MA Practice Two - Designer Research: Hardware

Sourced From: Fendi.com

Whilst conducting research, I found that the 'Fendi Faces' range is quite cleverly constructed. Otherwise ordinary bags are transformed by human and animalistic features to give them their own personality, emotions and characters.

Sourced From: Fendi.com

By using hardware and other textural material elements, Fendi have created amazing details, I think that I will start to consider using hardware and looking into the sorts of details that would enhance my designs.

 Soured From: stellamccartney.com

Stella McCartney's bags are vegan friendly, the soft leather supplement makes a luxury fashion accessory, although the bags are soft fabric, the shape is supported by a metallic chain which appears to hold the pattern pieces together.

 Soured From: stellamccartney.com

The chain has become an important feature of the bag, making the design recognisable as a brand. With this in mind I want to try to create an item that could become recognisable through its detailed finishes.

The hardware used as detail on Fendi and Stella McCartney’s fashion accessories are just for decoration, although they are a clever part of the overall imagery and design, they don’t actually seem to have any valuable use.

There is a clear difference between the hardware contributing to the aesthetic of the design and being useful, I only want to introduce useful hardware into my designs but - I don’t want to disregard the look of the product.

 Sourced From: kurtgeiger.com

Whilst conducting a shop report, I noticed something which to me looked like an unusual feature on a Kurt Geiger clutch, two large eyelets on either corner of the bag to add a shoulder strap. This over exaggerated feature of the bag does add to the design aesthetically, but in my personal opinion it doesn’t serve a purpose or look good with the strap detached from the clutch.