F a s h i o n D u m p .: Bricolage

noun, plural bri·co·la·ges [bree-kuh-lah-zhiz, ‐lahzh] Show IPA, bri·co·lage.

a construction made of whatever materials are at hand;something created from a variety of available things.

(in literature) a piece created from diverse resources.

(in art) a piece of makeshift handiwork.

Found at: style.com

B a l e n c i a g a - A/W RTW 2010:

The inspiration behind this collection was the mundane; industrial or domestic everyday objects. Silhouettes stayed true to the Balenciaga handwriting, but after glancing again, (and a few clicks at the zoom) you appreciate the incredible detail in the materials. Does the success of an amalgamation of textures within one garment come down to a monochromatic scheme? I'd like for whatever I make in response to the Bricolage Catalyst project to still look like clothes and still be really beautiful. I guess it's perhaps about including some of those recognisable garment features / silhouettes and dimming the original light in which the initial product was once viewed.

I really like what Sarah Mower wrote for style.com about the Balenciaga collection:

"...there is so much in it that reminds the brain of things it's seen before, but isn't quite like them at all."

COMME des GARCONS

M a r g i e l a - Artisanal:

I thought that pieces from Margiela's Artisanal collections were good examples; perhaps more to do with a 'bricolage' collection - in the sense of using a variety of available things. You kind of think, "Why didn't I think of that?" Just because he actually uses the most everyday of objects. The impact in general certainly has a lot to do with repetition and quantity, but the Soccer Ball Jacket, (unsure of its official title) is just plain clever.

I also adore the performative value in Fashion Film, Make Up Your Mind, (Show Studio) featuring Margiela's Wig-Coat, which serves as commentary on the nature of fashion and its struggle between real and superficial.

Found at: A Shaded View of Fashion

A l e x a n d e r M c Q u e e n -

"My friend George and I were walking on the beach in Norfolk and there were thousands of razor-clam shells. They were so beautiful, i thought i has to so something with them. So, we decided to make [a dress] out of them... The shells had outlived their usefulness on the beach, so we put them to another use on a dress."

'ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: SAVAGE BEAUTY

' The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2011

"[in this collection,] my idea was this mad scientist who cut all these women up and mixed them back together."

M a t e r i a l i t y -

Looking at how the material of an object completely changes the way in which it's perceived. I'm particularly interested in how structure can be achieved and am keen to explore the possibilities within unconventional materials. For my bricolage project, I'd like to experiment with a material that would perhaps not usually be considered for a fashion item / be used on the body.