Xippers (update)

no photos, just a link related to xippers (yesterday’s post) . . . I give you Vermillion Pleasure Night, a V-E-R-Y interesting TV program from Japan . . . you can watch the full 60 minutes (approximately) or just the first segment . . .

. . . on tha rag . . .

HA HA it’s not what you’re thinking . . . I’ve been a bit lazy about posting here, so maybe this will fill some of the gaps . . . the boro concept project is steaming right along – the first concept garment is being worn around the yard in the morning if its cool enough . . .

Ladylu in the first boro . . .

. . . back of the first concept garment . . .

Moving on . . . here’s some pics of the latest boro concept . . . a “xipper” themed boro . . . the “x” in xipper is pronounced the same as the “X” in Xochimilco. . . (The “exotic” spelling is just the result of a keyboard error that I thought would make for interesting commentary.)

This particular boro is based on a suggestion from my youngest daughter who likes zippers, black clothings, and tattoos . . .

this is the back of the boro . . .

Inside pocket . . .

. . . detail.

The pocket is from a pair of Levi’s . . . right front side – inside lining.

These xippers open into the sleeve . . . that’s it, nothing up the sleeve except an arm . . .

This boro solves the problem of what-to-do with all the xippers I cut from the denim jeans that flow through the shop . . . and, what about the button fly pants? See for yourself . . .

Front view, right side w/sleeve . . .

Some photos of a front panel in process . . . chalk and sequence letters.

This xipper will slide, but there’s just fabric behind . . .

There are more photos on my other camera (haven’t shopped them yet) that I’ll put up later, in the meanwhile, check out some of the related boro concept posts on the other blog . . .

Boro concept . . .

Sunday WITH the “boro” man

Well . . . I got some serious input relative to the “boro” project today . . . not all concept pieces will be complex or too “thought out”.

And here are some photos of the “boro” man looking like a refugee from some wrestle-mania in Mexico . . .

” . . . ”

Need to improve my posture, or . . .

. . . lose that pot!!

Some photos of the haori influenced “boro” coat . . .

. . .front view above.

. . . and the back – two views below.

And two photos of the inside . . . lining, etc.

I need to design a hanger for the garment . . . two plastic clothes hangers just barely keep the coat on the rack . . .

. . . in the shop

So I was thinking . . . RTW . . . Ready-To-Wear . . . yeh, coats/jackets, “reconditioned” jeans . . . read “reconditioned” as patched, distressed, worn . . .

And D.I.Y. . . . maybe a DIY post about fabric recovery . . . that is, the how-to of gathering, the process necessary to assemble pieces of denim and other fabrics for a project . . . the cutting and lay-out (layering) of the fabric pieces.

Replication . . . in this piece – the replication and repetition of a “shape” similar to the layered bamboo in samurai armor . . . I’ll walk you through the “creative” process of the illustrated piece . . .

. . . back panel of the “faux” samurai armor vest . . . “bat” wing sleeves to be added to finished piece.

Reference material:

. . . more images, if you’re interested.

Close-up of the upper section of the “armor” piece.

The blank “canvas” . . .

Stuff for consideration . . .

I do consider things like color value, texture and size when layering the pieces of fabric on the support panel . . .

Another view of the stitched back panel of the “faux” armor vest.

. . . lots of loose ends to be tied up.

Initially the question was: What do I make with all the frayed cuffs from the denim jeans? I don’t mean to suggest that this is or will be SOP for ALL pieces of denim of this type . . . there were several stitched-together, frayed layers that had been lying about for some time and it wasn’t until I saw a post with a samurai warrior in traditional armor with the Chanel logo that the use for the rectangular pieces of frayed denim “popped” . . . Why not use the frayed stuff to visually imitate the bamboo slats? Not “inspiration”, but “soft” interpretation or translation of a cultural item using the materials at hand, a “bricolage” if you will – a “bricoleur” is one who creates an object or symbol using available materials or media – in this situation, use of the salvaged frayed bottoms of denim jeans to imitate or suggest the slats of bamboo armor. Wiki definition is here . . .

Other “compositions” in the shop are reminiscent of aerial photographs of landscapes with different types of soils and vegetation.

Patched work pants

Well, I got this blog dedicated to my “boro” or rag works project up . . . however I can see that it will take some time to fine tune it and get the posts moved from Old school – NEW world to the new page . . .

So in the space between, here’s some photos of MY reconditioned or rehabbed Levi’s . . . my work pants.

. . . In the beginning . . .

Additional layers are positioned and the location marked with chalk . . .

. . . pinned in place . . .

. . . then given to the JUKI.

A finished left leg . . . and the completed “retro-fit” (below).

More pants (my Levi’s work pants).

Some “bleach” work will be done on the large areas of new layers.

Front – left leg . . .

. . . left leg (rear).

Text sent from my iPod Touch, photos added . . .

the “rag” man here . . .

I will be moving all the posts about my “boro” style denim rag works project to this new blog page. . . it seemed to be the thing to do, since most of my commentary on “Old school – NEW world” is sort of acidic, and doesn’t really fit with the more subdued tonality of used denim.