Gareth Pugh: Fashion Designer

Gareth Pugh is a fashion designer who has received global recognition for both his outlandish clubwear and his novel approach to redefining modern luxury. Born in Sunderland, he studied on the Art Foundation course at City of Sunderland College and completed his degree in Fashion Design at Central St Martins in 2003. During a work placement assisting Rick Owens at luxury furrier Revillon, Pugh met Michelle Lamy, the Parisian fashion consultant largely responsible for the commercial ascent of the Owens label. In the Autumn of 2006, Lamy became official backer to Pugh, their collaboration marking a more luxurious direction in his work with the introduction of cashmere, leather and mink to collections. Pugh’s designs such as his famous inflated balloon garments are inspired by shape, proportion and process. He has shown at London Fashion Week as part of Fashion East and was awarded New Generation sponsorship to show in Autumn/Winter 2006. Pugh has collaborated with magazines including Arena Homme+, Self Service, CENT, i-D and Dazed & Confused. In 2004, Pugh’s ‘inflatable creatable’ installation was chosen as the sculptural centre piece for a Dazed & Confused exhibition showcasing designers including Stella McCartney, D&G and Hussein Chalayan. Pugh also regularly works with Judy Blame, who designs exclusive jewellery pieces to accompany his collections. In 2008, Pugh received the ANDAM prize, and began to show in Paris from the S/S 2009 season. Pugh’s designs are stocked in Side by Side in Japan, Seven and Opening Ceremony in New York, and in London by Browns and Dover Street Market.

Source: http://showstudio.com/contributors/4252

Project Outline

Project Outline

The brief I have been set is a self directed project where we analyse ourselves and decide where we fit within the fashion market. I want to use my finally collection and further it by creating a capsule collection. While doing this I will be able to decide what is my style of work, my skills, like sewing and pattern cutting, and my working aesthetics. When I have identified these things I will then be able to find designers which have a similar style and then contact them to pitch my idea for my "New Horizons" module. I will then see if If I can receive help and advice with creating my capsule range.

Describe the Project/ Idea

This project will enable me to gain access into the industry and be able to learn and get help from people who are already work within it. It will hopefully enable me to be able to understand the industry more and then hopefully help me more to get work after my university course finishes.

Position Statement

My name is David Watson and I am a fashion student currently in my final year studying at the University of East London. Through this brief I will identify who I am and what I am capable of doing when I graduate from university and when looking for a career. My strength lies within designing. I have a great imagination that helps me create new and exciting shapes to be cut and made. I also have strengths within CAD design and putting together research through mood boards and portfolio pages. My skills lie with in the first few stages of creating clothing and so therefore I believe I would be perfect to work for a designer or design team.

Focus of the Project

The main focus is to look at the clothing I have already created and develop those further into a capsule collection. I want to develop my ideas with the help and advice from people working for fashion designer Gareth Pugh. I want to be able to get insight into designing through the help I can receive from people already in the industry. I would ultimately like my capsule collection to look like a collaboration with Gareth Pugh so it would combine both our different styles but also more importantly show our similarities.


Project Deliverables

For this project I intend to look at the work of Gareth Pugh, as I feel that as a designer I have similarities to the way he designs. I will study the garments from current and past collections and diffuse my final collection into a ready-to-wear collection. I want to use the shapes of my final collection but play around with different fabrics and textures. I want to be able to use my own initial ideas and incorporate them with the ideas behind Pugh's work. All of my work will be displayed in a portfolio, as well as on my blog and will I will finish the module by presenting it all in a 15 minute presentation to show my progress.

Overview of the Development Process

My blog and working in my own time is crucial with this project to stay on target and produce significant work. I will also need to do design sheets, researching and thinking about what needs to be produced for my portfolio. I need to research into Pugh's work in depth to clearly work out his working style and what makes him such a successful designer. I need to make sure that I continuously keep in contact with my personal tutor and also whoever I make contact with at Gareth Pugh. I hope that if i follow the timetable and follow it closely then I should be fine on keeping on track and doing well.

New Horizons Brief

Project Outline

Students will identify where their own work, personal aesthetic, strengths and career aspirations fit into the wider fashion geography and how this will impact on their chosen project, as they will be encouraged to obtain support and guidance from their chosen brand/company. During this module students are encouraged to draw upon industrial contacts and professional links made whilst on placement or during the programme, as well as all available internal support. They will analyse networks, organisations, communities and individuals key to their field of practise; from this they will develop a proposal for their chosen vehicle/project and utilise these contacts throughout the module. Students will match their skills and aspirations to the requirements of their chosen mentor, and develop their work appropriately.

In order to consolidate their plans and map their progress throughout the module, students will be required to produce a Research Dossier which will be in the form of a Portfolio of work, a weblog and folder, and a Presentation outlining their findings, exit strategy and career trajectory as they plan to negotiate their 'New Horizon'.


Detailed Timetable of Work

7th February (Week 18) All Students are to present an initial idea for their proposed project to staff and peers. This proposal will include any initial findings and necessary supporting information. Students are to identify where they see their work fitting into the wider fashion geography and to show evidence and examples to staff and student groups who will give feedback and discuss any plans.

14th February (Week 19) Continuing with research into initial proposal and looking to make any industry links. PowerPoint presentation entitled ‘How to put together a proposal’ presented by staff.

21st February (Week 20) All students are to present proposal to staff and student group and to monitor their progress. This can be supported by visuals, a position statement and a S.W.O.T; a hard copy must be submitted to staff.

28th February (Week 21) Students are to continue to develop project ready to present work in progress individually for the following week.

7th March (Week 22) Students should have illustrated their work so far throughout the module in an appropriate manor; showing work to date either electronically or in a storyboard format or 2D idea development. Students are to present the work that is in progress and to show evidence of industry links and contacts.

14th March (Week 23) Continue to develop project work based on the feedback from the previous week.

21st March (Week 24) Present your work so far to staff and peer group, develop work from the feedback given from staff and peers, make adjustments and continue to develop project. Further develop work from any feedback given from industry contacts.

28th March (Week 25) Students are to present work individually to staff, by this point students should have completed all exploratory research, analysis, and idea development.

4th April (Week 26) This week will be students last contact session with staff, students need to clearly identify completion timetable in order to meet the deadline and obtain feedback from staff.

25th April (Week 27) Students are to continue completion of all work required ready for the deadline.

2nd May (Week 28) Students are to continue completion of all work required ready for the deadline.

9th May (Week 29) Deadline 10am Monday 9th May.