Using My Psychic Abilities Wisely

Gypsies, Palm Readers, Psychics, Clairvoyants, Telepathic, Oracle, Professor Trelawney from Harry Potter, Crazy, call them what you will but prediction services are a very important aspect of the fashion business.

Being able to “look into the future” and predict what people will be wearing and what trends will be prevalent may seem like the acts of a crazy con artist but trend prediction can actually be quite scientific and is based more on logic (not just the predictors psychic abilities).

Because the lead time for the production of fashion is so long, it’s important for people in the industry to know what people will want to buy and wear six months (or more) in advance, and getting this information right is very crucial for everyone within the production cycle. From the fabric mills to designers to fashion buyers.

Trends don’t always come directly in the form of fashion and trend hunting companies must ensure they understand how environmental factors can affect the clothing industry.

Li Edelkoort, mastermind of the Trend Union says that people often thing she’s a mystic or gypsy, but all she does is pay attention. To things such as changed within the architectural and art environment. But things outside of fashion which may affect it as well such history and the psychology of consumers on a sociological spectrum.

The Paris SS 14 shows have just ended and i’ve been presented with the task of analysing the trends and a few key designers whose collection must be viewed by the eyes of every man woman and child out there.

Four designers whose collections I think should definitely be viewed are Vionnet, Sacai, Roksanda Ilinčić and Manish Arora.

Vionnet:

The french house that introduced the bias cut to the world of design construction is known for their grecian style designs, but a revamp of the brand image by creative director Goga Ashkenazi has earned this house mixed reviews.

An essence of powder could be felt at the show as the models revealed the SS 14 silhouettes and colours. Soft powdery blues and lavender were in abundance which blended into darker blues and blacks.  Then a reveal of soft yellow and white which ran into sheer gold and cream. The fabrics were a mixture of cottons, tulles, jersey and organzas with tulle wrapped Obi belts around boyfriend type shirt-dresses.

The collection felt quite corporate but cool and elegant.

Sacai:

Japanese brand Sacai showcases in Paris and it was evident that they picked up on the same trends of bright colours that Vionnet picked up on, but instead of taming the colours down and going the pale route, they chose to make them as strong as they could get them. Bright highlighter type pink, orange and reds, emerald greens, electric coral  and blues faded into black could be seen on their laser cut satin and silks.

We also saw a disregard of the waistline, oversized trousers, loose fitting, extra long tops, layering, excess fabrics of light chiffon and wool dresses. Striped boyfriend tops could also be seen.

Roksanda Ilinčić:

Serbian fashion designer Roksanda Ilinčić is known for her elegant day and evening dresses which are loved by clients such as Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow , Emilie Blunt and Kate Middleton.

This season she blessed us with a very creamy ice cream-like colour palette that made my mouth water. She created beautifully classic looks out of creamy neon yellows, pale red-orange, purple and black (though I can’t imagine a black ice cream but I think you get the drift).

Geometric prints, laser cuts, fabric cut and sewn to create stripes, embellished flowers, pleats and lace were placed with the silk, satin and thin syrup like neoprene creations. Dropped shouldered jackets were paired with long dresses, cigarette trousers and flared maxi skirts.

Manish Arora:

Not unknown to many in the world of gorgeous eccentric fashion (think Perry and Minaj), Manish Arora has taken inspiration from the 20’s and burped up this lovely, lively and luminous collection. Not one to ever back down from being as colourful and innovative as ever which can be credited to his indian background.

This season we saw a plethora of beautifully powdered colours, yellow, blue, purple and pinks. Interestingly enough, he also infused within those paler colour with the more recognisable and vivid Manish Arora colours that one is used to.

Intricate beadings, patterns and geometrics which reminded me of el dorado… if it was in the middle of las vegas…okay, maybe it’s not very much like the city of gold, but you can’t say that the patterns don’t remind you of some ancient temple in Peru.

The silhouettes at this show took a spin at the 20’s flapper dress. Low waist lines and dresses that were slim fitting but not body hugging were presented.

So what’s trending in Paris for the SS shows? 

After my ‘in depth’ analysis of the SS show’s presented by these 4 brands, it’s evident that a few trends are sticking out like a sore thumb.

– Colour! Bright neon creamy and powdery colours will be seen strutting the high streets. Especially yellow.

– Pleats

– Boyfriend shirts,painted prints, stripes, embellishments?

– Dropped shoulders and elbow length sleeve tops

– Cigarette trousers

– Geometric and tribal prints and Stripes

– Diagonal cuts towards the waist and away out (Hourglass)

– Medical/ Scrub trend

– Sheer maxi skirts full length sheer/mesh skirts over solid short skirts/shorts

– Spaghetti straps and halter tops 90s influence

– Collared dresses

– Sports luxe, Increasing menswear and sports trends for women

and that my friends, was my attempt at analysing the Paris trends and predicting the future.

Q & A With a Superhero

So much has happened within the past few months. My inauguration into the eyes of Vogue officials, my moving from student accommodations (yuck) to a big man house (hip hip hooray), the destruction of my iphone and the crippling of my technological frontier (hence the reason for my eery disappearance from the net).

Another biggie that has taken place in the life and times of Jawara Alleyne was the beginning of my second year at LCF. It usually takes a lot to get me excited… like a lot… and this has proven to be just such. I’m not excited at all. Simply because I know that the year is going to just disappear into a whiff of thin air leaving me with just one year left in school… I  love school :(.

One of my first projects will be looking into brand development, my absolute fave! As a side note can I just say that this teacher already seems like a superhero in disguise? Her aura just beckons to mine and meets with a good ol’ Jamaican bumping of the fist and a nod of respect (and I’m not just saying that because she’s going to read this post).

In my first class with her we had to answer three questions which actually got me thinking on a serious note.

Here are my three Q’s and A’s:

Q: List three companies you would like to work for and explain why you chose them.
A:

–Lanvin. Alber Elbaz is probably the most sincere person living on this planet at the moment. Being able to work under him would teach me so much about passion and loving the female body. His never ending love for class and femininity whispers my name daily.

–Pedro Lourenco. This kid has achieved one of my lifelong dreams of becoming an established designer and showing in one of the fashion capitals at an almost teenage age. Thinking about him just makes me feel like such a failure 😦 Boo for you Lourenco. I’d love to work for him because I think he knows a lot about the industry. Things I also need to learn in order to become a success.  His company is also fairly young and is growing and I’d love to be able to see how he develops that on the inside and see the growth happening from the core instead of the shell.

–Dion Lee. I think it goes without say that this guy is a genius. His brain is one that I would gobble up in a second. Mr Lee is an inspiration to my soul. After winning the International Woolmark Prize I’ve been eyeing this young star who reminds me so much of myself.  I get this weird feeling that his thought process and his ideologies are somewhat similar to my own. I’d love to be able to lay his brain on a table and dissect it to see the colourful juices flowing out… or the next best thing to work for him and learn from this master in the making.

Q: List 3 places you’sd like to live and explain why.
A:

-Australia
-Brazil
-Paris

I’m from the Caribbean and though I must confess that my relationship with the sun has been… sticky (we both hate each other, long story), it seems that the tropics are simply beckoning to me.  Australia and Brazil are two places that I think I would absolutely love to live, not because of the beautifully horrific weather but because of the booming fashion scene on the edge of both those countries. Having said that, I only just noticed that the designers I chose to work for correspond with the countries I’d like to live in. Lee from Australia, Lourenco from Brazil and Elbaz running Paris. Is this fate or sheer coincidence? Time will tell.

Ps. I’m also a Capoeirista so brazil has always been a dream of mine… Summer 2014 here I come! (I wish).

Q: 5 Years from now where do you see yourself?
A: I’m really bad with measuring time but I do believe that 5 years from now I would like to have been working for a designer saving up every single penny in order to start my own company. Track me and see if I’ll get here. *wink*

No Complain Campaign

Sorting out my mind map of everything that’s going on in the world of my head at the moment. So much to do that I don’t even know how to get started.

I know the smart thing to do would be to just start somewhere on something, but theres always some hinderance in the way and thats easier said than done. Doubled with the fact that pretty much all the programs I need to do anything, seem to hate my computer and refuse to download.

As I write this post i’m reminded of when I was a teen and decided that my best friend and myself were going on a “No Complain Campaign” where we just wouldn’t complain about anything. It lasted but a few hours strong, however has taught me that instead of complaining I should just carry on.

Furthermore where theres a will theres a way.

With that said, I’m going to start using google docs since Microsoft Office hates me.

.SMART.

British Vogue Signs Code of Conduct

The modelling and fashion is known for its use of underweight, unhealthy and sometimes underage models, but if British Vogue has it’s say, that’s all about to change. They recently signed a code of conduct with Ethics protecting models at work.

Equity is the UK trade union for professional performers and creative practitioners. Their models committee has written a 10-point code which will come into play whenever Vogue uses any model.

The code underlines things such as:

• working hours- models will work no more than 10 hours a day and receive regular 15 minute rest during work
• food provisions- models will be provided with all food requirements while working and special diet requirements must be taken into consideration
• unapproved nudity- models will not shoot nude unless approved before the shoot
• payment- models will receive prompt payment
• underage models- models under the age of 16 will not be used to represent adults

Equity hopes that the rest of the fashion high street stores and the fashion press will follow Vogues lead (so do I).

What do you think about this? Will it bring about positive change within the fashion industry or will it just give models more reasons to be catty?

The Loveliness of Late Nights

Sitting in the common room working hard at an essay and the question was just posed if I was blogging instead of writing my essay. Of course I denied, as you know, I’m a very busy lad. 

I find that once your in the mood to write, you should try and write as much as you possible can in that one sitting. Breaking the concentration is probably one of the worst things you can do. 

Anywho…back to writing.

PS. I wasn’t pulling my eyes back, I always become oriental after 2:00 when I’m sleepy.