This class project is part of a program-wide Buffalo State Loves Cotton education grant sponsored by Cotton INC. The Buffalo Loves Cotton assignment for students in the fall 2010 FTT308 Adobe FashionCAD class was to study the master Buffalo Love Cotton concept board , color board and description/direction. From this they conducted their own individual research that resulted in a mash-up of all things cotton [history, plant, fiber, processing, etc] and inspiration from WNY [ area attractions, parks, historical and local architecture and events, art galleries, Buffalo bison, etc]
They created their own Buffalo Love Cotton concept vision with description of the concept, as well as developing their own fashion palette from the master color palette provided. Using their fashion colors, they each developed drafts of print design motifs that were shapes and forms inspired by elements on their concept boards.They included a fabric board that included the fiber content and fabric types planned for their garments [not shown]. They used inspirations from their concept boards to inspire styling elements in the garments they developed for their fashion groupings. First they developed front back line illustrations. These illustrations were used to develop their line boards that included the print prototypes they developed. They then used the front/back line illustrations to develop detailed technical specification sheets [not shown]. They collaborated with another class [FTT327:Computer Patternmaking] to get detailed measurements. The students in the computer patternmaking class actually created the garments patterns based on the 2D front/back flats illustrations that the FashionCAD students developed.
Students from the Adobe FashionCAD class and the Adobe Surface Design for Industry class developed t-shirt designs with the buffalo Loves Cotton concept also. Some design examples are displayed on this link. The final board that the students developed for this project was a store window display concept board using the garments that they developed. [examples in next post]
Pasted below are several of the concept boards with descriptions of their individual inspirations. The images are linked to larger versions and the titles are linked to their individual Web galleries that they created for this class.
Students from the fashion program will be constructing some of the garments designed by students using fabrics also designed by student for the upcoming Runway 4.0 event planned for Saturday, April 16th, 2011 at the Pierce Arrow building on Elmwood avenue, Buffalo, NY. Please vote at the Buffalo Loves Cotton: Fashion Flats Vote post for the garment designs that you think should be included in the Runway 4.0 event.
Soft Architecture
Soft Architecture
Cotton is a natural fabric every one can relate to and Buffalo New York is such a welcoming historical city, giving these two a perfect relationship. The patterns come from the inspiration of the cotton flower and the beautiful tiles on Buffalo downtown buildings, mixing hard and soft structures. While the garment silhouettes are formed after the structured shapes of the Buffalo city hall, many Buffalo churches, and the Buffalo psychiatric center. To create the line “soft architecture.” The colors are soft and feminine to help bring out the beauty in the clothes. The dresses and separates can be worn out on the town or out to brunch. The target market for Soft Architecture is 20-35 year old women.
On the Boardwalk
On the Boardwalk
Buffalo’s waterfront welcomes a variety of people, ideas, and cultures. On the boardwalk, one may find families, couples, and individuals sitting on benches basking in the beauty of the canal on the edge of the industrial city skyline. This atmosphere, a reflection of growth and development, provides views of ships and boats setting sail towards the fluffy clouds on the horizon. The clouds characterize cotton, always seen and always comforting. Cotton itself represents both industry and a pleasant disposition. It is varied, soothing, and offers an easiness only this cellulose fiber can accomplish. For these traits, cotton has a strong place in the lives of people in Buffalo, and creates a culture of inspiration. Target market: Young women (ages 16-29) sportswear.
Blustery Night
Blustery Night
Blustery Night is for the fun energetic young adult. You can dress it up or down and where it day or night. Blustery Night uses the architectural elements and natural elements of Buffalo to create these any time dresses. Just like Buffalo Blustery night can cater to fit so many occasions, go wild have fun.
Cotton Complex
Cotton Complex
Daywear for the hip, modern, bohemian city woman. Cotton gives a light natural feel for this line for a woman who likes comfort and style. Bold earth tones with accents of fun bright patterns keep this line fresh and new. The modern woman can throw on her dress and look great running to the market or going out for lunch.
Wright Chaos
Wright Chaos
Structured and organic. Modern and pastoral. Frank Lloyd Wright and Cotton unite to produce an inspiration reflected by nature: Wright Chaos. Colors were plucked from rural horizons, where the golden prairie meets the pale blue sky. Wright’s stained glass shapes were incorporated into the garments with geometric details. Contrasting with the structured geometric shapes is the fluid and curvy microscopic view of the cotton fiber. Combining both extremes with classic silhouettes, the Wright Chaos collection appeals to women of any age and shape.
Structured Softly
Structured Softly
Smooth as cotton. Strong as buffalo. A unique city alongside the fiber king. Cotton’s history is matched by Buffalo’s vast and rich record. Buildings and structures are designed with sharply angled edges which are built to last. Join them with the soft and calm curvatures of a cotton plant and they compliment perfectly. The mixing of these two forces has been something long awaited. Together they formulate into a line that is structured softly.
Queen City
Queen City
The city of buffalo New York pulls inspiration for the spring 2011 collection. With the architecture of the botanical garden and the peace bridge this collection is anything from a cotton ball. With the use of soft and delicate fabrics, the inspiration of cotton delivers the real focus of attention. A beautiful collection for a Beautiful City; Buffalo NY.
Roaring Industry
The Roaring Industry
Buffalo, an all-American City and its love for cotton display the theme of “The Roaring Industry.” It takes the main theme of ruffles with the 1920’s Original Cotton club and different concepts of cotton fibers such as cotton candy, DNA strands, and clouds to exemplify how cotton continues to “flow” through our everyday life. It also deals with the concepts of the original clubs, buildings, and the industry of how and when cotton was first introduced. This line was created to have a slight twist dressy casual because “The Roaring Industry” exemplifies how cotton is now being used for different things.
AKABAKA Cotton for Buffalo
AKABAKA Cotton for Buffalo
AkaBaka means Zigzag in Bengali words, there some similarities between Buffalo and Zigzag. It’s a small city and the construction and architecture is so different than any other city. My inspiration for the board and collections are Niagara falls, Airport of buffalo, a Temple, and some local architectural buildings.
Roaming Buffalo
Roaming Buffalo
Spring 2011 collection. Roaming Buffalo is a cartoon take of buffalo loves cotton.
