Spider silk fest!

PLEASE let something to do with this come up on the A2 paper this year!! There has been a lot of coverage of the spider silk cape at the V and A. Follow the links for pictures, a bit from the today programme and a good article to print out.

See also the episode of horizon from last night for some real cell biology/textiles crossover fun!

Show in class
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9674000/9674949.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9677000/9677046.stm


Print out for folders
http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/2012/jan/15/spider-silk-weaving-cape-gossamer

Watch for general mind boggling brilliantness
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01b45zh/Horizon_20112012_Playing_God/

Virtual fitting rooms finally becominga reality. Shame they are by company called (I kid you not) Facecake.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2012/01/virtual-dressing-room-takes-the-hassle-out-of-taking-off-your-clothes.html

Its been a while............

Hi everyone, I have been a bit reclusive on the blog lately but I found this great article and felt the need to share,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/fashion-industry-sustainability-strategy?newsfeed=true


VERY useful for AS students and maybe a few high end GCSE-ers.

Moral ethical and social issues anyone?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jun/16/faith-based-fashion-online

Its just a short articlce but ideal for a bit of GCSE revision or a starting point for an AS project maybe?

Fab article about the rise and rise of fast fashion.

I have found that setting a question about whi is RESPOSIBLE for this explosion in the speed of fashion delivery is a good way of covering it. I always get a remarkable number of students who think that the companies are responsible not the consumer!

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/clothes-too-much-too-cheap-2297035.html

OCR! OCR! OCR!

Well blogfans I have been to the OCR training for the new A-level course today and it was both initmidating and inspiring, which is exactly what I had hoped for! the work on show was mainly fine art, which just made me want to paint! but the textiles work was very interesting and I thought the standard was very high, the experimenting and development work was fab and I cant wait to do written critical study of a designer, in depth and with real relevance to the students personal interest (not they ever really know what they are interested in..........) Basically I am now really fired up to teach all of the projects that I have wanted to do for ages but had to spend hours teaching stuff that masters level students dont even know about to bewildered A-level kids.

Drawing! LOTS of Drawing!

If ANYONE asks to make a prom dress they will be asked unceremoniously to leave the room and never return.

:)

Making the champagne of fabrics - Harris tweed

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2011/jun/06/harris-tweed-weaving-hebrides-video

Another fab video intro for an AS lesson, covering the basics of cloth manufacture and what makes Harris tweed so special.

Great!