Gravity gone mad

Watching documentaries on the universe is a sure way to make you feel unbelievably tiny and insignificant in relation to.... well... the universe itself. Despite the fact that my existence is now burdened with overwhelming feelings of unimportance and triviality, I am getting great enjoyment and inspiration from these documentaries. Here are some clips from my latest favourites (NB. watching documentaries like these is not recommended before you start your day, as everything you do will seem a little pointless, and you will have thoughts like ''...but why do I even care about going to that class? I am merely a tiny piece of nothing in the scheme of things... think about supermassive black holes... think about the rarity of life in the universe!" Or maybe that's just me.) 

Animated model of a black hole - stills from Part 1 Super Massive Black Holes BBC Horizon.

After those feelings of insignificance wear off, it's back to to task at hand - my graduate collection. Black hole formation and diagrams are something I find inspiring, and could be translated to garment construction in an interesting way. I would like to try experimenting with a more abstract approach to pattern making that could visually (and obviously, simply) reflect the warp in space time that a black hole creates. 

The Japanese pattern book 'Pattern Magic' offers an abstract approach to pattern making that the Japanese are renowned for. This book has changed the way I think about pattern making, and has broadened my ideas on the shape and form of a garment... really pushing the 3D element of design. 

A black hole is simply 'gravity gone mad'. This dress (below) from 'Pattern Magic' mimics the model of a black hole.

Creating 3D geometry and sculptural folds in garments is something I am currently experimenting with in the studio. I am taking inspiration from this method of pattern making and applying it to my designs to visually reflect the orbital, spherical and planetary aspects of my concept. 

I will post outcomes of my experimentation soon...