silent hunter.

For our Research and Conceptualisation subject we have visually created a poster which expresses the mood and ideas we are trying to portray throughout our collection.  Silent Hunter is my current working title for this collection.  Another part of the poster submission was to outline the aims and objectives that you wish to fulfill whilst collaborating the collection. These are as follows:

• Create a Menswear winter collection
• Collection based on traditional Inuit dress with contemporary style
• Top-heavy silhouettes mixed with layered looks which add to the representation of the intended character - 'the hunter'
• The combination of fur, skins and leather mixed with more everyday fabrics ie: wools, cottons will further enhance the relationship between traditional dress and contemporary fashion
• Play with the natural elements such as snow, ice and wind - elements which the Inuit people face daily
• Exploration of voluminous, texture based garments.

Area of knowledge

The area of focus is the Inuit people, their traditional dress and how the natural elements influence what materials they use – why they wear what they wear.  In the arctic, survival largely depended on women’s skills to create clothing that provide insulation against the cold and protection from snow, ice and water – this is what ‘silent hunter’ will be based around, however, it will be adapted to create a more contemporary look and ultimately more wearable for the everyday man.  I began to look at other materials which were used in the past, and still today, such as lightweight parkas made from animal intestine, generally walrus, which was not only light but also waterproof.  Acknowledgement will be made of the traditional materials used by the Inuit’s, for example intestines, to show understanding that the Inuit people used whatever resources they had.  The modern equivalent will be sourced to replace certain traditional materials.  An understanding of traditional tools and methods used by the Inuit people to create their garments will be explored.  

Conceptual framework

• The hunter/gatherer: the use and manipulation of furs, hides and other traditional materials.  This will conceptually explore the persona who wanders through the arctic wilderness hunting for food.  These images will become a reference to form new and interesting silhouettes whilst exploring alternative textures    
• Natural elements: how wind, snow and ice impact what the Inuit hunter adorns himself with – looking at providing heavier insulation which is vital to fight these unwelcoming conditions
• Heavy silhouettes and layering will be used to indicate the hardships faced by this persona.  This will be done through the use of fur, hides, wools etc.

This is the poster.  If you enlarge the image it is easier to read the text.