Color Trends for Autum/Winter 2010-2011

Sustainable Future
The crucial need of co-existing between nature and urban landscapes is reflected in the color palettes and the stories from where they come: urban concrete and formal darks meer nature's mid-tones and bright shades.

Eco-Fashion, lo-fi, laboratory-grown fabrics, food fashion, fusing product and garment, beetroot-dying, victimless leather, bone ivory, up-cycling and all the other experiments concentrating on environment issues, are so important; some ideas will eventually end up as valid solutions to problems we fight with, some are indispensable because of the discussion they rise.

Solutions are imperative to solve the paradox of the fashion industry obsessed by the nonstop change and the vital demand of sustainability. The focus has moved from pure aspect to content, with everything this brings along in terms of questions. Finishing and added functions are areas still to be explored and bringing in new complex and fascinating elements.

Craft techniques are reinterpreted and completed by using the newest technology. Warmth, comfort, caring, reassuring, and thoughtfulness are terminologies to have in mind when developing fabrics for the autumn and winter of 2010-2011.

PURITAN
Luxury and elegant esteem! Only the superb, regarding materials and finishing for regular clothing purpose is approved. Fabrics are coated, weightless, fluid-simply impeccable. Aspect is precise and perfect, feminine and sensual at the same time. Colors are subdued- the essence of the mood is material.

Colors: Pearl, Gesso, Tuxedo, Champagne, Venetian Red, Sable, Pecan, and Seal

REFLECTION
Tinted by technology! Playing with effects,light and shine-special effects applied to fabrics in finishing, printing, laminating or whatever is takes to deceive the eye. Technology and artificial materials in all aspects, is brought into play to achieve the trickster appearance. Exploiting interactive technology in clothing framework.

Colors: Golden Bronze, Lavender, Purple Taupe, Sky, Prussian Blu, Lotus, Tea Rose, and Canarino

RUGGED
Nature's resources! Exploring the relationship between the urban and natural landscape. Merging the industrial and the handcrafted techniques. Nature is dealt with under a man-made aspect, caring for the best components. Materials are natural or deviates from natural sources refined by using the best of industrial techniques in order to save the human dimension. Patterns or the supreme of nature's structures are handcrafted repetitions, embracing the small imperfections, adding life to expressions.

Colors: Palladium Blu, Burnished Red, Midnight, Flax, Tenne, Dark Oak, Antique Pewter, and Sandstone.

EXOTIC
Fashion Impact! It's all about color, dye, tint, hue... Decorations are complex: caliper drawings neatly colored or animated colored paintings. The curious clash of tapestry and techno. The interference of precise pattern and a texture. It's glamorously artistic.

Colors: Emerald, Deep Pink, Klien Blu, Royal Purple, Saffron, Cerulean, Eggplant, and Scarlet.

IDENTIKIT
Towards the future! The hyper newest technology is implemented in the story created by these dark shades and moods. Breaking down into single elements, looking through in order to discover what and preferably how. Materials are inspired from high technology and military industry. Pattern language in graphic.

Colors: Arsenic, Pietra, Deep Plum, Kynsna Green, Mocca, Anthra, Gray Mist, and Pirite.

Happening Trends at AIPD

For those of you who haven't observed this season's trends here are a few popular looks that have been popping up all over campus.

Below are some forecasted trends for SP/SU 2010. Yay for fun sporty shapes and fresh colors!

And an extra yay for the upcoming Christmas break! Have a fun & safe holiday season and wear lots of sequins!

Claire K. Wolfson

It's the Final Countdown!!!!

Hello all...

As you know today's date is Tuesday the 24th. Coming in 3...2...1....

BLACK FRIDAY!!!

You guys have a great Thanksgiving and make sure to keep your wallets full because the sales will be major. Keep your eye on Urban Outfitters. They will be having an additional 50% off sale
on Men's Wear, Women's Wear, and House Wear sale items. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Sincerely,

Ijeoma O!

Green Orchid Fashion Hats

Interview with Elsa Estrada

Q1: What is the name of your business?

Elsa: Green Orchid

Q2: What interests you in fashion?

Elsa: Being able to create something that can enhance the beauty in someone, even a little thing like a hat.

Q3: Is there any specific reason that pulled you to making these fantastic hats?

Elsa: My favorite movies growing up were all movies with glamorous women that looked so perfect with their little hats. I wanted to be them and when I tried to create my first hat. It came natural, easy and relieving.

Q4: How did you get started in your industry?

Elsa: I just kind of started making them.

Q5: Do you have a website or store that sells your accessories?

Elsa: Well, I do most of my sales at festivities in Portland I like the personal input you get from events like those, but I sale them on blankpageszine.com (another project I work on) and internet custom order.

Q6: Do you have a fan/customer base with your consumers?

Elsa: Yes, I guess I do :) a lot of people once they have one they will always come back for more :) and a side project I work on is Blank Pages Zine. A zine that is distributed throughout Portland helps get all my side projects and name out there, we have blank pages fans.

Q7: What is the price range that you charge for your hats?

Elsa: Well, I wanted kids to be able to buy them too, I remember being a kid and wanting cool things but they always cost so much well my price range is $20 to $45 [mostly] and when you custom order it’s all in your hands.

Q8: What is the demographics that your accessories targets? And, or who are your customers?

Elsa: I hit the Goths, Psychobilly[s], Rockabilly[s], Sub Cultures out there mostly due to my morbid take on hats but every now and then I get the cute little old lady who can't put it down, it's surprising and nice. :)

Q9: When did you start making and/or designing hats?

Elsa: Oct 31 2007 for a devil costume

Q10: How much work is taken in making each hat and do you make custom orders?

Elsa: They can range very differently but mostly average around 2 and a half hours each or more. I stopped making my own bases to help in the time management, but I still hand sew it all together and create each of them all differently.

Sustainable Clothes at the Saturday Market!

Portland Saturday Market helps make Portland one of the “greenest” cities in America or so I have heard from PDXposed. Sustainable clothing is a great idea and something that Portland designers are focused on. While attending the Saturday Market recently I discovered Flood Clothing. Nicole Flood creates amazing hats out of clothes she finds in second hand shops. She also sells re-vamped clothes, headbands, bags; all sorts of gorgeous things.

Her artistic eye helps her create new looks for old things. I remember taking a class her husband taught at the Art Institute. He told us about her business and how they were Art Institute graduates. It had slipped my mind until I discovered her at the saturday market! It is really exciting to see graduates from A.I., creating new and innovating ideas that are environmentally friendly. I have posted a link to her site. If you are ever at the Portland Saturday Market make sure and check out her creative wears. Warning though if you try on her hats you will most likely fall in love and go home with it!

-Alicia Jelinek

http://www.floodclothing.com/

Junk to Funk is Back!

Portland, Oregon - The Junk to Funk made its return last Saturday! As one of the nation's greenest cities, it is fitting that Portland designers take ordinary junk and turn it into creations of fashion. The 4th annual Junk to Funk event was held at the Crystal Ballroom and hosted by Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Mercury's managing editor Marjorie Skinner. Doors opened at 7:00 PM to a bizarre-type environment and fun "before-the-show" crafts provided by SCRAP (The School and Community Reuse Action Project). Early-goers had a chance to create their own corsages out of recycled materials.

The entries were judged on the amount of recycled materials utilized, creativity, innovation, and craftmanship. The night's "trashion" walked the runway under the critcal eye of the Junk Jury, which includes local designer Adam Arnold and Prasenjit Tito Chowdhury from Portland Fashion Week among others. The atmosphere was busy with energy and the musical stylings of Junkquestra, Portland's premier orchestra comprised of junk instruments.

Visit Junk to Funk's website at www.junktofunk.org to check out more details!

-Justine

'Tis The Season...

While many are gearing up for this holiday's shopping season, you may want to choose to forgo the chaotic atmosphere that local malls consisting of screaming toddler toting families tend to be famous for and instead opt to support your local community through the act of giving. This year as with the last, Willamette Week is giving Portland a great and easy source to do so, through the "Give Guide" that is published along with the weekly publication. This "Give Guide" features a list of the 79 different non-profits that have been selected from the surrounding area. Categories from the Arts to Social Action and Community are just a few areas you can choose from when choosing which non-profit you would like to make a donation to. Last year a whopping $800,000 dollars were donated to 55 local businesses, this year they hope to exceed this amount.

While this blog is about fashion, we must remember that fashion is not all about Balenciaga shoes and Balmain blazers, it can be as simple as a suit intended for a job interview that a woman going through a rough patch is unable to afford. Dress for Success, a non-profit featured in WW Give Guide provides professional attire for those who are trying to get back on their feet during these tough economic times. One may say it is a perfect blend of fashion and humanitarianism and a great opportunity for one to share their love for fashion with those less fortunate.

To see as well as find more information on all of the non-profits featured, take a look at the Willamete Week "Give Guide" and also check out Dress For Success to learn more about how you can donate as well as volunteer. And remember this season keep your community in mind by donating to those who continue to make Portland such a great city!

-Ashley Richfield