During
my second year, I worked on a live brief for Dashing Tweeds and was fortunate
enough to be picked to go on placement with the company for 3 weeks. I undertook a wide range of activities
whilst on placement from photographing Guy Hills, the company’s director in his
new Dashing Tweeds suit to rolling lengths of fabrics on to boards for their
new shop on Sackville Street, London.
2 days a week I was based in the weave studio
in Hackney with Kirsty McDougall. The time I had here gave me the opportunity
to ask questions and have some one on one tutoring regarding developing work
and weave technique. I found this really useful as the ideas and techniques she
talked to me about were different to that of university tutors, leaving me with
a bigger and better understanding of the woven textiles industry and a
different insight on my current work.
I wove samples on the warp for Dashing
Tweeds Autumn/Winter 14/15 collection, which at first I found quite daunting,
but having a few instructions to follow regarding sample ideas and colour
proportion made weaving seem easier and more enjoyable, possibly suggesting
that working for others may be a route that I look in to in the future.
Working at Dashing Tweeds has increased my awareness of the company, given me a better understanding of the woven textiles industry in Britain and informed my own practice. The placement has confirmed that I have a broad range of skills that I can develop in my professional career. It has shown me that working for a company and working freelance is feasible and this has helped me to think about possible career paths. I've learnt that the design process at University is comparable to a live studio although I could use Adobe Photoshop and illustrator like Dashing Tweeds in order to help speed up the design process.
Working at Dashing Tweeds has increased my awareness of the company, given me a better understanding of the woven textiles industry in Britain and informed my own practice. The placement has confirmed that I have a broad range of skills that I can develop in my professional career. It has shown me that working for a company and working freelance is feasible and this has helped me to think about possible career paths. I've learnt that the design process at University is comparable to a live studio although I could use Adobe Photoshop and illustrator like Dashing Tweeds in order to help speed up the design process.
The work of Dashing Tweeds has influenced
and inspired me with their modern take on a traditional fabric, the inclusion
of bright, bold colours and new, unusual materials. I was able to bring a
selection of samples away from the placement with me, and through analysing the
structure of these fabrics, colour proportion and yarn choice, I realise the
potential with in woven fabrics for fashion is huge and this has lead me to
think more about the context and direction of my own work. In order to maintain a professional and working relationship with Dashing Tweeds, I intend to stay in touch with the company and keep up to date with its latest news and events via social media.
I received positive, professional feedback from Kirsty McDougall regarding my work, help and attitude towards the placement and due to this, Dashing Tweeds paid for all my travel expenses. I will use the feedback and comments to help my current practical work and I feel this has really helped to build my own confidence, showing that I am capable to work in a professional setting.
I received positive, professional feedback from Kirsty McDougall regarding my work, help and attitude towards the placement and due to this, Dashing Tweeds paid for all my travel expenses. I will use the feedback and comments to help my current practical work and I feel this has really helped to build my own confidence, showing that I am capable to work in a professional setting.