Le nonne... the first fitting!

Le nonne... veramente sono belle!

Everytime they come, they light up the room! Our draping class becomes so much more than just making clothes--- it is an emotional rollercoaster! We try to speak italian, we share/exchange cultures, they advice us,  pass on their wiseness and their experiences; they tell us about the "glory days"-as if those were not these, and about their adventures (las más pícaras). We are so impressed- they are full of life- and the ones who are not-who long for the days gone by-are there to show us that we are living on EASY times....

One of them is ninety something and always leaves teary-eyed. She says she is so fortunate to be alive to see this happen! Youth and "old" together, enhancing each other, embracing, admiring!

We meet up with the italian ladies every 2 weeks, while we work on this evergrowing project. It is incredible how it has gained importance-Now the Comune di Firenze wants to make the sfilate all about us... They want us(the "american" students) to  go down the catwalk with the grandmas! Can you believe it? too much attention-can we handle it? I hope so- We better really impress them. What an honor and a great opportunity!

 

draping.. it is trully a process!

only pictures today!

so you get a glimpse of how it happens... the draping of a 50's inspired-CREATIVE DRAPE!

Sportswear Collection. AllJapan competition and SoFia Maldonado

design development.

sportswear.

mass market.

fine art inspiration.

sofia maldonado

reconstruction.

jeans+tshirts

The 50's, Le nonne, e la Comune di Firenze

So... about three classes into the semester, our draping professor got a phone call from and ex-student(i believe) and he asked her if she had anyone who was interested in participating in a fashion show"thing" for some elder ladies... She briefly explained and we all said YES! I mean, we are in ITALIA- lets take advantage of it all... some research-this is my desk!

So...Now we are all being part of a Fashion Show organized by the Comune di Firenze-that celebrates the 50'S, and the beauty of women. In Italy-when a woman has children-she stops being a woman-and becomes JUST a mother, just a wife, a cleaner... etc.. so THIS show will give them...a remembrance of their "plumper" years- but will make a point that women never stop being women... its just that some-forget!A vintage boutique will lend some dresses so that young models-model- with the older women- who will be wearing OUR 50's inspired, NEW creations... IRONIC! ENCHANTING!

...JUST sketching SOME IDEAS

It has been such a touching experience- We met the nonnas last Wednesday and I am telling you-almost all of us cried! These women have so much energy! One of them-93- said that she was blessed to be alive to see this happening-Youth and Old... together!

the measurements of my "nona"-

Fashion Past+Present Collection 2...

We went on a "school"trip to Milano two weeks ago and were asked to make up a collection for our Past +Present class... I selected as historical reference the Armour at ones of the museums we attended... Poldi Pezzoli

Draping... my new adventures?

Ciao a tutti!(practicing my italian here!)

 

(at Baldovinetti-Draping Lab...Jessica Velez and I...partners in crime)

Draping is one of my favorite stages of the design process... sometimes by just playing around with the fabric I can come up with the most unimaginable ideas. By listening to the fabric, letting it guide me, show me the way... I pin, touch, feel... the way into a new design.

I can't sketch what I will drape-I feel as if in some way-that sketch will limit me and I won't  let my imagination run.. or the fabric surprise me .

This semester we have only one draping class a week, and it runs from 8:30 AM until 2:30 p.m.. As much as I love this class, it is so exhausting and mentally/emotionally draining. In those hours we have to take the lesson, get an idea, develop the idea, drape the piece, and construct it. It is a lot of work-especially when i am used to coming to the lab in the after hours and taking my sweet time to play around. Now.. its more of a challenge-not necessarily more fun-but great training. it is getting better, I am getting used to it! My professor this year is Therese Schoenholzer-she is amazing and supposedly a world expert in lace!

I never take pictures of me working or me with my work-but here are some that my classmates took.

Couture/Luxury Jackets and Suits-Fashion Art

Funnels, Lee Bontecou, Rick Owens... development

Here are some pictures of my first Fashion Art project for IFD 2(International Fashion Design year 2)...

My professor is Sass Brown-the program director, and I am loving it this year!

The project was supposed to be inspired by a design detail from a luxury or couture designer collection for Fall 2008. I chose Rick Owen's funnels!

Owen's inspiration-AND MINE.... Sculptress Lee Bontecou! Marvelous!

Customer Profile???

customer lifestyle

Design Development!

_______________________________________

Now... The Presentation... The project I handed in for Fashion Art!

I will edit the pictures later,and add detailed ones,  but for now.. this is a sneak peak!

Enjoy!

Long time, no writee.. this will be a long one-I hope!

      -This is during the packing stage-what do I take what do I take?

This is a long one so brace yourself!

 Okay- So a lot has changed since the last time I wrote. Last time I was in the NYC airport heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico(mi islita linda)... and trying to write about my expectations of the journey that was about to begin...

At the end of this summer I went to all my homes-to visit my people-for a few days before I moved to Florence, Italy for a whole year as part of a study abroad program with POLIMODA through The Fashion Institute of Technology. I went home for 7 days, then to Florida for 10 and it was an incredibly emotional experience. I realized that it was time to let go of so many things-in order to se what was ahead of me without holding back-starting from scratch! A new beginning-one more for the collection really!

So... I said goodbye, packed 2 VERY HEAVY suitcases and flew off to Florence for about $300 as a American Airlines Frequent Flyer(thanks mom!)First of all me and my sister(the best packer ever) did not sleep the night before- and THIS was the first time I flew oversees! What an experience!I flew from NYC to Chicago, Chicago to London, London to Brussels and Brussels to Florence. Not to mention that I had an overnighter in London where I met up with my friend Paul(thanks for the delish! food) and the next morning missed my plane to Brussels because they sent me through the wrong gate! Anyhow... I arrived in Florence and my baggage was lost, I stayed with a friend from NY who was already here, then at a hotel with my friend Paul and his family and then crashed at another friend's house while I tried to find an apartment with my not so perfect italian skills!

However- I am now settled, almost two months now... have a beautiful apartment I share with two other students from the program and lots and lots of things to say! 

I get internet signal only sometimes... in a corner in my room(comes from a neighbor)so... i am lucky if i can be online like now! So I will give you a synopsis and expand on later blogs...

School and classes are interesting-It is evermore crazy-trying to figure out why no matter where I am and how many responsibilities I have- I will always feel so busy! We have loads of work-creative freedom,new challenges and I cant believe incredibly fast time passes and we don't realize! I am taking only 5 classes-the least ever!-Illustrator, Fashion Art III, Italian II, Draping:Soft Silhoettes and Fashion Past & Present.Two weeks ago we went to Milano-and when we came back we had a pile of projects to hand in and catch up with...DUE: 

Monday- Fashion Art Couture Jackets collection. Mine was inspired on Rick Owen's funnels for Fall 2008.
Tuesday-Italian Class-I love my teacher, but frankly it is like repeating Italian Conversatio(which I took last semester)
Wednesday: Draping of a cowl is due-I am having a hard time in this class. I draped the cowl(a cute bustier) and made some felted straps) but I just wish I felt as passionate as before about it.That day we started draping the BIAS dress... and  that-requires a blog of its own!
Thursday: Italian HW... FITSA Potluck dinner(I ended up not going because of the project due the next day. I went to sleep at 2:30. First time we didnt do an all-nighter)
AND... 
Friday: Fashion Past and Present Collection 2...(was nice-not amazing! but got an A- which was a lot easier grading than I expecter) ay ay ay!
Finally the WEEKEND!!! I stayed in Firenze! It was great

Although we have lots of work I know we  are really learning a lot. One of my biggest missions right now is to get a bycicle I am so so anxious to ride a bike in the streets of FIRENZE- perhaps it will give me a
whole new perspective-new experiences-! I went on Friday afternoon and was unable to be treated nice by the "signores" at the MOTOFFICINA-SO NO BICI FOR NOW :(
OKAY.. I really have to get back to my Homework, but I promise I will update soon. Pictures, Projects and all the good stuff!