This is certainly an interesting challenge! The designers are each assigned a bridge for inspiration and they are also told they will be using a 3D printer. What a cool challenge! I love taking inspiration from architecture and find these bridges to be exceptionally beautiful. I can only imagine all the designs that can come from such an inspiration. The 3D printing aspect only adds an additional outlet for creativity. On a side note, my cousin works in the 3D industry and his company had a dress made by 3D printing walk at NYFW, so this is certainly a modern, relevant challenge. They have two days for this challenge.
Once the designers get back into the workroom after Mood, they begin to start to stress out about the avant-garde aspect of the challenge. This always frusturates me with avant-garde challenges. Designers feel the need to do things that are big and “crazy.” The term avant-garde really means “new and unusual or experimental ideas.” This doesn’t mean that things need to be crazy, but just more unique. I believe designers often just want to do things “big” instead of really looking at creating something unique that has not been done before. Avant-garde is not just an explosion of wild appendages on an outfit.
I am seriously having designer envy right now! I wish that I was at the workroom right now creating when I see the resources the designers have with the 3D printer. I am in awe of what Candice has created with the printer and just think how beautiful that it could look if laid on a dress and engineered to a woman’s form. I must say this is definitely the most exciting challenge this season, hands down. While the rest of the designers are also working on promising looks, I can’t help but feel a little concerned for Merline and Kelly. Merline just looks like she is lost, like she’s putting a puzzle together. As for Kelly, while the top is nice, I think the skirt just looks like a mess and is in the wrong kind of fabric.
Ashley continues this week with her insecurities. She seems to be hanging on to all of the words from Tim’s critique instead of just taking them as some suggestions–a sure sign that she’s gone down a dark tunnel,and can’t find the end. She is a talented designer and sweet girl, but I wish that she had more confidence in herself.
Merline – Wow, this looks so different from how the garment started. While nothing on this dress is exceptionally unique, it is a stunning piece. The color is perfect and she used shapes from the 3D printer modestly, but beautifully, with the scattering across the chest. Unfortunately, it is a little lacking in creativity and in the end, that could hurt her in this challenge.
Edmond – I am also a fan of this look. I lost some of the details with the garment being all black, but the times when the camera zoomed in I saw some beautiful work. I also liked how the look resembled a black rose with the large drape on the left side. I think is the perfect blend of being both romantic and sexy. Nice work, sir.
Ashley – Wow! Way to step it up with the creativity. I agree while the look was not entirely cohesive, but the cape is absolutely stunning. I also thought that her use of the 3D printing was exceptionally well done. It helped to create a beautiful design along the shoulders. Personally, I felt that if she would have just made a simple caftan to go under the cape, and even pushed the cape further. It would have been just that much better, but kudos nevertheless.
Candice – While this is a stunning look, she could have done so much more too it. I was actually a little disappointed when it came out. She could have really engineered the body with her 3D shapes and created something that really look inspired by the bridge. The final result came out looking a little too basic for me.
Kelly – This look is just way too literal for my taste. I love the top and think that she did some great work. However, I just thought the bottom was too much of a literal inspiration of the bridge. I have to say I would have liked to see a little more of the shapes made from the 3D printer. That said, I do like that she kept a monochromatic color palate with the large shapes.
In the end Merline goes home, even with a beautiful dress, all because of the success of the other designers. All respect to her for going home fighting in a unique and exciting challenge.
Kelly was crowned the winner, which would never have been my choice.
