Juliana Sissons - Fashion Designer in Residence

Follow fashion design resident, Juliana Sissons, as she gets inspired by the V&A Medieval and Renaissance Galleries and explores new innovative methods of garment shaping through the use of pattern cutting techniques and 'fully fashioning' machine knit structure.

Read more about Juliana Sissons - Fashion Designer in Residence

Studio images: Fashion Design Residency, Sackler Centre for arts education at the V&A

Submitted by jsissons on Tue, 22/03/2011 - 19:09

A selection of images taken in the Sackler Centre studio, by V&A photographer Maike Zimmermann:

Couture Collection presentation: Juliana Sissons, at the V&A, 2011

Submitted by jsissons on Tue, 22/03/2011 - 16:36

The Fashion installation, being shown in the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries created an unexpected romantic atmosphere; surrounded by the backdrop of sculptural artifacts, renaissance colours and accompanied by the soft sound of water from the fountain.
Here are some new images from the show including some interesting back stage shots from the day, showing models being made up by the lovely 'London College of Fashion' 'Hair and make up' students who worked with me on designing the 'look' for the models; I loved what they did with the models hair!
Images by V&A photographer Carlos Juimenez
Models from 'B.M. Models', Brighton and 'F.M. Agency', London
Hair and Make up by 'London College of Fashion' Strudents

Hair and Makeup by London College of Fashion Students

We decided to use Joan of Arc as our muse to take inspiration for strength in posture and for hair styles and make up. Platts were twisted to great effect and in order to keep within the colour theme, face make up was kept to a neutrals with hints of gold and white

Black wool knitted suit with light gold copper wire inserts and detachable sleeves, worn by Suzie; FM Models.

Oyster cotton knitted dress with warm gold copper wire inserts with detachable sleeves and collar, worn by Kara; FM Agency

Black cotton knitted dress with black copper wire and gold lurex lace panels; detachable sleeves and black cotton knitted shorts. Worn by Kajsa; FM Agency.

Black wool knitted suit with light gold copper wire trim and slash detail; detachable sleeves. Worn by Lydia; BM Models

Surprised Museum audience, as models stand in the far arch ways of the gallery.

Mink grey cotton knitted suit with tuck pleated detail and detachable collar worn by Scarlet; FM Agency
Glaze linen knitted dress with loop detail and detachable sleeves worn by Grace; BM Models.

Back stage, Model wearing Black elastic and grey cotton knitted knitted playsuit with grey cotton and black ribbon knitted collar attachment, detachable sleeves. Shoes by Gabriella Marina Gonzalez

Flesh elastic and oyster cotton knitted playsuit with detachable sleeves, worn by Bethany; BM Models

Juliana Sissons Couture Fashion Show: Medieval and Renaissance Galleries: Engaging Fashion with a Museum Audience: Questionnaire

Submitted by jsissons on Sun, 27/02/2011 - 18:47

Thank you to everyone who attended my show. I recieved some fantastic comments about the production and the quality of knit; as I am particularly interested in how a Museum audience reacts to fashion showing within the Galleries, I have enclosed a filled in sample questionnaire, for you to see and am interested in your views.

Juliana Sissons Couture Fashion ShowMedieval and Renaissance Galleries Victoria & Albert Museum

Engaging Fashion with a Museum Audience

What attracted you to this event?

The knowledge that the wealth of special treasures in the V&A collection could be the source of inspiration for a contemporary fashion collection

Was the presentation how you expected it to be?

I expected a usual catwalk show. This was special, new!

What did you particularly like about the show?

The complexity of the knitting that emerged from the research

Is a museum setting a good place to show contemporary fashion?

Yes, particularly when the space is considered and interacted with, to design the show production, as in this case.

What, if anything, did you find thought-provoking in what you saw and heard at this event?

To want to view the source of the research and helps see aspects in a new invigarated way

Has attending this event changed the way you feel about contemporary art / design / craft?

Craft, research and particularly the notion of historical reference

“Excess becomes a means of communication and experimentation” Do you feel the artist has been able to convey a story in an engaging way to the Museum audience?

120 per cent success and in this regard, powerful beyond expectation, considering I had seen a show two weeks earlier, which was conventional; in the current climate we need 'Special'; this was.

Inspired by Armour, these garments were designed to give personality and power to the individuals, padding builds up areas of the body and lends an imposing and authoritative touch to the female figure; has this event inspired you to find out more about the work of this artist?

Yes, how?

Juliana Sissons - Couture Fashion Show: Medieval and Renaissance Galleries: 19th February 2011

Submitted by jsissons on Sun, 27/02/2011 - 16:22

Inspired by Armour, these garments were designed to give personality and power to the individuals, padding builds up areas of the body and lends an imposing and authoritative touch to the female figure

Juliana Sissons: Couture Collection

Saturday 19th February
Medieval and Renaissance Room 50a
13.30 & 15.00
Fashion designer, Juliana Sissons, participated in the V&A’s Artist in Residency programme between July and December 2010. During this time Juliana used the V&A’s medieval and renaissance galleries for research and was particularly inspired by the armour collection and by images depicting armour within the many tapestries and sculpture. Sissons' new collection on show today is of developmental knitted pieces inspired by the research, skills, exploration and textile experimentation gained during her residency. Like armour, these pieces can be worn separately or can be worn in conjunction with other items from the collection to make up whole outfits.
The links between historic armour and fashion are extremely close. To complement Juliana's collection, selections from the Museum's armour collection will be available for visitors to examine.

Collection:

Oyster cotton knitted dress with warm gold copper wire inserts; detachable sleeves and collar

Black cotton knitted dress with black copper wire and gold lurex lace panels; detachable sleeves

Black elastic and grey cotton knitted playsuit with grey cotton and black ribbon knitted collar attachment; detachable sleeves (digitally enabled textiles)

Flesh elastic and oyster cotton knitted playsuit; detachable sleeves (Digitally enabled textiles)

Glaze linen knitted dress with loop detail; detachable sleeves

Mink grey cotton knitted suit with tuck pleated detail; detachable collar

Black wool knitted suit with light gold copper wire inserts; detachable sleeves

Black wool knitted suit with light gold copper wire trim and slash detail; detachable sleeves

With special thanks to Vikki Haffenden who worked closely with Juliana to develop the digitally enabled knitted textiles in the collection; (no’s 3 and 4); these fabrics were developed on the Industrial Shima Seiki knitting system at the University of Brighton.
Photographs by Toxi Doyle: Models from BM Models, Brighton and FM Models, London.
"Excess becomes a means of communication and experimentation"
I have tried to convey a story in an engaging way to the Museum audience