FASHION FORECASTING AND PRODUCT DEVELOPEMENT

SUBMITTED BYRAJAT RANJAN

SEMESTER- 2
MFM
NIFT, SHILLONG

Question: - Differentiate between any two famous designer on the basis of

their parameters. (Non- Indian)?
Answer:- Alexander McQueen (1969-2010)
Alexander McQueen was a British fashion designer and
couturier who pushed fashions limits to a different extreme.
He is known for his dramatic designs and fashion shows that
are said to be raw and powerful.
Even after his death, he is considered a legend and his designs
still live on. I think he has helped the fashion industry evolve
and really proved that there is no limit when it comes to art. I
chose him because how could I not chose him? He is one of
the most perfect examples of an influential designer.
McQueen is most known for his theatrical designs and
powerful runways shows. His runway shows were always anticipated and would leave a trail
controversy afterwards. He is one of the designers who are bold enough to present collections
that shocked spectators and held qualities that other refer to as disturbed and raw. He has
brought many elements that impacted the fashion industry with things like his bumster pants,
skull print, theatrical runway shows, and extreme silhouettes.

Critical Analysis
Many events in the 1990's brought along controversy and chaos. At this time, the gay-rights
movement was going on which fought for the protection of civil rights for homosexuals. It is also
during this time period that the Mad Cow disease and many died after consuming infected beef.
Scandals happened during this decade various times including the Bill Clinton scandal and the
Heavens Gates cult took the lives of thirty nine people through a mass suicide.
It is within all this anarchy and turmoil that McQueen found inspiration. Each collection he
presented and runway shows were based off a certain theme with a deep meaning.

The last runway show he did which was his Spring/Summer 2010 line where he introduced his
famous armadillo shoes. The runway show properly named Survival of the Fittest featured
models walking in elaborate and dangerously high-heels that resembled an armadillo.
Many thought it was just part of the design, but these shoes are actually part of the moral of the
show. These models are fighting to walk on the runway with these glamorous but potentially
harmful shoes and putting on an incredible exhibition. In other runway shows, he uses different
themes that relates to current times, such as his political, fantasy, theater, and much
more. McQueen looks at anything for inspiration. Whether it be people like stylist Isabella Blow,
or events that occur at the time. He also like to mix in elements to his designs like nature. He has
one catwalk show based off on water and futurism, and another based off of moths.

McQueen is
because
he
the
fashion
long but for
was,
he
blow
away.

iconic
was not in
industry for
the time he
managed to
everybody

His gift for

allows to him
the
designs he is
and
to
breathtaking
shows.

tailoring
to
create
imaginative
known for
construct
runway

He has set
not just in the
itself, but also
designers
their
He is the first
models who
the stereotypical mold.

new trends
clothing
on
how
present
collections.
to
use
do not fit

He once even used a former Paralympian, Aimee Mullins, to wear a pair of hand-carved wooden
prosthetic legs on his catwalk. He never cared for working with supermodels and when he does,
he often enjoys messing with them and getting them out of their comfort zone.
His mixture of extreme silhouettes on theatrical catwalks truly put on a performance you would
never forget. This wow factor in McQueen is what made him stand out and is one of the main
reasons why he is so missed. You can always expect the unexpected from McQueen and that is
why he is an icon.

Analysis of Future Trends

Alexander McQueen touched many lives before and even after his death. I truly believe that we
can all take something for him not just because of his genius designs but his overall presentation.
McQueen makes us think more in depth about the fashion world and touches on subjects that the
fashion industry never strayed near before.
Many designers to this day carry on his influences. One of these influences is McQueen's
bumsters pants. He showcased them to the public in his first ever runway show, "Highland Rape"
which was based off political incidents happening in Britain.

They are extremely low-cut pants that show off the hip bones of the body. Another one is his use
of skull prints. These skull prints reflect the darkness in McQueen's designs. Ever since
McQueen's usage of skull prints, it is seen more frequently on runways and on the streets than
ever before. He also started to use these skulls around when grunge was all the rage. Lastly, his
use of culture and history is one of the most important trends.
He uses past styles to remind us that they were there and gives them his own little twist to make
it more modern. He loves using past, present, and future trends to open up the minds of his
audience and show them all the different sides to fashion.

McQueen has inspired numerous trends that we can expect to be around for a long time. Even
Dolce & Gabanna have followed his examples and store-brand name Abbey Dawn by Avril
Lavigne.
His influences can be seen on couture runway shows and on your average teenager. He has left
an everlasting imprint on the fashion industry and we will never forget him. The most we
remember about McQueen is his extreme silhouettes and shocking runways.
Other designer's fashion shows cannot be compared to his because not only do his shows
demonstrate craftsmanship and master tailoring, but true art and morals as well. I do not
personally own anything that is the Alexander McQueen brand but I carry a lot of skull prints in
my closet.
Since McQueens design is so theatrical, I do not own anything costume-like. Many would kill
for his incredible designs including myself, and maybe that is what he wanted. Therefore,
Alexander McQueen is one of the most influential designers in fashion history.

Clothes.

Speak many languages.

And have to be seen on the outside.
As well as felt on the inside
_Miyake

.
As well as felt on the inside

'Pleats' was introduced into ISSEY MIYAKE in 1989, and has been developed every season
thereafter. By 1993, it was ready to be launched as a complete and standalone brand and
appeared as PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE for the Spring- Summer collection.
(In this technique the garments are cut and sewn first, then sandwiched between layers of paper
and fed into a heat press, where they are pleated. The fabric's 'memory' holds the pleats and when
the garments are liberated from their paper cocoon, they are ready-to wear.)
He did the costume for Ballett Frankfurt with pleats in a piece named The Loss of Small Detail
of William Forsythe and also work on ballet Garden in the setting.

_Miyake

In 1998, Miyake embarked upon a new project called A POC (A Piece of Cloth) with Dai
Fujiwara and a team of young designers.
A-POC, is an industrial weaving machine programmed by a computer that creates continuous
tubes of fabric within which lie both shape and pattern. The customers can cut exactly to the
length they want.
The concept is a revolutionary way of making clothes, accessories or even lately furniture.
A-POC process reduces any leftover fabric that would have been eventually garbage that filling
up our landfills. Also it lets the costumer to have a role in the final design of the final outcome.

Miyake uses the traditional techniques of dyeing, draping, pleating, wrapping & overlay
consistently in his work. This reinstates the ancient art forms of shibori or tiedye, and origami, or
paper folding into contemporary dress.
Issey Miyake and his design group, the Reality Lab, have created a line of ecoconscious
"Origami clothing" using recycled PET fabric. Each garment is made from a single piece of
fabric, which is folded flat into one of ten basic collapsible patterns. The sharp creases in the
fabric are made flexible but permanent, so that as you open the garment a multifaceted 3D form
emerges.

PHILOSOPHY
Issey Miyake does not want to be called an artist. Nor does he want to be labeled a Japanese
Fashion Designer. However from a Western point of view, he is both.
He argues that stereotypical boundaries limit the possible concepts of design.
By challenging convention an aesthetics stance, he states, I believe in questioning. He has
promoted an integral liaison between the fine arts, photography, the applied arts & fashion and
shown the world the true meaning of collaborative effort.
Miyake has been dubbed The Picasso of Fashion, presumably in relation to the diversity of
his work, his propensity for discoveries new artistic methodologies and his challenging of
traditional concepts of design.
For over forty years, Miyake has reinvented form, redefined the boundaries of clothing in both
functional & aesthetic contexts, & rejuvenated new modern methods of clothing production.