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Finding your fashion inspiration
Creative people have overwhelming expectations placed on them. To find fashion design inspirations can be a daunting task. It can be intimidating to come up with new artistic works and find out how to begin your new masterpiece. The first step to putting pen to paper is observing the world around you. Applying this knowledge to your fashion designs is the next step. So where does one find fashion inspiration?
Fashion inspiration
for creative work can be found in any place around you. Look in your garden, in your garage, in the office or at your colleagues. If you have to borrow the basic idea from another artist, then don’t feel too put off. There are very few completely unique ideas out there, but a fine line exists between copyright infringement and paying homage. The trick is to add your own personal touch and to provide a unique interpretation of that idea.
Any creative person needs to keep his/her finger on the pulse of what is new and trendy. Make sure to read the latest trendy magazines, watch the latest films and keep an eye out for interior decoration trends. An artist should always have either a camera or a sketch book handy to record these inspirational ideas. If you’re in a constantly changing environment such as travelling to other cities or countries, this could be a great source of fashion inspiration. When you’re travelling, try to observe the differences in culture, dress and cuisine. You constantly need to be up to date with world events, television and movie releases. Keep in touch with the big cities like
Visit museums and art galleries on a regular basis as fashion trends today have usually come full circle from the fashion designs in yesteryear. For instance, the 1920’s fashion flare is visible in the 2000’s wedding attire runway examples.
Even in your normal mundane daily tasks, you must attempt to draw designer inspiration. Seek out the shapes in the trees in the landscaping of gardens or simply admire the architecture in your street. Some thoughts, smells, sounds or visuals can invoke a memory or an inspirational thought or design. Emotional music can assist in this regard.
Become a collector of inspirational items, although to some it may seem like junk. Fashion inspiration can come from even the most unlikely sources. Keep buttons, fabric scraps, books, magazine articles, retro postcards or bits and pieces of things that stimulate you visually. A collection of similar things can inspire a background or print for a garment. Collecting books is great although magazines are more ‘now’ and are great for up-to-the-moment information.
Theme creation and mind-mapping:
To take ideas out of thin air and make them into a representative masterpiece is always intimidating. However, the best way to achieve this is to continuously develop your knowledge base to cultivate fresh ideas. Imagination is vital, but knowledge is the base from which to work. The first step in any creation is to choose a few themes to research and pursue. It can be anything you are interested in, from Egyptian culture to flower arrangements - anything that brings about inspiration. Fashion sketches can be started from any source! Try to stick to a few themes that you deem important and viable and let the rest fall by the wayside when using this technique. Too many unfinished ideas will only serve to confuse you and surround you in chaos. If you are finding this organisation method difficult (as many artists and creative people do) then the use of a mind map can be helpful. If in doubt, call on a few friends to assist you in brainstorming ideas, and disregarding ideas that are not useful or commercially viable. Friends can also be a great source of fashion design inspiration.
Sketchbooks:
A sketchbook can be kept in the same manner that you would keep a diary. This book can be a representation of the things that you see around you every day. A sketchbook can be kept in any format: keep scraps of fabric and pieces visual information that you come across. You should use the book to practice your drawing, record things you see that you want to remember and also to one day spark that inspiration. Sketching people and animals, as well as the flora, can be a great way to spend the afternoon in your local town centre. Any ideas or fashion inspirations are viable for inclusion in the sketchbook as you are always able to refer back to it in future when you may be stuck for an idea. The sketchbook can be as neat or as untidy as you wish.
Never throw your sketchbooks away; often you are required to provide it in conjunction with assignments or portfolio. If a storyboard is your destination, see the sketchbook as your journey. Your sketchbook should be very impulsive, messy and explorative. This should truly be used as a tool for experimentation and collecting your ideas for inspiration. Don’t lose spontaneity by attempting to keep it orderly and neat.
Start your sketchbook today by collecting photographs, collages, random objects and exhibition pamphlets, colour swatches for paints, fabric swatches or magazine cut-outs. Buy a small one for your bag and a large one for when you have the space. Keep the good quality hard cover ones, so that they’d last you a lifetime. Update it regularly and remember that fashion inspiration can come from anywhere!
