10::Alexandra Schultz::Final Project Proposal

Ragamuffin: A grimy dirty little urchin or waif with ratted greasy hair. Usually female.
- urban Dictionary

    My goal throughout college has been to transition from consumer to producer.  In video games, television, and Ancient Greek prose I have made this transition, so for my final project I want to extend this to fashion.  My final project will be a mini clothing line called "Ragamuffin," one of my mom's nicknames for me, a name that is dear to me and one that I find especially euphonic.  (Since random people have independently come up with a description of my style as "hobo chic/homeless cute," this seems pretty fitting.)  For the final project, I will present 3 complete looks.  My influences include many Japanese designers (e.g. nozomi ishiguro, tsumori chisato) as well as some more well known western designers (e.g. anna sui, luella) whose clothing captures the playfulness and unashamed exuberance that I want my own clothes to embody.

    While I still have some decision-making to do about what exact themes I will explore in my line, I have started to narrow it down to exploring the feminine and delicate, possibly with steampunk elements incorporated.  Next semester, once I have more experience, I will make a second line called "Combinatorial Optimization" that will explore versatility in clothing utility through tougher, cyberpunk-inspired aethetics.  I am also considering making one look from each line for the final project, since each is such an important part of me (the struggle between Classics and Computer Science, old vs. new, and many other things).

    Finally, I am collaborating with Lydia to document my pieces in a fashion spread.

Materials:

fabric (bought, but will probably impulse buy more)

thread and that kind of stuff (got it)

sewing machine (obtained)

buttons, ribbon, lace (can never have enough)

Lydia Yamaguchi and her camera (negotiations in progress)

NB: While I have sewn simple skirts, knitted scarves/hats/legwarmers, and hacked together dresses by combining and altering old clothes, I have never made a whole dress or blouse from scratch.  It might be foolish to think I can finish 2 or 3 complete looks, but I'm always up for shooting myself in the foot!