More fabric designs

Making my printed fabric was very effective, so I wanted to make some more that could be used on the outside of bags. I designed a motif in a kalaedoscope pattern using photos I had taken of shells. I then manipulated this in photoshop to create two different patterns. These were printed onto canvas as I thought that would be a strong material for a bag.

 

I think they turned out really well and I've got some good ideas for bag patterns that will show them off to their best advantage.

Starting to make my final products

The first product I decided to make was the box bag with driftwood handles. From my prototype, I had pretty much found out what order to sew up the outside pieces in and didn't think it would take me that long. I wanted to use the silk that I had digitally printed onto to line the bag, and a brown leather coat to make the outer. However, I didn't consider the fact that my prototype didn't have a lining! It is really tricky trying to plan out a 3D model in your head of a bag and deciding how and where to sew a lining so that it can be turned right way out to hide the seams. I needed help with this and asked my tutor and the sewing technician who guided me through the process. After I had made another prototype (with a lining this time!) I was ready o tackle my final product. It took a while but I got it in the end. I also decided to add a pocket to the lining piece as all good bags have pockets!

Second-hand finds!

To start of making my actual finished products, I needed to source some garments to use as fabric. I really wanted to find a brown leather jacket for my main bag and purses, something with lots of zips and then anything that might provide some inspiration.

This is what I found. I was really pleased to find the brown leather coat above which will provide loads of material for my bags and purses. The top coat also has a lot of zips which will be useful for some new purse ideas. The brown suede coat I thought would look good as a base for a bag in contrast to a bright print. The colour also looks like sand which ties into my theme.

Bag and purses prototypes

Using my trend research, I designed this bag and these purses. I made a paper template and used some faux leather for the outer. For my final products I want to use my designed fabric as a lining. The part I needed to practice and learn, was how to sew on the zips and in which order I needed to attach the sides. 

I thought it was important to use metal zips as it adds a better quality to the products and I think the silver colour matches the tones on my colour mood board. However, it was difficult to work with the chunky metal zip on the small purse so I might change it to a plastic one in a similar colour. I also wanted to change the zip pull so filled a shell with resin and drilled a hole to fix it onto the zip with jump rings.  

 

The bang handle I wanted to be an important feature, so I made it out of driftwood that I sourced from my trip to the beach. I then attached it to the bag using a jute rope which overall I think works very well to show my beachcomber theme. For my final product, I want the bag to retain it's shape so I might add a cardboard insert or iron on interfacing. 

 

Digitally printed fabric

This is the fabric which I designed as a pattern on photoshop. I made it using my own photographs and drawings of shells, which I arranged into a pattern that I could then repeat to make as long a length as I need. This is printed onto silk crepe and I plan to use it as a lining in my bags and purses. 

I am really happy with my fabric, it is totally unique and will give my products an individuality that people won't be able to find anywhere else! It might also mean that I can charge more for my products.

Lariat

The lariat was very easy to  make because it was just rope which I added knots to. To add some decoration,  I wrapped around some blue and green coloured wire and some small shells. This shows my beachcomber theme well, but because of the rope, I think people will think it is quite a cheap product and won't buy it. However, if I made it out of anything else, it wouldn't show my theme well and their would be no point making it as part of this collection.

Plastic shell clutch

An idea that I didn't have at the start, but which was suggested to me whilst working n the project, was this plastic shell clutch. It was made by vacuum forming clear plastic over a real scallop shell. I then coloured it with glass paint and glued on clear PVC to attach the two halves.

 I like this idea, but I don't think it very practical. It would be hard to use it as an actual purse so people might not want to buy it. It also took quite a long time to make, so might cost a lot to buy.