Researching Fashion

I mentioned in a previous post about the areas you should research before beginning the design process. I've compiled a list of what I've found to be the best free websites within those areas. I hope it will be useful to you.

Silhouettes

http://www.emilyhiller.com/portfolio/sculptural-clothing/

http://fashionshowphotos.net/2011/ss-haute-couture-paris-2011/christian-dior-haute-couture-ss-2011/

Details

http://www.shirtsmyway.com/blog/tag/details/

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=garment+details

http://www.etsy.com/category/clothing?ref=fp_ln_clothing

Texture

http://www.edge-textileartists-scotland.com/gallery/index.html

http://www.ckrother.com/art.html

http://www.62group.org.uk/artists/

Historical Influences

http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/f/fashion/

http://sallyjanevintage.blogspot.com

http://vintagefashionmagazines.blogspot.com/

http://myvintagevogue.com/home

Contemporary Trends

http://fashionindie.com/

http://www.anothermag.com/current

http://www.fashionising.com/

http://antiquedress.com/

http://boudoirboutique.wordpress.com/

Other Useful Websites

http://www.rinze.com/fashion/fashion_thumbnails.htm

http://avantgarde.blogsome.com/

Primary Research

What is Primary Research?

These are the findings you have collected or recorded first hand. They are generally recorded through drawings or photographs and provide greater sensory associations than just the object itself. Primary Research can be a lot more personal than secondary research.

How can I gather primary research?

• Quick sketches of people or objects
• Non-dominant hand drawings
• Continuous line drawings
• Photographs
• Collages
• Monoprinting
• Watercolours

What should you include in your primary research?

The most valuable primary research includes elements such as textures, shapes, patterns and embellishments.  It is more important to show these elements in your drawings than it is to draw the object perfectly. Images that incorporate these elements can easily be developed into fabric samples at a later stage and these could then be developed to be used as part of a garment.

I’d quite like to go into more detail later about the ways you can experiment with primary research but if there’s anything I’ve left out feel free to let me know and I’ll sort it when I can. Thanks.

Secondary Research

What is secondary research?

This is source that you have gathered from the internet, book or magazines that will influence your designs. It is basically any research that wasn’t created by you personally.

What is the purpose of secondary research?

Research is important to inspire you as a creative individual. It is a way to stimulate the mind and create new possibilities for your designs. It allows you to explore different ideas before you focus on your final concept, theme or idea for a collection.

What should you research?

• Silhouettes
• Details
• Colour
• Texture
• Historical influences
• Cultural influences
• Contemporary trends

The best websites I have found for secondary research

www.etsy.com

www.polyvore.com

www.fashioninquisitive.com
www.fashion-era.com

I’m planning to go into more detail about the areas of research pretty soon, but if there’s anything you’d like me to add, feel free to let me know. Also, if you know of any other good websites for fashion source, leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list here. Thanks.