Here are the seven looks we presented at the “F” is For Fashion event hosted by Harvesting the F.A.M., November 29, 2013 at Venue Music Hall. The dresses are prototypes and will be available next spring; leggings and scarves are in production now and will be up in the shop just as soon as the weather conditions are suitable for a photo shoot.
Thanks to my pal Mike Foster for the photos!
Here are a few poorly-lit photos from backstage to tide you over until I get my hands on the runway photos a friend shot for me. The models looked so pretty in the Levigator Press dresses, leggings and scarves. As always in my work, of course, horror vacui abounds. See for yourself:
I’m especially tickled by the long dress on the left, which is a near exact reproduction in cut to a dress I made (in black cotton) in the early 90s and wore through that entire decade until it quite literally shredded off my body. I asked the model, Ashley, to wear the 14-hole Dr Martens with it just to give it that exact same silhouette as my beloved ’90s dress. This version combines fabric printed from woodblocks overtop of an existing print with vintage embroidered textiles (in the bodice and patch pocket).
The two other dresses with the same combination of vintage embroidery and overprinted fabric have a more 1970s style, with a bodice that softly gathers into a shaped midriff band. You can’t see it in this photo, but the short green dress has a swallow on it with the word “Love” in embroidered script. Sweet.
Here’s a better look at the cut of the turquoise and orange dresses in the centre, from when I first developed the pattern over a year ago:
This is before the pockets went on, which match up with the pattern so perfectly that you can’t even see them in the modeled photo. The turquoise dress has pockets of the original (not overprinted) fabric so they stand out a bit more.
Here’s one more shot of some of the models lining up for our scene:
The leggings-and-giant-scarf look was balanced with an identical one in turquoise, not seen here. The leggings have worked out quite well; both I and one of the other designers wore them the night of the show and they were extremely comfortable to work in and also looked amazing, of course. I’m just waiting for a chance to do a photo shoot to get these up in the shop. That red pair is already sold but there are plenty more, all one of a kind and all very pretty.
Here’s a peek at a few of the leggings prints:
The Levigator Press studio has been working on overdrive getting ready for three upcoming shows, all this Friday, November 29:
Harvesting the FAM “F is for Fashion” show, November 29 at Venue Music Hall (check out the link for full details). Here’s a little peek of some of the dresses I’ll be showing:
I’ll also be debuting the woodblock printed stretch leggings I’ve been working on for the last little while. My little collection is either going to be phenomenal or a colossal disaster, as the usual horror vacui is in full effect and I’m going to try to pair some ridiculously busy dresses (fabrics block printed over existing prints, paired with snippets of vintage embroideries) with ridiculously busy leggings. And possibly also some ridiculous scarves. If you’re in Windsor, please come check it out!
I’ll have new drawings and a few block printed cowls and triangle scarves in Artcite’s annual holiday fundraiser show, Doin’ the Louvre, which opens the same night as the fashion show (right around the corner!) and runs until December 24. And if you’re in the Pillette Village neighbourhood, you can also see some of my new drawings at the Back Room Gallery’s annual Members’ Miniature Show (also running until December 24).
So much work to finish up and deliver all in the same week! Next week will be a much needed break, and time to start working on painting the studio.
Just finished: a big pile of woodblock printed cowls, triangle scarves, and bandannas for the Made in Windsor Holiday Sale, in which I’ll be taking part this Friday night, November 15.
Bonus sneak peek: those things hanging down in the background? Woodblock printed LEGGINGS. More on those later!
Levigator Press will be part of the Made in Windsor Holiday Sale on November 16th and 17th. This year it’s happening at the Walkerville Brewery building as part of the Walkerville neighbourhood holiday walk event. Get all of the details at the Made in Windsor website, here: Made in Windsor. There will be live music and beer, and it’s going to be a fun time!
We will be focusing on hand woodblock printed accessories and clothing like those in our Greenwears shop, but will have all of your favourite Levigator Press pocket notes there as well.
