Things I think, do, draw
and explore.
Some drawings, thoughts, ideas and inspiration around clothing, materials, innovations, colours, trends, the outdoors and nature.
It started with a Gilet….
Back in November 2022 I bought a vintage Rohan gilet online. It didn’t fit well and was quite old fashioned in its shape but none the less it had a certain charm!
I decided to tweak the shape, and rework it into something that i would actually wear.
I was so pleased with the result that I began looking out for other pieces I could rework. I also went through my stash of fabric remnants and realised I had the means to create some pieces from scratch.
The before and the after
Since that first piece I have reworked a number of garments to give them new life and appeal and used remnant fabrics to create a number of gilets and have been selling them into my local community.
Reworked, refashioned and revived clothing from discarder textiles and unwanted garments!
More remakes and reworks to come…keep and eye on the Feral Crayon instagram for updates!
Insulation Inspiration
For a Feral Collection layering piece. Combining patchwork, quilting, colour and texture with technical insulated fill and water repellency for a truly joyful garment that also offers warmth and protection.
A Feral Collection.
I’m often asked if I would ever consider starting my own brand. The answer, for a whole host of reasons, is generally no!
But sometimes it’s nice to think ‘what if’.
So whilst my work calendar is quieter I take a bit of time to have a bit of a play with what a Feral Collection might look like.
Starting with a vision board.
It’s work not a holiday.
A conversation with an old colleague got me reflecting back on some of the particularly awesome things I’ve done over my career. All in the name of research and consumer understanding.
From walking across glaciers and climbing to snowy summits, to hiking up hills, sleeping in mountain huts, gorge walking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and even taking the helm of a Volvo Ocean Race boat (albeit VERY briefly).
I don’t pretend to be the most extreme of outdoorsy people, I often need a nudge towards the stuff that feels scary. But I’m grateful to have worked with so many brands who have offered me the opportunity to try their core activities, and all to improve the products I design.
It is definitely all work….
One of my first commercial collections.
Whilst at Berghaus back in 2007 I designed a whole new range of Outdoor Lifestyle Gear. This was one of my earliest opportunities to work on a collection from scratch, researching the concept and developing the whole look and feel, not just following a strict design brief. I remember loving the whole process and getting a real buzz out of the project. I really like the quality of my early hand drawings. Sketching out ideas is still one of my favourite parts of the design process
Where It all Began.
A throw back to my degree show way back when sketches and flats were all drawn by hand and the photocopier was all the technology I had to use.
It was in my final year at uni that I became interested in functional clothing. I spent hours in my local army surplus depot going through old uniforms and equipment. Keen to combine the practical details with clothes that were fun to wear.
The resulting final collection was a brightly coloured red/orange mishmash of fabrics with an excess of pockets and fastenings. The models came down the catwalk to Ben Folds Five’s “Army”.
I’ve come a long way since then but its nice to look back and I still love a rummage around an army surplus warehouse!
beccy@feralcrayon.com | © Feral Crayon 2020