashion crowd will buy this and there are even fewer actual workers. Trying to bring everyone together in a bizarre poor working-class cosplay way. So far I am not enjoying it, the design and buying management people are not listening to us or taking any of our propositions and they don't see it could be seen as offensive to create expansive work wear for the fashion people. the intention of the project is very nice and noble but not coherent. Very utopian. Buying many jackets denim and sweaters from a charity shop and giving them directly to the homeless would be way more practical instead of making entire new garments.
17 October
Our presentation wasn't well prepared as we haven't met before to do so, everyone ideas were a bit all over the place and very unorganised. After the presentation, my group had a meeting to talk about our terrible presentation and the designers bickered, we all agreed that it wasn't a great start but if we all communicate and work together we could make it happen. Which I believe was reassuring for everyone.
31 October
We had a formative today and it went wayyyyy better than the first one. We met at 9 am to prepare and practice our presentation. I am glad we are all getting along and the work is coming together, the final design chosen by the team looks great. Our work for this week is to think about the logo and photoshoot.
LOGOS Test #1
For the first logo test, I wanted to create something simple, the designers wanted to have the logo laser printed into the denim so I did some text on how it would look on the back pocket. The one that everyone liked the most is the logo in the right middle with the sort of medieval font which again matches our brand and the way we looked back at history to create Saorsa.
7 October
For today's meeting with the group, I created a presentation for the photoshoot so that we can all discuss where we should do it and the concept I was glad to get positive feedback on the presentation and I am very excited to get started with it. Next week I am going to the design studio to film some BTS. One of the designers, Eve, will be there. I was thinking of filming with one of my old cameras little videos as I know the public is always very excited about those low-quality videos on social media. I would also take pictures the same way I take BTS pictures at a fashion show, with the flash on and experimenting with slow-shutter speed and the lights. Everyone seems to communicate and do their work, making it a very nice group. I was afraid when the project started but it feels like everything is coming together naturally.
This is just a presentation of a few ideas and concepts I had in mind, as well as logos. But we still need to have a team meeting to make sure everyone is happy with one concept. Because we're using recycled denim and tartan, I would like to make the campaign edgy while keeping that high-fashion editorial look. I believe that as a small brand, we cannot just take pictures of our model in the studio in a Vogue editorial way. We need to make a visual impact on our clientele.