Jackie Baldock

For my final project, I have chosen to explore the natural world focussing on tulips and mushrooms/fungi.  There are so many beautiful colours not only in flowers but also in fungi. The use of the shape of the tulip as a fashion inspiration can be traced back a few decades. Mushrooms have so many shapes, and colours.  I would like to achieve something in the design of a dress. I plan to explore the tulip and fungi shape, texture and structure to create a range of experimental designs and evolve a final outcome long that their innate beauty. I have researched the history of the Tulip from its origins in the Himalayas through to its role as a valuable commodity in Europe, Tulipmania, and its aesthetic quality. I explored a range of contextual references to enrich my projects such as William Morris, Zandra Rhodes and Liberty of London and reference design development techniques such as design without boundaries. I experimented with techniques such as felting crochet fabric manipulation, draping, pattern magic etc. to help me to develop my concept and evolve a dramatic final outcome.