Adorn by Sarah Bishop

11/09/2023

Wow, this is big news. Sarah Burton has done an incredible job at continuing on with Lee Alexander McQueen’s legacy. Now I’m wondering what she will do next, who will replace her and how that will affect the look of the label. Interesting!

Sarah Burton — Alexander McQueen’s () long-standing creative director and former right-hand of the late founder Lee McQueen — is parting ways with the fashion label after more than two decades, the Kering-owned house said in a statement.

The brand’s September show during Paris Fashion Week will be her final collection, the house said. Her successor is set to be announced “in due course.”

Burton first worked at Alexander McQueen as an intern during her studies at Central Saint Martins, returning as a full time designer after graduating. In 2000, after just two years at the brand, she was named head of womenswear design. Following McQueen’s death in 2010, Burton was named his successor, tasked with continuing the late designer’s legacy.

In 2011, she made headlines after designing Catherine, Princess of Wales’ wedding dress. The following year, she was awarded an OBE for her services to British fashion.

“We would like to express our immense gratitude to Sarah for writing such an important chapter in the history of the Alexander McQueen House. Sarah’s contribution over the past 26 years will leave an indelible mark,” said CEO Gianfilippo Testa.

Read the full story.

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/luxury/sarah-burton-steps-down-alexander-mcqueen-creative-director-designer/

20/07/2023

My final look, modelled by the gorgeous Summer is a two piece cotton drill top and skirt that has been completely “cyanotyped”.
The top is lined and has a lace up back with rouleau loops and the skirt is heavily gathered with elastic and cotton ties that have been partially treated with cyanotype.
It looks very simple but there is literally hours of work in this look. I drew the images, scanned then replicated to create a repeat design for the skirt border and then used single pieces for the rest of the garment. The pattern pieces were designed, cut out, overlocked, treated with photosensitive chemical, dried in the dark, pinned out flat onto a board with the negatives stuck on top with clear double sided tape. They were then individually, or in pairs, laid out in the driveway and exposed to the sun for about 34 minutes each. Then the were very well rinsed, put through another launder in the machine, dried and constructed! I’m really very pleased with this look.

17/07/2023

My fourth look modeled by Yolanda features a soft French lace skirt, a heavy silk satin printed with a postcard image and an asymmetrical fine merino jersey cardigan with a feature vintage button. Not visible is a couple of vintage Freemason rosettes made into brooches.

16/07/2023

My third look, modelled by sweet Edi is a fine merino jersey polo neck jumper worn with high waisted shorts featuring a cyanotype print from a French postcard dated 1907. The brooch is a trio of Freemason rosettes.
I printed the shorts by scanning and enlarging the postcard image, thenmaking it into a negative (either in photoshop or sometimes on the jacquard website). Because of the pattern shape I exposed all four pieces individually which meant it was difficult to get the same colour- the longer the exposure the deeper the blue. Very weather dependent. A somewhat tedious activity!

14/07/2023

My second 2023 look features Ana wearing a heavy wool-blend (I think, as it’s vintage fabric) skirt with a vintage lace band, worn with a pure cotton jersey knit top that I’ve “cyanotyped” with enlarged French text from the reverse of one of my antique postcards. The jersey scarf I have screen printed with the same image.

13/07/2023

I wanted to share my 2023 looks with a little explanation of technique and materials for those who might be interested.
Here we have the lovely Mollie wearing a silk satin top which I screen printed with one of my unique postcard images. The wrap over style cardigan has little buttons fixing it at each side seam and is made from a fine merino blend. The brooches are made from vintage Freemasons rosettes. I constructed the full circle skirt from a heavy denim with a striped ribbon waist band. It is covered in cyanotype images from my collection of antique French postcards. They have been printed on a cotton drill and appliquéd on by machine.

10/07/2023

A quick photo of 4 of my 5 models wearing my collection at Tasmanian Fashion Runway yesterday.
I’ll post each with explanations soon.
Many thanks to my lovely models Ana, Edi, Mollie and Summer! 💙

01/07/2023

A detail of one of my garments walking the runway next Sunday. Here I’ve drawn lace inspired motifs, made them into negatives and used the cyanotype technique to create the final image. Just a little bit of work!

21/06/2023

Coming up in a few weeks is the annual Tasmanian Fashion Runway event that I coordinate but this year I have been approved to participate as a designer! It’s a fun event with a really broad range of local designers.
Buy tickets here…

https://www.clarenceartsandevents.net/events/winter-series-2023-tasmanian-fashion-runway/

20/06/2023

Whoops! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve posted!
I’ve recently been very busy teaching myself how to print cyanotypes on fabric. It’s so difficult to control!
I’ve been using the results to make a mini collection that I will be showing in a few weeks (more info very soon).
Cyanotypes were invented in 1842 and require mixing chemicals, painting them onto fabric (or more commonly, paper) in extremely low light, drying it in the dark and then exposing to sunlight with a negative or other objects on top, leaving an impression.
It’s been a massive learning curve, especially as the winter months arrived and the UV levels dropped from 6 down to just 1! Here are some works in progress…

10/08/2022

I’ve been organising a small runway event and it’s on this weekend! I’m not showing my work but other fabulous local designers are. Come along!

Now an iconic part of the Tasmanian fashion calendar, talented Tasmanian designers and makers will showcase their latest looks on the runway at Rosny Barn.