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 …

How To Become A Butterfly, Jillian Parsons

Honors Theses

Few could naturally imagine how a lowly caterpillar can become a majestic butterfly. And yet, God uses the very parts that make up the humble insect to form and grow it into unequaled beauty. He works with what is available; the components are already present. My goal with this paper is to inspire you to think about what goes on inside that chrysalis from a perspective of God’s original purpose for humanity and how Jesus has renewed that original purpose. As you linger in these pages, try to imagine how God workshopped the butterfly and decided the transformation should come …

Media, Marketing, And More – How Social Technology Is Changing The Face Of Small Business, Lily Reynolds

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to identify the ways in which social media and marketing technology advances are affecting small retail businesses. A total of three interviews were conducted with working professionals in different areas along the fashion supply chain, and were contacted based on common acquaintances. Each interview was conducted over the phone, and lasted between ten minutes and half an hour, with guided and supplemental questions focusing on their experiences with technology in their fields. The results showed that each area was affected in numerous ways, from superficial business changes to advancements at the cores of their …

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 …

The Textile Industry: A Deep Look Into The Environmental Impacts Of Fast Fashion, Jordan Miller

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research was to understand the detrimental effects the textile industry has had on global environments and ecosystems across the globe. The textile industry for many years has continued to disregard the current acceleration of global warming and other environmental crises, and it is time the fashion industry holds itself accountable for these actions and takes a change in a new, more sustainable future. With proper education of the environmental pollution the textile industry has made, young consumers will be able to make the change necessary for businesses to develop more sustainable habits for the future production. …

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 …

Drag: The Herstory And Phenomenon, Avery Green

Honors Theses

My thesis project was spilt into three parts. The first part was gathering inspiration and experiencing drag shows. The second part was designing three different dresses for drag queens and showcasing them in the spring MODA fashion show. The final part was participating in Outspoken’s Drag Show as a drag queen. My goal for my thesis was to explore the world of drag and how I can use it to inspire my own creative endeavors.

The first part of my thesis was a ton of fun. In order to experience drag and gather inspiration for my own drag, I visited …

This Book Is Valuable: An Anthology Of Essays On Design And The Perception Of Value In Luxury Fashion Objects, Carlos Velasco

Honors Theses

This Book is Valuable seeks to analyze how different concepts related to design and culture have influenced the apparent and perceived value of luxury fashion objects. This question is explored in different contexts to provide clarity and observation to the contemporary construction of value through systems of design.

This thesis is an anthology of three essays. The first essay is about immaterial capitalism, a system of knowledge, skill and imagination based capital. The second essay is about the strategy of artification, using fine art as a way to link systems of value together. It is also about how luxury conglomerates …

Interpreted Fashions Of The Yoruba Tribe, Ramea Starling

Honors Theses

The visual presentation that I have created is a representation of the popular fashions of the Yoruba tribe found in Nigeria. The purpose of this fashion line that I have created is to bring culture awareness about the West African tribe to everyone who comes into contact with my line. Historically, the Yoruba Tribes culture mainly focuses on family, religion, and fashion (through their unique sense of textiles) so I really wanted to showcase this in a line. As a fashion design student at Western I also wanted to take this opportunity to display the skills that I have learned …

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 …

Why Am I Buying Another Black Dress?: An Anthropological Perspective Into The World Of Fashion, Ava Carnevale

Honors Theses

This thesis explores how the world of fashion permeates all facets of human life, including social success, individual identity and self-acceptance. The fashion decisions we make each day are, indeed, personal decisions that we use to express ourselves and convey our story to society, however the cultures, people, and society that surround us are what intrinsically make these choices for us. Through extensive research in New York City and at Union College, evidence proves that persons are influenced by their surroundings, including media and friend groups, which ultimately establish his or her wardrobes and his or her level of social …

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 …

Balenciaga: The Man, The Enigma, The King Of Couture, Sara Block

Honors Theses

Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1927) began his life as the son of a fisherman and a seamstress in a small Spanish fishing village, and ended his life in Paris as the undisputed king of high fashion. Many photos of his couture creations and articles written about his fashions by journalists and critics still exist today, along with many structural and stylistic innovations that Balenciaga introduced and other designers have since conscripted and adapted for their own work. However, apart from his clothing, little is known about the life of the notoriously mysterious and press-shy man, and the little that is known about …

Coco Chanel : De La Rue À La Haute Couture – Adaptant La Nouvelle Femme, Shannon R. Funkhouser

Honors Theses

The current project sought to analyze the life and work of the designer Coco Chanel. Through investigation into her life course, values, contributions to art, theater, dance, fashion, and women’s rights, it is argued that Chanel embodied the time period in which she lived ; she both influenced, and was influenced by the cultural forces that predominated. Particular attention is paid to the time periods following World War I and World War II, two events that drastically changed artistic aesthetics, social norms, and life values. The post-war eras provided the fuel for the women’s liberation movement, ushering in the idea …

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 …

Dark Of The Moon: Costume Design, Patricia Lynne Huckabee

Honors Theses

Because our University offers no academic course specifically in costuming, I decided, under the supervision of my department counselor, Mr. Raymond Caldwell, to attempt an Honors project in this area.

We agreed that my project would include designing, co-ordinating, and assembling costumes for the cast of Dark of the Moon, the University's first production of the 1973-1974 theatre season.

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.

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 …

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.

Opportunities In The Business Of Fashion, Mary Moyers

Honors Theses

The business of fashion is one of the largest in the world today. According to a survey from "The Teen-age Girl Today", in the fall of 1968 6,350,000 girls between the ages of fourteen and seventeen enrolled in high school. These girls spent $2,152,209,000 on fashion and non-fashion back-to-school merchandise.

Modern trends, in giving a new look to fashion and in influencing expansion have created many fresh opportunities for women in business.

Psychological Aspects Of Clothing, Marty Mcdonald

Honors Theses

This research was conducted with no established set of hypotheses as guidelines. It was done to point out certain attitudes about clothing and inadvertently, how consciously or unconsciously, ideas are formed about dress.

A questionnaire was prepared for the study. It required the subject to give his age, sex, and classification, but no name. The questions were designed to include some specific topics on female dress and some on male dress, with additional topics related to neither sex expressly. These questions were given to forty subjects, twenty males and twenty females.