consistent inspiration

i cleaned my workspace today and rediscovered my initial inspiration board for atelier nunu.  over the six months of sourcing, design, and fabric development, the inspiration for the first collection has remained constant.  

the collection is inspired by industrialization with the muted colors in the factory and la garconne joining men in the work force.  also, as a modern response to industrialization, the collection is inspired by the growing awareness and advocacy of environmental consciousness.

working with a master craftsman

Making samples has been a very collaborative and educational process.  I am working with a talented craftsman, who has been handmaking bags for over 40 years.  I've learned very much from him, and it's been fun figuring out (and arguing about) what is possible and what is not.  With his expertise on what can be done with fabric vs leather, I have tweaked the styles, as seen on the tiny post-its, to increase the durability while maintaining the clean atelier nunu look.  I am purposefully posting the really small, ugly sketches so that the contrast with the beautiful bags (once they're made) is more extreme. :)  Actually, it's because I left the full sized, technical sketches with him.

He is currently passing down his skills by training his son.  I am trying to finagle my way into an apprenticeship, but I have to focus on one thing at a time!

more pics of tote

my very first sample

the samplemaker/craftsman did a wonderful job on the first atelier nunu style & sample!  i am working on a few corrections but overall i'm very happy with the high quality of craftsmanship.

 

playing with stripes

painted stripes on leather today to see how it looks.  looks summery fresh & nautical... or like the greek flag.  :)

More art today

i received this in the mail today from my niece!  my day was full of art, yet her drawing is my favorite.  i may be slightly biased.

MAD about museum of art & design

field trip today to the MAD on columbus circle.  on display currently are ceramics in jewelry and art created by african and african-american artists.  unfortunately, many pieces were covered by glass and rooms were dark so pictures from my iphone did not turn out well.  the museum is definitely worth visiting in person.

planning for the website

I am starting to look more closely at fonts, textures, colors, and art for inspiration for the website.  

Playing with color & texture

Waiting for samples

waiting for samples to be completed.  am very curious and excited to see how they turn out.  can't wait to see how the inside lining looks too with the minimal industrial hardware.

Leather

I received a teeny swatch today of a beautiful full grain leather that is the best cut of the hide and tanned using only natural extracts and oils.  It will develop a patina with age and is a slightly heavier weight which will make the straps and trim even more durable.  Waiting on a couple more swatches before making a final decision!

eco-friendly leather

i discovered that the leather i sourced is not working well as the trim.  therefore, i am re-researching and re-sourcing leather this week.  it's challenging to find high quality, full-grain leather that is tanned in an eco-friendly way, with no chrome, formaldehyde etc.  but, sometimes the more difficult path is the right path.  just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other...
  

samplemaking

working with the samplemaker this week, and i discovered that mock-ups and sketches are worth a thousand words.  works well because it's easier for me to communicate that way!

whitewash

in black with swirl brushstroke

continuity

fabric came in and went to samplemaker in the garment district to make bags!  in the meantime, i am working on another small group, same silhouettes but different materials.  i am painting so the bags have a washed look with layered texture and color.  

light at the end of tunnel

received fabric and headed to samplemaker tomorrow morning!

[in basement of dia beacon.  only place i could sneak a pic]

field trip

to the dia beacon.  beautiful sunny day in the 60s.  i love this museum - the building itself with all the natural light - and wish i could take photos of all of the inspiring & amazing exhibits!

  tree that didn't get the memo that it's spring

outdoor seating area at dia beacon

inside function

as i wait for the fabric, i am mocking up the inside of the tote with extra leather and safety pins i have around the house.  i am trying to minimize the weight of the bag while creating cohesion between the interior and exterior.  hopefully i am not scaring people with these scraggly looking mock ups.  i am pre-testing the look and drape to cut sampling time.  i have mock ups of the other two bags i am working on as well, but those are even more scraggly. i'll keep those hidden from the public eye.  it's time to think through some packaging now...

yippee

all 200 sheets of fabric have been coated in green, blue, grey or black resin.  yay!  ready for sampling!

samples

few pieces of finished fabric are arriving on monday so i will head to the garment district to make samples!