Sweatshops.

I don't think there is anything wrong with sweatshops...to a certian extent.

I believe that people work in the sweatshops for CHIOCE. They have no better jobs, but for them to feed and provide for thier familes they must work in these places/conditions. Now I don't believe that children that are extremley young should be working in sweatshops. They are too young to work so hard and thier bodies probably are not well adapted to doing so. Kids should be at least the age of teenagers like 15 or 16. But also, this is all these kids know. So it probably isn't as bad to them as it sounds to us. If it is the only way they can stay alive then I think that they should do it.

Art & usability

I think that fashion is combination of art and usability. I believe that when a designer creates an outfit they try to make it look like art but also for maybe some wearing use. Milan has been known for the glamorus & artistic ideas the designers come up with. It is usually out of the ordinary and not really made for wearing out on a regular basis. But this past fashion week in Milan more designs were made for comfort and usability, also still having a lot of artsie flare and style that the shows usually have. I really loved the styles and colors they had in Milan this year. Most of the time when I see Milan's fashion week I just see it as the designers art, this time I saw a lot of wearable desgins that I really enjoyed.

What inspires me?

Even though I am not a design major I still get inspied by everyday things. When I get inspired

by something I usually get extremley happy and excited. I dont draw the designs out, I just think about how to put them together in my head.

For one example, even just walking around campus, I see the different styles and trends that people put together on thier own. At the beginning of the semester I was so enfatuated with what everyone was wearing, I went to the mall and tried to see if I could put the outfits toegther; but in my own way.I like to go into stores and mix and match outfits that I think will work. Most of the time I do not buy or wear the outfits I just suggest them for other people.

I am really infatuated with bold bright colors and long comfy tops; big bags and gladiator sandals; straight legged pants and sundresses. Walking around in the city is another big way i get inspired. I love to go to New York in the summer and just walk around searching for something that stands out. Even if I do not find somethin that really stands out i still like to mix and match the outfits I find.

Ethnic Influences on design

Africa is one of my most favorite places to study apparel. The country has such an distinct and unique style of dress. The cloth to the right is called "kente" cloth. It is woven by the men in Africa and is the most worn fabric. (shown bottom right)
Both men and women wear this garment wrapped around them for all occasions. Occasions including weddings, religious events, activities, work and any regular day. The childern in Africa have a little different style then the elders, they are more westernized. Wearing blue jeans and t-shirts on regular occasions.
Tie-dying is an extremly big thing in this culture. Although it is not used as we use it here. They dye small pieces of fabric different colors, then sew them together. These influences have traveled to the west. Tie-dying is a popular way of decorating clothes. Even though we do not wear the original kente people still take some ideas from the cloth and make it into thier own worn in the west. (bottom left)

new york fashion week

This years fashion week in New York was yet another spectacular display of creativity, style and trendyness.

While researching on instyle.com I found some new trends for spring 2009. One of the new big trends is trench coats, as you see Mandy Moore styling to the left. Also, sheer tops are coming back into style. I feel with these as if a little bit of the 30's and 40's fashions are pushing thier stlyes up into 2009.

Plaids and bright colors are a hit for fashion week. In my opinion those are two of my favorite styles. Mostly everything i wear has a good amount of color and spazz to it.

Another style that was a big hit-I personally love- is the adding of colorful accents. Say for instince an all black dress with bright red shoes and red bag; or grey outfit with a bright blue handbag.

I am really looking foward to spring 2009 and I cant wait to use the facts I learned here to shop with!

genna sherwood-organic clothing

While researching organic and enviornmental friendly clothing I learned a lot of facts I have never known before.

I learned between 10-25% of pesticides and insecticides are used to grow cotton! Just to make ONE t-shirt it takes 1/3 lb. of that junk!

Recycled items such as bottles are now even being made into the clothes. Hemp and bamboo are also being put into the process of attempting to make our clothes more enviornmental friendly.

Three stores that you can purchase these organicaly friendly clothes are:

Patagonia, REI, & Nau.

Buying organic clothes can be a little pricey, but you can buy them from Wal-mart and H&M for more affordable discount prices.

You can basically get any type of style you wish to have such as:

jeans, t-shirts, hoodys, skirts, shoes, socks, business clothes, tank tops, workout wear, nightgowns & even lingerie!

AND GUESS WHAT!?

No more sweat shops! -In the places that these clothes are made, there is absolutley NO children working. It is all adults who get paid normal wages for hourly work.

My favorite designer--Ralph Lauren

My favorite designer would have to be Ralph Lauren. I like this designer for various reason starting with I dont ever think Polos can go out of style. They are so diverse and come in every color imaginable. I love to see boys wearing polo Ralph Lauren :) It looks wonderful on them, it is not dressy but not sloppy either. I also love RL because the clothes are extremley comfortable. Most of the designs are lose fitting but they can still excenuate your body in the ways you want it to be. It is a family versitle design that will be here for years to come. Im sure I will be dressing my children in little Ralph Lauren Polos.
:)