FAD - Update

Thursday - Tutorials. This went OK. We had a group session and I think it went pretty well, however I did have some concerns that I didn't really want to share with a group, self absorbed concerns that wouldn't have been fair sharing and taking up group time with. I wanted assurances that I was heading in the right direction with my sketchbook. I wanted to know how well, if at all, I had answered the brief.
If the truth be known, I have little interest in winning the competition, although I know it is 'beneficial to network and gain contacts within a very competitive industry and to make a name for ourselves', but I have little interest in gaining notoriety globally or indeed nationally. I have a simple destination when it comes to this degree, GET A FIRST!!! All I want is to get a good qualification and start my own, low key, business. I have kid and they will come first in our lives until they are old enough to look after themselves. Then and only then will I return to a more serious time keeping career. So my plan? Get a really good qualification, then make dresses for people on a very part-time basis. Slowly grow that business. So FAD, this is, to me, possible points that add up to my final mark. which is why it is important to me to make sure I fully understand the brief and show that within my work. I want the best mark I can achieve.
After all the tutorials had finished I managed to gain a little time with the tutor to go through my sketchbook. I then understood that I have not quite appreciates the brief, I have concentrated on current trends and not understood that this brief is more about using your imagination and designing something without trend boundaries. The tutor advised that I revisit my initial inspiration and perhaps go from there.
I was firstly devastated, the timescale was too small to be heading in the wrong direction. Then after a night of thinking about it and researching the Tibetan tribes and their culture, I decided that I would take m inspiration of a Tibetan woman, and her dress. This would be my starting point.
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1242046/dress/
I then remembered that whilst I was at the V&A I was interested in an outfit by Balenciaga, France, A/W 2004, which use a combination of fabrics, wool and suede. which lead me to thing about the fabrics that I may use within my design process.

Look into natural fabrics, wool, felt, leather, fur. maybe look into using patchwork..

Research into the traditional clothing worm by Tibetan women has shown that they wear beautifully striped aprons. These where traditionally worn by married women only but more recently all women have enjoyed wearing them.
http://www.amazingtibettravel.com/tibet-culture/tibetan-apron.htm
This has urged me to use colour within my design and look into different ways of developing that colour. Pathcwork or ragrug construction
'Early rugs consisted of three major forms, identified by their method of construction. The first was made with a strong, firm cloth base to which other material was stitched to make it thick and warm.'http://www.ragberrydesigns.co.uk/page4.html

Warmth being the main purpose of my design and crucial to my rationale
Maybe need to try some samples of ragrugging, as my mum taught me how to do this when I was younger and I have used this style within a different project of mine and have been meaning to find a way to grow the idea into something more usable.

Look into patchwork and ragrugs
Start my design development
create some samples for sketchbook