Gloucestershire joins the SW Design Forum

I thought I would inform you all about the new Gloucestershire Design Forum. If you are a designer in Gloucestershire, it may be worth contacting Emma Heathcote to register your interest and to be the first to hear about opportunities.

"The South West Design Forum, the organisation formed to promote and support the design industry in the South West, has won grant funding to provide resources for its 5 sub-regional clusters and to create a sixth group in Gloucestershire.

The South West Design Forum is the lead body for strategy and communication within the Design sector and it aims to reflect and drive the aspirations of the whole sector throughout the seven counties of the South West, at the highest level. The South West Design Forum connects and shares ideas between sub-regional and cultural agencies, national design bodies, higher education institutions and other key public and private sector organisations.

For information on South West Design Forum and links to the sub-regional clusters go to:
www.swdf.co.uk

Fashion is back in Fashion

As we all know, the credit crunch has had a serious impact on the property market, and subsequently the television programmers have had to adopt a new approach to their scheduling. It appears that property programmes have now been replaced with fashion programmes. Below is a list of some that I have noticed popping up on our screens in the last few weeks, which may be of interest to those working, or hoping to work, in fashion and textiles.

1. Project Runway (USA) (Sky Three & Sky - catch it when you can!) has been on our screens for a couple of years, and is a fashion competition, introduced by the model Heidi Klum, which offers the winner a catwalk show at New York Fashion week, after a series of weekly designer challenges. Watch them cut out the patterns, shop for trims and style their catwalk model. It's great to see a reality show where an individuals creativity is rewarded. http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/5/index.php

2. Frock Me (Channel 4 - Sunday) is introduced by top designer Henry Holland & Alexa Chung. It looks at fashion trends, high street fashion, designer fashion, as well as letting fashionistas have go in the customising and styling challenges. http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/t4/microsites/F/frockme/showguides/index.html

3. Twiggy's Frock Exchange (BBC 2, Tuesday) Tackling the credit crunch head on, this programme introduces the growing trend of the clothes swapping party. There is plenty of advice on current trends and how to update your clothes through customisation. The show is linked to the BBC's Thread website which is dedicated to Ethical fashion. http://www.bbc.co.uk/thread/twiggysfrockexchange/

4. The Fashion Show (ITV2) Another fashion magazine programme, looking at high street trends and styling techniques, with celebrity guests. http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/Fashion/TheFashionShow/default.html


5. British Style Genius (BBC2, Tuesday) A BBC series, documenting the major influences on British fashion, featuring the major players and icons. The next episode features John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen & Siouxsie Sioux.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/britishstylegenius/

It looks like the 'must have' item for the Winter 08/09 season is a sewing machine!