Causing The Motion
This class focuses on how one can create a design which can only be fully appreciated in motion, with the live interaction between the body, the design and it's surroundings.
The challenge is to pick a movement, such as falling or crawling, and characterise it through design choices, medium, colors, shape and functionality.
The movement I picked was: Everyday Movements, such as walking, seating or even fidgeing.
Inspired by the material, Mylar, or more commonly known as Balloon Foil, the chosen movement was based on a series of questions: 1. What are my inspirations and curiosuties lately? 2. How can I express my queer experience with a piece of garment? and 3. how can I make the tiniest movements the loudest?
As this is still an on-going project, my final prototype is an exploration of materials and sewing techniques that amplifies social awkwardness in a garment in motion?
Research
The Cockettes, a flamboyant ensemble of drag performers in the 70s, were where this project began, as they were my personal and cloest source of inspiration for garments and costumes.
In researching about them, I identified that I like the absurdity, freedom, and fun they embody in their costumes. As drag performers themselves, they express themselves however they want, as whoever they want. As Judith Butler would describe: "There is no original or primary gender a drag imitates, but gender is a kind of imitation for which there is no original."
Their creativity definitely teaches us to embrace both our femininity and masculinity and in how we choose to present ourselves. Then, the topic of gender identity came to mind, which set me on a challenging path of how can I express my queer epxerience with a piece of garment?
Materiality
Feeling the energy of The Cockettes anti-establisment sentiments, I decided to go DAE's material bank "BZAR", founded 4 years ago by students - it collects materials to combat waste and to provide equal access to material resources. It has its own microcurrency - Zorbs - which students can earn by contributing either materials or time to the bank (with a 15 Zorb signup bonus).
During this visit was where I encountered the balloon foil that inspired my next few design decisions. But first, I have to tell the story...
An excerpt from my journal: "At the corner of my eye, I saw this shiny material from a distance as though it was calling me. I held the material with one hand on each end, held it up wide open and during the split second I filled the entire ZBAR with sharp-crinkly noises. I coughed out an airy laugh and immediately crawled back down to keep the noise to the minimum as I admired the material as quietly as possible. At that moment, a concept sparked! It was like everything from session 1 made sense.
The way I was so-so aware of my existence from a making a seemingly small movement. The sound and the colour of the balloon foil that almost feel so loud when in contact with a body. It reminded me of my queer experience, and moments of embarassment growing up self-conscious." – 18 MAR 2024
Shoelaces - weaved on mesh fabric 
Ballon Foil - sample cut
Visual Moodboard 
Additional Ideas Moodboard
Wool sourcing 
Fabric sourcing
Balloon Foil from BZAR (1 ZORP)
Experiments
Now, the next few quesitons were how can I control the sound? How can I hide the sound behind fabric? How can my garment potentially look like?
My experimentations begin with using hot glue gun to eventually learning how to use the sewing machine - which I have to say I had no prior experience for. Some of the sewing techniques at this stage invovled Quilting and Embroidery. I used different shades of coloured fabric conveying a snese of "nakedness" and wool to control the sound.
Through this experimenation, I created a libary of prototypes, or soft objects, that produces the crinkly sound that informed my next steps.
Test 1: Mylar glued to Fabric 
Test 2: Sewing on Mylar itslef 
Test 3: Mylar sown with wool 
Test 4: Mylar sown with wool onto Fabric
Technique: Quilting -
Sound Test with Quilting Technique *hover over for sound* 
Technique: Embroidery -
Sound Test with Embroidery Technique *hover over for sound*
Technique: Patchwork/Embroidery 
Behind-The-Scenes 
Prototype on Model -
Sound Test with Embroidery Technique *hover over for sound*
Session 6's Feedback Set-Up
First Prototype
Now, the next few quesitons were how can I turn this library of soft objects into a garment? What sort of garment should I work on? Top, Bottom or a dress?
Drawing back to my chosen movement, I decided to go for a pair of pants. Through the experimentations I also found out that sewing balloon foil direcly on fabric creates the best sound so, my next few steps included learning how to draft a pants, the pleating technique and finally making my first prototype.
This prototype was also used for DAE's Mid-Term presentation.
Pattern-Drafting Pants 
Modifying Pattern - added pleats 
Cutting Fabric 
Cutting Balloon Foil 
Adding Balloon Foil 
Final Prototype
"How can I make the tiniest movement the loudest?" - A question that embraces the essence of my project thus far.
Feedback
ⓐ The consensus from the tutors and classmates were a resounding excitment for my project. The idea of turning such a deep, emotional experience, inspired by my first encounter with the material in use, brings a lot of satisfaction for them.
ⓑ The potential idea of turning this project into a film about social awkwardness is also something that a lot of peers were excited about as it was relatable. The use of humor to address such an issue is tasteful and fun.
ⓒ My approach to this project was also a topic of discussion. The DAE tutors were intrigued by how I only picked a movement towards the end, in contrast to picking a movement first which was the first exercise of the class. I explained to them that I was just taught differently. Projects are very often approached from a broader theme to a concept and helps myself stay on track with a self-created brief.
