Mariko Design

Archive for the ‘Fashion Designer’ Category

We all know how the works of huge artists can inspire how aspiring artists work as well. This is evident in the case of Hanae Mori. When she was 34 years old, Mori met Coco Chanel by accident during a fitting, even though Mori had indeed been studying fashion in her homeland Japan, and holding the position of costume designer since the year 1951, it was her encounter with Coco Chanel that truly inspired her. A few years after that, Mori made her debut on the runway with Neiman Marcus in tow.

A decade after, Mori moved to Paris where she showed off her haute couture collection. It did not take too long for her to open her own Haute Couture Maison in the year 1977. Since then, she has become the only designer from Asia to be part of La Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisian. This is a very significant achievement for any designer because this is the governing body of the fashion industry in the whole of France.

But her transition from Japan all the way to Paris was not easy at all. She was studying at the Tokyo Christian Women’s University with Literature as her major when World War II broke out. When the war and its effects subsided, Mori went back to studying but was still unable to obtain a degree because she got married early. Her husband’s family operated a textile manufacturing business. Being a young bride with lots of time on her hands and exposure to different textiles and fabrics, Mori soon developed an interest in fashion design. In 1951, she launched her costume design venture and designed more than 700 costumes for many Japanese directors. However, it was Coco Chanel who gave her that significant drive to venture into haute couture and things have never been the same for her since.

Her more popular items include the silk mousseline dress that was produced in 1981, and the eveningwear that comes with the trademark symbol of the butterfly. She is known to have the uncanny ability of using the fabric’s natural appeal to redefine the shape of the woman wearing the fabric itself.

Mori also expanded into fragrances, with her first scent known as Hanae Mori released in 1995. Follow-ups to this scent include Hanae Mori Homme and Hanae Mori Haute Couture. We can expect to see many more new designs and fragrances from this remarkable designer.

If you are thinking about getting a tribal tattoo then you will be offered many nice designs to choose from. A tribal tattoo is one of the most popular tattoos to be created by tattoo artists today. History had tribal tattoos used for tribes to identify their members, and also served to denote the battles fought and to show social stature in the tribe. These Tribal Tattoos were thought of as symbols of rebellion, but today people have a different perspective about them. How then do you get the right tribal tattoo for you? You will come across 3 main choices:

1. Explore the meaning

With so many fake tribal tattoos being passed off as genuine, it would be wise for you to do some self research on tribal tattoos. You must first understand that tribal tattoos are usually impacted by the art of the aboriginal people. What you see today are tribal tattoos emanating from the inhabitant Indians of north central and South America, African tribes, The Celtics and Samos tribes. You could also check your local library for various designs and their meanings.

Going further with your research, also keep in mind what aspect of your personality you would like the tribal tattoo to render. You may also want to reflect on the qualities you would like to build up in yourself as a starting point for finding the right tribal tattoo. It is also a good idea to log on to the internet and do a search for the original tribal designs of whichever tribe that you favor. You could try out a couple of sites first and then decide on one you like most. There are many online galleries that have an extensive assortment of tribal tattoo designs.

Remember that most of the tribal tattoos may have many meanings attached to them. So be sure to check the check out the meaning, before placing the tattoo on your body. It can save you from odd situations regarding the image you want to portray to this world.

2. Tattoo shop

If you are not too affected by meanings, you can go to your local tattoo shop and ask to for their catalog on Tribal Tattoos. You can pick up the one that appeals to you or simply catches your eye. It is also good to take the Tattoo Artist’s opinion about what will suit your personality the best. If you already have a particular tattoo in mind, then you can check with your tattoo artist whether he can make certain alterations in the design to make it more appealing on you. Most artists will felicitate this gracefully.

3. Tattoo magazines

You can also do your search for tribal tattoo designs in tattoo magazines. There are many of them to choose from and some of them constantly carry sections dealing with tribal tattoo. You are certain to lay your hands on a treasure trove of designs. You may even find in these magazines the meanings the tribal tattoos symbolise.

Finding the right tribal tattoo will take you some time and any of the methods above will make your search much easier and faster. You just need to be patient and persistent so that you can find the design that appeals to you.

You may also like to have a look at other kinds of tattoo designs which are popular these days, like Celtic Tattoos, Zodiac Tattoo, Star Tattoo, Japanese, Chinese, Koi Tattoos, Butterfly Tattoo Designs, and Glitter Tattoos. You can also for these tattoos in different parts of your body, in either temporary or permanent form.

You know you’re destined to be a fashion designer if you: a) spent most of your childhood making clothes for your Barbie dolls instead of playing with your friends; b) read fashion magazines instead of your school books; c) ran a boutique out of your basement at age 10. In other words: if you want to be the next Yves Saint Laurent, it helps to be completely and utterly obsessed with fashion.

However, there are many aspects of the profession. Working as a fashion designer can just as well mean supervising a design team at a sportswear company as producing a label under your own name. Although the former career may not seem as glamorous as the latter, it certainly will make your life less stressful. To create your own label takes a lot of time, dedication and hard work. Not to mention living just above the poverty line for several years.

Choosing a strategy

There are as many different ways to embark upon a fashion career as there are styles of design. Ralph Lauren’s Polo empire was founded on a small tie collection that he sold to Bloomingdales. Helmut Lang decided to open his own clothing store when he couldn’t find a t-shirt that he liked. Michael Kors built up a network of customers by selling clothes in a trendy NYC boutique. However, most people find that the best foundation for a design career is to get a fine arts degree in fashion at a prestigious school. Besides teaching you the craft, a good school will also add credibility to your resumé. “We live in a brandname society, and having the name of a good school behind you really does help,” says Carol Mongo, Director of the Fashion Department at Parsons School of Design in Paris.

Applying to a school

There are a lot of colleges that have fashion programs, but only a handful has the kind of reputation that can really push your career. It’s hard to enter these schools as competition is high, and they tend to be very selective. You apply by sending a portfolio of drawings of your designs. “We can’t teach you how to be creative – you have to bring your creativity to us and let us lead you on your way,” says Carol Mongo. She recommends students to get some sewing experience before they apply. Drawing is also an important skill for a designer – it is the way you communicate your ideas. In order to build an impressive portfolio it’s a good idea to have some experience in sketching; taking art classes will help you understand form and proportion. But you don’t have to be an expert drawer to get accepted to a school. “The most important quality that we look for in our students is that they are truly passionate and exuberant about fashion,” says Mongo. “If you have wonderful ideas but can’t draw, there are always ways to get around it. You could for example put your designs on a mannequin and take pictures of it.”

What school will do for you

Most fashion programs are three to four years long. During that time you will take fine arts classes and study drawing, color composition and form. You will also learn pattern making, draping and cutting techniques. One of the most important advantages of design schools is that they work really closely with the industry. Parsons, for example, have “designer critic projects” where successful designers like Donna Karan and Michael Kors work directly with the graduating students. Ambitious students also have the chance to win prestigious awards and grants, which bring them a lot of attention as well as financial support. One very important event is the fashion show at the end of the last semester, when graduating students show their collections. A lot of important people from the fashion industry attend these shows to scout new talent. It’s also an opportunity to be really outrageous and get noticed by the media. Hussein Chalayan, for example, became instantly infamous when he showed rotting clothes that he had buried in his backyard for his graduation show at Saint Martins.

Alternative routes

“Let’s be realistic,” says Carol Mongo at Parsons, “School’s not for everyone. If you’re just looking to get a job in the fashion industry – not a career as a designer – you probably don’t need to go school.” If you want to work as a seamstress or a patternmaker, the best thing is probably to apply for an internship at a fashion house and work your way up. However, there are many examples of famous designers who started out as interns with no formal training. For example, Dior’s brightest new star, men’s wear designer Hedi Slimane, had a degree in journalism when he started working with men’s wear designer José Levy. Balenciaga’s Nicolas Ghesquière is another example of a brilliantly successful designer who learned the jobs hands-on, as an assistant at Jean-Paul Gaultier. Usually, you apply for an internship by sending a portfolio to a fashion house you’re interested in. But it’s a good idea to call them up beforehand to see exactly what they need. It’s also important to note that competition is fierce, and unless you have personal connections, it’s very difficult to get an internship without an education.

There are also designers, like Luella Bartley, who started their own business after working as stylists for several years, thus building an industry network as well as a good marketing sense.

Understanding the business

Unfortunately, it’s not enough for a designer to be creative; you also have to have some business sense. As fashion gets more and more corporate driven, it’s important to be aware of the business climate and understanding the mechanics behind it. By religiously reading trade papers like “Women’s Wear Daily” you will get a lot of valuable information. If you want to run your own company, you need to be extremely organized and learn at least the basics of economics. A lot of fashion schools are currently increasing business classes in their curriculum. “Our students have to be smart enough to know how to negotiate a contract, or to pick a business partner,” says Carol Mongo. It’s perhaps telling that many of the designers that are really successful today, like Calvin Klein or Tom Ford, are involved in every aspect of the business – from licensing strategies to ad campaigns to actually designing the clothes.

About the author:

Fashion Designer Omar Ejaz,The owner of The Heer boutique, has previously exhibited in Lahore, Karachi, New Delhi, Singapore, HongKong, London, Glasgow and USA,where his creationswas highly appreciated. Omer work with a variety of fabrics, and what truly sets them apart is the innovative way he combine two or more textures in a single garment.

TheHeer Carries Women’s Designer Clothing, Shalwar Kameez, Indian / Pakistani Wedding Lehenga, Bridal Dresses, Bridesmaid Dresses, Casual Wear, Formal Wear, Evening and party wear.They design and sell Indian and Pakistani fashion dresses. Pakistani clothing store. They have custom made Pakistani/Indian fashion dresses like shalwar kameez, sherwani dress, embroidered khussa shoes, Men’s shalwar Kameez, lehnga and ghagra.

website:http://www.TheHeer.com

TheHeer@gmail.com