Incorprating origami into garments

Moving further along into my research, I started looking at designers work and how origami is used within different garments. I looked at a book called 'Pattern Magic' which explains and shows a wide range of garments and how origami is used in different ways.

This is how different shapes and origami can be included in garments. In this design, cubes have been used into a design to make it look more interesting and effective.



Red or Dead 'New York dolls collection'



Red or Dead's 'New York dolls collection' for S/S 96 incorporated 3D garments to express shape in this controversial collection.

Origami and how it can be used

The project brief explains how we have to incorprate origami into our garments, I started looking at books which explains how to create origami shapes and started to experiment with peices of paper to create different shapes.






Looking and experimenting with different shapes, it gave me some idea of which direction I can take my work in and in which ways I could use this form or art in my garments.

Skeletal Cube

A ten-point star

These are just some of the techniques that I have looked at and found interesting. i would like to develop this further and use the contrast of shape edges and curves into my designs.

Body cells (Metamorphosis)

For the topic of metamorphosis, I looked at various different things that would inspire me such as: people, places, lifestyle and animals. After mind mapping different ideas, I decided to choose animal cells and how they change in time.


I looked at information in books and on the inernet, collecting different pieces of information and images to start off my research and starting to give me initial ideas for this project.

Looking at the cells and the way they develop, I find the shapes inside and outside the cells interesting and would like to develop these shapes futher in my research.

An animal cell

A few designers that have used origami shapes in garments

Lianna Sheppard

I started looking at the work of Lianna Sheppard and found that her designs are based on the form and shape of 3 dimensional shapes. She  used different types of materials and fabrics to create different shapes and textures in her designs to make them interesting and to add to the effect of 3D garments

http://vimeo.com/liannasheppard/modugram

Issey Miyake

The 132.5 collection was inspired by the form of origami and the work of computer scientist Juan Miyani , he looked at how 2D shapes can be folded and created into 3D garments. The shapes he created within the garments unfolded into dresses, skirts and shirts.

These are just some of the different shapes and folds that Miyake used to create the 132.5 Collection

Starting the project

When given the Orimorphosis brief,

I started looked at the different ways I could interpret it. I started mind mapping different ideas under the titles ‘Japan’ and ‘Metamorphosis’. I came up with many different ideas which gave me an initial idea for this project, which then i started to research further into.

Starting points for my project