Breathe - Hunters

Leaving aside the Jesters for one moment I decided to focus a little bit on the 'Hunters'. I'd been given the task of making on the Hunters cloaks which needed to be quite textural and structural. I'd be working along side Naomi, Kim and Danielle to make the cloaks. The Breathe girls had told us that they wanted the capes to be different but work along side each other, like a unit, but still be individual despite all the design looking a like.
This is the design I'd be making a cloak for...

We decided as a team that the first thing we needed to do is make a base layer/cloak for each one to then be worked upon in slightly different ways. To do this we started doing some research in pattern books for ways to construct cloaks/ collars. By mid afternoon we'd all decided that the best approach would in fact be using a pattern similar to a skirts one which is made up of quarterly sections. From this we drafted a basic pattern that we used systematically (adjusting in length for each cloak design) to produce each cloak time efficiently. 

Since we all worked as a team to make the cloak bases the easy part was over and done with quite quickly. The next task was to make sure the cloak draped appropriately on a mannequin before preparing to have a group discussion with the designers and Adele our tutor. 

During the meeting we began to share ideas of how each of us had a vision of the final outcome and how we develop the ideas into a successful conclusion. We all agreed that the inside of the cape would have concealed arm band that the wearer could easily slip into/out of so that they would have control of the cape at all times instead of being downed in a mass of fabric. We also spoke of the different textural qualities Kate (the designer) wanted to achieve. She spoke of how her inspiration had come from Indians etc but soon was drawn onto another path after we all spoke of warriors such as the Vikings. To me this seemed much more of a logical source to use for inspiration considering the theme, resources available and idea for how to style/ fix the cloak at the end. 

After leaving the meeting I began to research images of the Vikings to source inspiration for how to fashion the cloak. Many resources inclined that they would have worn heavy woollen clothing in order to stay warm (including cloaks, tunics, trousers etc) all secured in place with metal brooches. Baring that in mind and looking at visual references I came up with this kind of look.. 

** Front view

*** Side View

*** Back View

This type of design was all done by pinning so when it's complete it could be pinned and then stitched in place. The next job to do will be to dye the base cloaks autumnal/ war like shades of reds/browns so to keep the unity amongst the designs and provide a more interesting base to work with on top and be visible underneath..