Candidate name - Millie April Middleton 

UAL Candidate Number -

Pathway Group - Group B

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Project Title- Fast Fashion vs Sustainability 

 

Section 1: Review (approx 150 words)

In stage 1 of the course, I looked at the fast fashion industry for one of the mini projects. I researched into the impact that the fast fashion industry has on the planet. I experimented with different media in this project such as screen printing, which I then incorporated into some fashion designs and also some paper cut out fashion drawings I did. I also looked into the fast fashion industry in an essay in contextual studies. I have also looked into body image and aboriginal art for encounters after visiting the Pitt Rivers in Oxford and some other concepts for different projects, for example I briefly looked at the refugee crisis in Calais and comment in one of the mini projects in stage 1 however I have decided that fast fashion is more relevant to me to look at as a fashion student in the FMP. 

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Section 2: Project Concept (approx 250 words)

The concept I have chosen to look into for the FMP is the fast fashion industry and sustainability. I chose to look into this subject as it is a very important issue in the fashion industry as fast fashion is one of the biggest polluters of the planet and also many companies have extremely poor conditions for their workers in factories overseas. I chose the fast fashion industry as it is relevant to me as someone who wants to go into the fashion industry. As part of my project, I intend to research into the environmental damage caused by the fashion industry, such as high carbon emissions and the large amount of waste production it causes, as well as looking into the social side as well, such as sweatshops and child labor. I plan to then choose either the environmental or social side and create an outcome based off of whichever one I chose, using different media to express the message behind it, for example screen printing etc. I also intend to look into how fashion can be made more sustainable and if it ever will be sustainable. 

The trip to the Weald and Downland in Chichester also helps me come up with ideas for this project as in one of the houses there was a wool wheel which demonstrated how much the fashion industry has changed since before the industrial revolution as people would spend time carefully making their own cloths out of materials that had got themselves from animals rather than the mass production of cheap, disposable clothes we see in the fast fashion industry we see today. As well as looking into either the environmental side or social side of fast fashion I could also look into the changes in the fashion industry and the transition between being much more sustainable to how it is today. I could look into making my own fabric like they used to do it maybe weaving a fabric out of rubbish to highlight the difference between today and how it used to be. 

Section 3: Evaluation (approx 100 words)

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At the end of the FMP, I will write an evaluation to assess my work and look at what my strengths and weaknesses were throughout the project. Throughout the project, I will annotate my work my sketchbook and evaluate what I think I can improve and what went well. By doing this, I will give myself an idea of how I can improve my own work as the project goes along. I will take photos of my work throughout the project and use my sketchbook as a journal to show my progress (as well as using it for my experimentation) I will also self-reflect in my FMP essay, and look into different research ideas. I will use peer feedback to work on any weaknesses that can be seen in my work and take further steps from the advice given to improve it. Furthermore, I will use the interim crit halfway through the FMP to take on advice on where to improve my work and to know what steps I need to take next in the project.  The final group crit will give me an idea of what strengths and weaknesses my work has and allow me to know what final alterations I will need to make to my work before the show and hand in. At the end of the FMP and presented in the exhibition with FMP work. I am also going to write a 100-word artist statement explaining my work and the concept behind it. 

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Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography (Harvard Format)                                                                  

References

Circular Ecology. (2020). Introduction to Sustainability Guide. [online] Available at: http://www.circularecology.com/introduction-to-sustainability-guide.html#.Xk-bIiWnyEc [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

Evening Standard. (2020). Survey shows Brits spend nearly £3 billion on outfits only worn once. [online] Available at: https://www.standard.co.uk/futurelondon/theplasticfreeproject/fast-fashion-holiday-outfits-landfill-barnardos-a4187886.html [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

InternetRetailing. (2020). Consumers demand sustainable fashion – but won’t pay more for it – studies show on World Environment Day. [online] Available at: https://internetretailing.net/sustainability/sustainability/consumers-demand-sustainable-fashion--but-wont-pay-more-for-it--studies-show-on-world-environment-day-19731 [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

Mamoq.com. (2020). What is Fast Fashion and Why is it Bad?. [online] Available at: https://mamoq.com/blogs/the-journal/what-is-fast-fashion-and-why-is-it-bad [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

Parrish, E. (2020). Fast Fashion In a Better Light: Its Benefits on the Economy and Across the World. [online] Bear Market. Available at: https://bearmarketreview.wordpress.com/2018/06/23/fast-fashion-in-a-better-light-its-benefits-on-the-economy-and-across-the-world/ [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

Study Breaks. (2020). The Benefits of Fast Fashion for College Students. [online] Available at: https://studybreaks.com/culture/fast-fashion/ [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

The Conversation. (2020). Fast fashion lies: Will they really change their ways in a climate crisis?. [online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/fast-fashion-lies-will-they-really-change-their-ways-in-a-climate-crisis-121033 [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

The Good Trade. (2020). What Is Fast Fashion, Anyway?. [online] Available at: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

the Guardian. (2020). Can the fashion industry ever be sustainable? – podcast. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2020/feb/18/can-the-fashion-industry-ever-be-sustainable [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

United Nations Sustainable Development. (2020). About the Sustainable Development Goals - United Nations Sustainable Development. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].