SURPRISE! MMXIproject!

GRADUATION was TODAY- so I am officially- not a student- but a GRADUATE!
it feels good: AS much as I've been wanting for this day to come,I'm not going to lie- there are mixed emotions.


ANYHOW_ I will speak/write about graduation another day- TODAY... I want to tell you about a great great thing that is happening this week!

THIS THURDAY, MAY 26th is the MMXIproject's 1st presentation.

The MMXIproject is a design collective that myself- and 4 other marvelous ladies- created to establish a platform in which we could share our  work in its pure form. Meaning-without- having to meet anyone's expectations but our own.


 The collective began taking shape when  Amabelle Aguiluz, Nicole Girion, Zaida Goveo Balmaseda (me), Michelle Sordi, and Mary Symczak, met while studying at Politecnico di Milano in Italy and developed bonds both socially and creatively, while working, living, traveling, and studying together.  WE were having this creative rush, and wanted to do something together... and THUS, the MMXIproject started!

We come from diverse backgrounds and cultivate different approaches to design but maintain the common thread of respect for the craft.

We create our own standards, exploring the realm between art and fashion.

We explore concepts based on inspirations from our experiences both domestic and international.

We thrive off collaborative efforts and support for one another. 

We strive to create something that is bigger than the individual, but composed of elements of us all.

We believe in NO RESTRICTIONS

ABOUT THE EVENT:

There is a strong effort to not only present the project as final products of a technical craft, but to show the research and thought process to parallel the final result.  The show will exhibit a range of mediums that express the design sensibilities of each designer including textile development, photography, inspiration research, sketches, and actual garments. 

The MMXIproject invites you to come explore OUR worlds, have a drink, and be inspired.

You can learn more about the project @ : www.MMXIproject.com

Share with friends/people you think might enjoy it.

Please RSVP @ MMXIproject@gmail.com

FIND US ON facebook 

and...

THANKS X THE SUPPORT from:

AURALISTUDIO: 

http://www.auralistudio.com/blog/2011/05/24/mmxi-project-zaida/

TARA ST. JAMES/STUDY NY: 

http://4equalsides.com/2011/05/17/mmxi-project/

and

the always incredible

-SASS BROWN-!

the FUTURE OF FASHION.. or is it- FIT BFA fashion show

photo x JamesHBluck

Here are some pictures from the BFA Fashion Show, which  happened on Wednesday, May 4th at FIT .

it was called "THE FUTURE OF FASHION" -in my opinion arguable- 

but; I have much to say about this and little time.

FOR NOW... I'll share ONLY the goodstuff- 

PICTURES FOR YOUR ENJOYEMENT!
+ a video (my garment is on min10:18! )

photo x Danielle de Jesus

photo x Rebecca Anne Allen

watch minute 10:18!

new horizons- MITTELMODA FINALIST

You all know how much I've been dying to go back to Europe; to find a reason strong enough to convince myself that it is okay to just  pack-and-go!

 My head was about to burst  due to feelings of uncertainty about the future
and huge question marks that were blocking my vision.
 

BUT ... one day... for some strange -REALLY STRANGE reason-

I woke up at 3:50 am to the sound of my phone saying "message recieved".

 Come on, who wakes up at 4am- because you just got a text msg? I'm surprised I even heard it.

Anyhow... I start reading, and in a weird-english, something said:

 " from MITTELMODA. A wee note to inform ye of the Mittelmoda 2011 selections. 

Ye re 1 of the finalists! check Mittelmoda.com for official news!"

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!

woooooow

OMG, OMG... I just couldn't think. My body got the shivers and I, I just- just started jumping!

 Oooh, it's early -OMG! (too much excitement- difficult to contain)

 I covered my mouth because all I wanted to do was jump and scream of emotion!

WOOOOOOW!

This is one of those things in life that you want really, really badly.
I'm usually not very competitive- not good at thinking "I HAVE TO WIN THAT"; but this was one of those things I worked really hard for and just crossed my fingers and hope for the best.
(that I at least got in)

I mean, this was happening right when I had garments to hand in, work, internship and school. Only God know why become so set on our ideas...

AND here it is...

This is my reason for returning to EUROPE!
 wish me luck.

modelfittings!

FINALLY!

I was able to put the garment on a model! 

LIZA is from Belarus- and she is gourgeus!

it makes me feel guilty to admit  this 

but I have to say that those girls make your clothes look A_MAZING!

more on the adventure of the "fitting" later!

bisous!

 

shoes shoes shoes

As you may know one of my garments was selected to be a part of the BFA fashion show:

this coming Wednesday, May, 4th.

I had not thought about shoes or accessories -or anything other than knitting and dying and figuring out how and if to go to Europe after graduation- but- being that my garment will now be going down FIT's runway...

 my girl needs shoes.

With my crazyly-insane scedule I didnt have much time to go around the city trying to buy the PERFECT shoes

- so... i went back to my crafty origins and-

bought some $7.50 super high-heeled "booties" 

(they were on super-clearance)

 and decided to "CRITICALLY WEATHER" them.

I am in the process of covering them with wood-chips and "moss"... 

Must seem like an easy task, but these babies take hours!!!
trying to find the right woodchip to put next to the other is 
"like finding a needle in a pile of hay" 
(do you have that saying in english too?) 

well, you get what I mean. they are like puzzle pieces...

more on the finished product later! 

besos!

SETTING-up!

and the mannequins come in. photo by DORIS LU

Monday: PRE_JUDGIng... TUESDAYpm: SETup_x_judgingday, WEDS... judgingDAY... crazyness!

After the critic/professor selected the garments that would go on for judgingday we had all of monday afternoon+tuesdayam to make all necessary modifications
- ONLY THAT-
 i worked on monday evening and woke up at 11 on tued, because my body was claiminfg the hours of sleep i had neglected it from in the last 2 months...


for modifications:
I mostly worked on my "nude" bodysuit for underneath my cottonINC garment and the "nude" tights i would put over it.
I ran to school at 5pm because that was the call time, but only to find out that not all of the mannequins were there.
We had to wait until 7pm to get -the ones that did come- dressed. However... my 2nd pant form didnt was not going to be ready until weds morning, so i waited around for "nothing".

I have to say that those couple of hours were full of reflection.
I mean.. seeing so many amazing knitwear pieces in that Great Hall, was super inspiring, and heartwarming because I know EVERY one of the creators...
the knitwear class did such an INCREDIBLE job!!!

Unfortunately, FIT's and this Industry's burocracy elliminated some pieces (during the pre-judgement) that were equally mindblowing and (in my opinion) everyone DESERVED to be there.
I've asked my colleagues to send me high-res pics of their work so that I can do my part in honoring them.

for now- here are some pics of my cottonINC garment!

note that this is the one piece that my professor commented on saying that:
 "ugh... I can't believe that having a blank canvas to express yourself and THIS is what you are deciding to create, the judges won't get it" "and no-one is going to wear something like it, its too complicated, it wouldn't sell"
well... that thursday, I found out that the "industry judges" selected it as part of the BFA show.
(more on that later)

i also wanted to share a link to the BFA fashion design class blog: http://blog.fitnyc.edu/futureoffashion/
my friend olgabely is the blogger for the knitwear class and she's done a great job w it!

 

last minute basting.me my mess and I. photo by DORIS LU

glad a big part of this is over!

much much love

pre-judging

one week later/after the last critic meeting- OUR GARMENTS WERE DUE!

once again- no sleep the night before. 

it doesnt matter how much you work in advance...

little things keep happening and your to-do list keeps growing

I re-hung the panel I ruined (not all of it was ruined so i just re-knit was was bleached) and fixed it in class, now i just had to:

look1 | look 2

1.  re-dye it
2. mattress stitch the panels together
3. work on the back "roots" piece/tulle
4. make trims for neckline/attach them
5. clean all loose yarn ends
6. attach strips
7. crochet all edges
8. clean all loose ends
9. dye garment bottom
10. wait for it to dry
11. work on closure

I went over to my friend Jessica's house the night before (Saturday) so that we could help each other stay up and work all night- considering we were so exhausted-

 and so that we didnt have to do an "all nighter" on sunday

 right before our meeting with Reiko for pre-selection.

i am always amused by the power of collaboration, sharing ideas an discussing design,

 specially when you do it with people that have been on this journey with you since day 1, 

and know what you are all about. 

their comments always make you re-evaluate/grow/perfect your work, 

because they see the things you don't

Jessica and I stayed up all night (like we did for fusion) and yet we were really far behind, so we decided to head to school the next morning at 9am- even though we were running on virtually no sleep.

it was 11 am and i felt like it was 8pm.. twilight zone!

 and imagine, gowing through this while having to knit in a place WITH NO WINDOWS!!!

well... the only way possible is when

 YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE,

 YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DO,

 and YOU ARE IN GREAT COMPANY

i mean... it was 3am, and i was done with look 1, but i was STILL crocheting the edges of all the strips of look 2: which meant i still had to dye it, clean it and wait for it to dry

not to mention- get ready and get to school by 9am.

I DID IT!

my second look/cotton smells like curry and coffee... LOL.. this is what I "dyed" it with!

look 2: COTTON inc:

made on a 3gg bulky brother® knitting machine with  recycled cotton yarn, donated by Lion Brand (this is from USA T-shirt production waste)

 and dyed with greener dyes® + curry + coffee

look 1: BFA

made with 100% muesling free xtra fine merino wool annd handpainted with greenerdyes® +curry, backpiece made with handfelted recycled sweaters.