Chapter 2

Inspired to Design

Learning Objectives

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 2

Ways to capture inspiration

Fashion forecasting as a resource

Haute couture and street fashion as laboratories for innovation

Fashion history and vintage clothing as a source of inspiration

The difference between primary and secondary research sources

Looking to domains outside fashion for inspiration

Finding Inspiration• Clipping files• Bulletin boards• Sketchbooks as creative

journals

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 3

Finding Inspiration

Quick sketches may be thumbnail sketches (small scale fashion sketches) recording an idea and its variations, or flats

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 4

Researching the Future

Forecasting focuses on the future direction of color, fabric design and texture, innovative performance characteristics, textile technology, and styles

“Hot spots” / fashion trends

Trends are organized into “stories”

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 5

Color Forecasting

Sets of color palettes linked to the themes or stories of the season

Variations on basic colors and trendy colors appealing to fashion-forward customers

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 6

Textile Forecasting

A fabric library collects and displays samples for the upcoming season

Presentations, showrooms, fabric libraries, and trade shows

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 7

Style Forecasting Style forecasters look high and low for fashion change:

• Haute couture (custom made) and prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) runways

• Street fashion

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 8

Resources for Forecasts

Forecasting services deliver information in print portfolios and as presentations timed to the seasonal fashion calendar

Available from fiber companies, trade associations, and industry suppliers

Although some forecasts are proprietary, often designers at many firms have access to the same forecast information

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 9

Fashion’s Inspiring PresentFashion weeks in New York, London, Milan, and Paris are seasonal highpoints

Runway shows are part of popular culture

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 10

Fashion’s Inspiring Past

Inspiration can lift from periods people want to revisit

Some inspiration turns history on its head

In fashion, the cliché defeats the purpose

Importance of fashion icons

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 11

Fashion’s Inspiring Past

Primary sources: Museum collections, vintage stores, Internet sites, and auctions

Secondary sources: books, articles, documentaries, and websites

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 12

Looking Beyond Fashion

Fashion-forward consumers are innovative and experimental

Their interests are likely to cut across fine art, popular culture, and the counterculture

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 13

The Art World Apparel designers often find inspiration in painting, sculpture, and photography, either antique or contemporary

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 14

The Performing Arts Many designers cite dance as an inspiration because of the heightened view of a body moving in space—but any performing art can motivate design

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 15

Architecture, Interiors, and Landscape Design

Home interiors and wardrobe are linked by the aesthetics of consumption

Magazines on architecture and interiors, visiting showcase houses, or shopping design centers devoted to interiors all provide important insights

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 16

Popular Culture A fast moving target may require a two-tier approach:

• Popular culture that attracts the designer personally

• Popular culture that parallels the target audience

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 17

Travel

Most designers use travel as a way to be inspired by a new, unfamiliar locale

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 18

Avocations Games, sports, collecting — whatever people find compelling enough to spend time and money pursuing can provide insights for the designer

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 19

Interpreting Inspiration

Consider how the inspiration fits with company image

Some inspirations emerge as winners that designers confidently develop into a theme or fashion story

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 20

Chapter Summary Designers continuously look for inspiration

Fashion forecasters provide resources including color, textile, and style predictions

Fashion history and vintage clothing continue to fascinate and inspire designers who use both primary sources and secondary sources

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 21

Chapter Summary Designers look to the web of culture —the art world, the performing arts, architecture and its allied fields, popular culture, travel, and avocations, for inspiration

Interpreting inspiration involves a weeding process where the inspiration is mapped to the trends, audience, and company image

Brannon Chapter 2 ©2011 Fairchild Books, A Division of Condé Nast 22