Tour of Oxford Clothes

Our tailoring class "Inner Structure/Outer Edge" went here on a field trip Friday morning. It was absolutely amazing to see all the time and care these artisans put into these custom suits.







The showroom for those clients who are "grand fathered in." Note those swatch books are filled with the nicest wool, cashmere, silk, and linen sent from the famous Holland and Sherry mill in England.

Here we are in the cutting room where every custom pattern is hand traced and cut, matching pinstripes and plaids.



They Cataloge every pattern, and every suit has a linen tag with style, fabric, customer, pattern number, so suits can be recreated years after they are originally made.



Everything is basted in place so it doesn't shift in the making or pressing process.
Hand done pad stitching.
Where the hand button holes are made


So amazing to see a factory where the workers time is actually valued and quality products are being made, in the U.S. no less!

Lingerie Final

Final Product

In Progress

Working in silk organza has proved tricky but also so much more rewarding! Will be done by tonight:

Historical Inspiration, Victorian Christening Gown

FInal 45 Look Collection

Internship at Ballet Chicago

30 looks down, 15 more to go

Major Inspiration for Final 45 look Collection

These amazing videos really get to the core of the concept I have exploring though these past two collections. I find the possibilities for the human body to be simultaneously both awe and fear inspiring; something I see being a major concern in our lifetimes.

Inspirations for Revised Collection

This Collection depicts the integration of metal and mechanics into the human body. The progression mimics the way architecture integrated steel: first only internally, disguised with familiar façades until the material is ultimately embraced and flaunted. Humans have begun to integrating mechanics internally, pacemakers, permanent retainers and joint replacements are all very common. This collection envisions this idea pushed to the extreme, and the journey to that point. The beginning of the collection is designed to support internal apparatus' use to replace organs and tissue. The silhouette remain sleek and uniform, the mechanics are hidden under a familiar facade. Next the machine reaches out from the body in the form of prosthetics. Accordion panels and casings in peach organza and leather accommodate while mimicking natural human motion to disguise the mechanic motion these spindles produce. These spindles move with the body but can also move to configure supporting, defensive, and offensive prosthesis or even third arms or legs. These casing mimic the familiar façade of skin. As the collection progresses there is less need for this façade and these spindles are no longer encased. Slowly the natural material of these prosthetics are visible in their raw beauty.

Revised Collection, click to enlarge

How Spindles work: Simplified Illustration

this may help clarify as well
Works on the same principle, many thanks to Matt Rogowski!


Suggestions from the Critque: look for these changes in the final Collection!