art dress manifesto
art dress is the realisation of a new consideration of the elements that make up contemporary design; as a concept alone cannot be worn, art dress creates the link between concept and three dimensional form. The art dress design process is an exploration of design; minimalising external influences on designing a dress, and reducing dress design down to its most basic elements – one piece of fabric, a single stitched seam, and at the centre, the human form. Each art dress should last a lifetime or beyond, and should be wearable throughout this time. It is a dress for all occasions and for no occasion. Wear art dress to the shops, to dig the garden, to a party, to watch fireworks, to feed the ducks.
art dress is the equation body + fabric + gravity = dress. When the three elements of body, fabric and gravity are combined, dress is created.
art dress is the sum of balancing the elements within this equation. The elements of body and fabric require gravity to complete the art dress equation as gravity produces physical and visual effects on both body and fabric. art dress is cut and constructed to respond to the body beneath, forming over it and into it, becoming a second skin. The fabric metreage of art dress is equivalent to the surface area of skin on the human body; approximately 2 square metres. art dress will stretch and cling to the body beneath inclusive of size and sex.
Gravity is a force of nature; it holds us down on earth, it holds us together in our surroundings. Gravity and body work together, producing multiple effects on fabric, creating dress. Gravity anchors fabric downwards, pulling it over and into the planes and angles of the body, creating fabric tension, cling and flow, and suspension from areas of breadth. The pull and effect of gravity on fabric can be predicted and used as a design method. Fabric must be anchored to the body at the highest areas of breadth and stability (the neck, shoulders, upper chest) as the force of gravity constantly pulls downward. If suitably anchored, the fabric will remain securely attached to the body and becomes practically wearable as dress when in motion. Body joints provide the capacity for horizontal and vertical movement; head and neck, shoulders and armpits, elbows, wrists, hands, spine, hips, knees, ankles and feet. A single or combined set of body movements will produce a visual effect on fabric.
art dress works as a piece of contemporary design by utilising the wearers individual skeletal proportion, muscle tone and fat distribution as an essential (but uncontrollable) element in the design process, thereby giving the dress body and the body dress. One without the other is singular and incomplete. It should also be noted that whilst each art dress is cut identically to another, each art dress is to be considered unique because the body beneath is unique to the wearer.
art dress collections
art dress collections will be created throughout the year, therefore some collections may be released away from the seasonal fashion calendar.
The art dress collection consists of styles #1, #2 and #3:
#1 has the feature of slashed and tied shoulders
#2 has sleeves and a cape back
#3 is sleeveless and strapless with a cape back
all art dress pieces are available in three skirt lengths:
original length has a knee length front hem and ankle length back hem
level length has an ankle length hem at front and back
train length has either a knee level front or ankle level front with a back floor train of any length
Individual styles #1, #2 and #3 are available to purchase as single pieces.
Trio sets are available for collectors who want to purchase all three styles in the series.
All original art dress pieces in styles #1, #2 and #3 will be constructed in the following fabrics and colours:
black cotton jersey, white cotton jersey / black velvet jersey, white velvet jersey
Flesh tone art dress pieces are in development; these are intended to be dyed to match the tonal skin colour of the wearer, by special order
art dress archive
An international archive of art dress pieces is in development. art dress will be available to all persons globally, either by direct commission, purchase, donation, bequest or acquisition.
Supporting archival documentation will be issued with each art dress as proof of provenance. Each art dress piece is catalogued by date, style # and individual reference #.
For continuing research and archiving of art dress, individual owners are invited to submit an art dress diary at a time of their choosing. This will provide a study of art dress in practice as contributed by the individual wearers. The art dress diary may be in any or all of the following formats; text, photography, film or audio sound recording. art dress diary entries may be emailed to archive@artdress.co.uk.
Private collectors may also submit an art dress diary; individual anonymity will be respected.
To ensure the art dress archive is relevant and up to date, new owners of an existing art dress should submit the following details;
the style and reference number of the art dress (see supporting documentation or label in dress), the new owners personal details and contact information, and how the art dress came into their possession (purchase, inheritance, etc…)
All information submitted to the art dress archive will remain out of the public domain until such a time as the research gathered may be put to academic use. No personal details of art dress owners will be disclosed without prior consent.
All art dress pieces are created by Lauren McCarthy.
The design copyright and creative process includes the following factors: design, development, toiles, patterns, fabric selection, cutting, sewing, and hand dying or painting if used.
© Lauren McCarthy 2007, all rights reserved, www.artdress.co.uk
art dress is the realisation of a new consideration of the elements that make up contemporary design; as a concept alone cannot be worn, art dress creates the link between concept and three dimensional form. The art dress design process is an exploration of design; minimalising external influences on designing a dress, and reducing dress design down to its most basic elements – one piece of fabric, a single stitched seam, and at the centre, the human form. Each art dress should last a lifetime or beyond, and should be wearable throughout this time. It is a dress for all occasions and for no occasion. Wear art dress to the shops, to dig the garden, to a party, to watch fireworks, to feed the ducks.
art dress is the equation body + fabric + gravity = dress. When the three elements of body, fabric and gravity are combined, dress is created.
art dress is the sum of balancing the elements within this equation. The elements of body and fabric require gravity to complete the art dress equation as gravity produces physical and visual effects on both body and fabric. art dress is cut and constructed to respond to the body beneath, forming over it and into it, becoming a second skin. The fabric metreage of art dress is equivalent to the surface area of skin on the human body; approximately 2 square metres. art dress will stretch and cling to the body beneath inclusive of size and sex.
Gravity is a force of nature; it holds us down on earth, it holds us together in our surroundings. Gravity and body work together, producing multiple effects on fabric, creating dress. Gravity anchors fabric downwards, pulling it over and into the planes and angles of the body, creating fabric tension, cling and flow, and suspension from areas of breadth. The pull and effect of gravity on fabric can be predicted and used as a design method. Fabric must be anchored to the body at the highest areas of breadth and stability (the neck, shoulders, upper chest) as the force of gravity constantly pulls downward. If suitably anchored, the fabric will remain securely attached to the body and becomes practically wearable as dress when in motion. Body joints provide the capacity for horizontal and vertical movement; head and neck, shoulders and armpits, elbows, wrists, hands, spine, hips, knees, ankles and feet. A single or combined set of body movements will produce a visual effect on fabric.
art dress works as a piece of contemporary design by utilising the wearers individual skeletal proportion, muscle tone and fat distribution as an essential (but uncontrollable) element in the design process, thereby giving the dress body and the body dress. One without the other is singular and incomplete. It should also be noted that whilst each art dress is cut identically to another, each art dress is to be considered unique because the body beneath is unique to the wearer.
art dress collections
art dress collections will be created throughout the year, therefore some collections may be released away from the seasonal fashion calendar.
The art dress collection consists of styles #1, #2 and #3:
#1 has the feature of slashed and tied shoulders
#2 has sleeves and a cape back
#3 is sleeveless and strapless with a cape back
all art dress pieces are available in three skirt lengths:
original length has a knee length front hem and ankle length back hem
level length has an ankle length hem at front and back
train length has either a knee level front or ankle level front with a back floor train of any length
Individual styles #1, #2 and #3 are available to purchase as single pieces.
Trio sets are available for collectors who want to purchase all three styles in the series.
All original art dress pieces in styles #1, #2 and #3 will be constructed in the following fabrics and colours:
black cotton jersey, white cotton jersey / black velvet jersey, white velvet jersey
Flesh tone art dress pieces are in development; these are intended to be dyed to match the tonal skin colour of the wearer, by special order
art dress archive
An international archive of art dress pieces is in development. art dress will be available to all persons globally, either by direct commission, purchase, donation, bequest or acquisition.
Supporting archival documentation will be issued with each art dress as proof of provenance. Each art dress piece is catalogued by date, style # and individual reference #.
For continuing research and archiving of art dress, individual owners are invited to submit an art dress diary at a time of their choosing. This will provide a study of art dress in practice as contributed by the individual wearers. The art dress diary may be in any or all of the following formats; text, photography, film or audio sound recording. art dress diary entries may be emailed to archive@artdress.co.uk.
Private collectors may also submit an art dress diary; individual anonymity will be respected.
To ensure the art dress archive is relevant and up to date, new owners of an existing art dress should submit the following details;
the style and reference number of the art dress (see supporting documentation or label in dress), the new owners personal details and contact information, and how the art dress came into their possession (purchase, inheritance, etc…)
All information submitted to the art dress archive will remain out of the public domain until such a time as the research gathered may be put to academic use. No personal details of art dress owners will be disclosed without prior consent.
All art dress pieces are created by Lauren McCarthy.
The design copyright and creative process includes the following factors: design, development, toiles, patterns, fabric selection, cutting, sewing, and hand dying or painting if used.
© Lauren McCarthy 2007, all rights reserved, www.artdress.co.uk
