Art and Design Commons^™

Ricucire Il Tessuto Della Società: L’Intersezione Di Moda Femminile E Femminismo, Caroline Grace Bisese

Honors Theses

La moda è tutt'altro che una conseguenza frivola e accidentale dell'abbigliamento disponibile e del luogo in cui si va a fare shopping. L’abbigliamento è una forma di retorica corporea che evoca un ampio dialogo non verbale. Una narrazione che va ben oltre il materiale e lo stile, sebbene entrambi questi dettagli sono fondamentali, la moda al livello più elementare è essenziale per capire chi sono le persone, perché sono come sono e in cosa credono. Queste sono alcune dei capisaldi per capire una persona in relazione alla cultura e una cultura in conseguenza delle persone che la compongono. È una …

Reaping What They Sewed: Embroidery In Politics, Feminism, And Art, Lilith Haig

Honors Theses

The feminization of needlework under patriarchal systems of power and oppression has reinforced both long-standing feminine stereotypes and temporal sociocultural ideals. As a tool of patriarchal oppression, needlework has been used to confine women to the domestic sphere by teaching them to stay in the home, be quiet, and follow a pattern; as an educational instrument, needlework reinforced standards of women’s behavior, aptitudes, and conduct. However, women for centuries have silently resisted and subverted these expectations and ideals through the very same means. Women have utilized needlework during times of crisis and collective trauma for centuries as both practicality and …

Printed Repeat Pattern Development For Textiles: Design Theory And Process, Erin Kelly

Honors Theses

I created a collection of fifteen printed repeat patterns accompanied by a written description of the research and development process as a creative project to fulfill the requirements of a Senior Honors Project. Looking at this project from a traditional research standpoint, I sought out to answer several questions that would help me to develop as a textile artist. How do you find current, up-to-date, relevant trends, both ideological (macro) and material (micro)? How do you take these trends and communicate them visually, in an original fashion? How do you produce a collection of designs that is both diverse and …

Contemporary Handicraft, Textile Art, And Feminist Social Critique, Kaitlynn Blow

Honors Theses

My thesis looks at the work of female contemporary artists who use what has historically been considered “women’s craft” such as embroidery, knitting, stitching and other various textile arts. Since the Women’s Art Movement of the 1970s, women have used these creative outlets to express discontent and injustice in their lives revolving around gender and identity. In my research, three main themes emerged as addressed in each chapter. The first theme addresses the topic of domesticity and memory including unseen female labor, such as domestic chores and motherhood, and how fabric holds memories. Chapter two covers gender politics- specifically the …

Conscious Consumerism: A Design Process For Stylish Sustainable Apparel, Luz Becerra

Honors Theses

The main objective of this paper is to explore current consumer behavior and perspective on sustainable apparel as well as future trends in the market place such as willingness to buy. I investigated the market for organic apparel brands, and identified potential areas of growth. My findings concluded that young consumers lack interest in sustainable apparel because they are not sufficiently educated in the topic and are not willing to sacrifice their style identity, consequently purchasing trendy fast-fashion items. The fashion industry is famously claimed to be the second most polluting industry in the world, so I designed a line …

Creating A Textile Museum Exhibit: Conservation And Accessibility, Kelly M. Lorenz

Honors Theses

This twofold study engages a collection of early-to-mid-20th century Levantine textiles held by the Institute of Archaeology and Siegfried H. Horn Museum. The first part of the study involves identifying the risks of physical deterioration posed to the collection and then providing a proposal for the storage and display of these artifacts. Keeping the museum's means in mind, the storage plan emphasizes preventive conservation, focusing on minimizing risks wherever possible to keep damage from happening in the first place. The second part provides written interpretive material for the display that informs visitors of the textiles' geographic, physical, and cultural origins.

The Sustainable Future Of The Modern Fashion Industry, Zhanna Kutsenkova

Honors Theses

Sustainable fashion is a recent movement within the fashion industry that aims to reduce textile waste and environmental depletion while increasing ethical treatment of workers; the goal is to slow down the global production and consumption process in order to form an industry that will be more sustainable in the long run. Along with the development of more socially and eco-conscious production and marketing practices, there is still room for the sustainable fashion movement to grow beyond its current scope. With the support of growing information networks and brand transparency consumers will be better equipped than ever before to make …

Dress And Womanhood Of Ancient Rome, Eliza Burbano

Honors Theses

Fashion transcends its own role of imagery, as it becomes the medium through which individuals express their place in society. Fashion history would not consider the ancient world as part of the history of the discipline. Nevertheless, the function of dress in ancient cultures like that of Rome has definitely helped shape social hierarchies that are still present today. Clothing structured Roman society deeply, just as class, race, and sexuality did. Scholar Kelly Olson (2002) defines the function of clothing as part of a sign system. This study argues that dress in ancient Rome goes beyond this idea, in that …

Historical Corsets Retrospective 1558-1890, Jacquelyn Marks

Honors Theses

Women and men have worn corsets for centuries, primarily in Europe. Throughout the years, the style of the undergarment changed. A corset was an undergarment that served the purpose of adding warmth or coverage, gave support to the wearer’s body, gave structure to outer garments and created visual appeal. As styles transitioned throughout history, undergarments had to accommodate to the changes. Modesty prioritized the garment’s purpose but the late 1800’s encouraged more attractive corsets. After researching an archive of historical patterns, I selected several corsets that I would create and conduct research for a gallery display in Korhman Hall’s Design …

Evolution Of Fashion: Clothing Of Upper Class American Women From 1865 To 1920, Lacey Johnson

Honors Theses

Changing economic, political and social pressures throughout history have impacted the way human beings live their daily lives. One of the many basic areas affected by these historical changes is the area of the wardrobe. The way a person dresses has traditionally shown his or her social status, occupation, and even political views. Political and social pressure particularly influence the clothing styles favored by women. In what way, however, does the average wardrobe reflect the cultural considerations of the time, and what can the prevailing fashions of bygone eras reveal about the pressures of those days? Specifically, what do the …

Crocheted Placemats And Table Accessories, Elisabeth Shaw

Honors Theses

My honors project this semester was to crochet two complete sets of place mats. I had never crocheted before so this was a completely new learning experience. All together I made twelve place mats, fourteen napkins, twelve napkin rings, and one small table runner. I gave one set to my mother-in-law, and one set to my mother for Mother's Day.

Summary Of Five Garments Created For An Honors Project, Elisabeth Shaw

Honors Theses

The following garments were made for my family as Christmas gifts. They were created to be my honors project for Fall, 1974. Besides containing hard work, imagination, and love, I have created something that can be used and appreciated for years to come.

Personality and taste of the person were taken into consideration as I made the gift. The materials and patterns were selected in relation to how much wear these garments would receive.

The gifts include: 1. An eyelet apron trimmed in pink; 2. An eyelet apron trimmed in blue; 3. A blue velour robe; 4. A cranberry velour …

Crocheting An Afghan: My Honors Project, Bennie Carol Burgess

Honors Theses

As my honors project for this semester under the division of Natural Science, in the Home Economics Department, I made an afghan, under the supervision of Mrs. Hazel Thomas. Although I have crocheted before, this is my biggest undertaking.

Clothing Construction, Jill Starnes

Honors Theses

For my honors project I chose to make a pantsuit. However, since it would be rather difficult to file a pantsuit I will try to write down for the honors project file a description of this project and why I chose this particular one.

Embroidery And Crochet, Bennie Carol Burgess

Honors Theses

Embroidery is sometimes called needle-painting. The word embroidery comes from the Anglo-Saxon word, meaning edge or border. There are many different kinds of stitches, some to outline a design, and others to fill in an entire area for a design. One of the advantages of embroidery is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want.

Crochet, which developed as a way of making fine lace, has grown into a very versatile type of needlework. The French word "crochet", meaning crooked, applied to the crochet hook, and gave crocheted lace its name. There are three main stitches--chain, …

Honors Project [A Tailored Garment], Pauletta Flowers

Honors Theses

When I began thinking about starting my honors project, I came up with several ideas but the one that interested me most was the making of a tailored garment. My major is home economics so I thought this would be a good experience for me and a good time to learn something new. I liked the idea that I could work on my own and at my own speed, and could make appointments with Mrs. Elledge when convenient for both of us.

I have made garments before but I've never taken on such a large project or as detailed as …

A Brief Summary Of The Origin Of Afghans And Knitting, Becky Nichols

Honors Theses

The origins of most types of needlework in general are not known exactly. There are examples of embroidery in early Egypt, Rome and Greece. It was developed later in the Orient, in Europe, England, and even later in America. Other types of needlework have similar histories.

There is not much information on the origin of the afghan itself. They were made (usually embroidered) as far back as the Victorian age in England and were used as carriage robes.

Needlework, Connie Bowie

Honors Theses

Hook embroidery gets its name from the fabric it is worked on, which is huck toweling, a textured fabric with the raised threads on both front and back. Huck embroidery is actually short for huckaback, and is also known as Swedish weaving. It can be done with six-strand cotton, pear cotton, fine wool yard, or other kinds of embroidery threads. The technique is simply running the thread under the pairs of raised threads on the wrong side of the huck. A blunt needle is used so the pairs of threads can be picked up easily without going through the fabric. …

Crewel Work: Its Origin And Development, Ann Verser

Honors Theses

The pleasure of turning the whole self to the creation of something beautiful, personal, and lasting is done through crewel work, one of the oldest and most delightful sources of tranquility. Crewel is an exceptionally creative type of embroidery which applies decoration to a fabric already existing using two-ply loosely twisted wool yarn. Its stitches are simple and so varied (75 in all) that they are never monotonous. The purpose of crewel was primarily conceived to decorate objects of use and the stitches were intended to become an integral part of the fabric, capable of standing up to years of …

Handicrafts, Kathy Bittle

Honors Theses

For this honors project, the author created several pieces of handicraft art.

Design And The Woman, Sharon Kluck

Honors Theses

Woman is a unique and almost mystic creature. Her role in society is limited only by her dreams and desires. One important aim in a woman's life is to appear her best at all times. By careful selection and a proper foundation in the art of clothing, she is well on her way to accomplishing her goal. With a thorough knowledge of her own physical characteristics and a few basics in the fundamental elements of design, the lady may be creative in applying these guides to her own needs. Each piece of clothing can be a delightful reflection of her …

Create Through Sewing, Sharon Kluck

Honors Theses

Gaining a practical knowledge of the basic sewing skills and relating this knowledge in a laboratory was my objective as I assisted Mrs. O. L. Elledge in a beginner's sewing lab. Each Thursday afternoon from three to five o'clock Mrs. Elledge referred me to girls with a particular problem or who needed help in some way such as measuring a hem. Together "my student" and I attempted to solve the problem. From these problems I greatly increased by knowledge since there was such a variety of situations.