Mood Board and Coat Project

Well as promised here it is--one of my Fashion Visual class mood boards and the project that went with it.  We had to pick any culture we wanted and we had to use at least one t-shirt.  We also had to have a two dimensional and three dimensional effect to the quote.

So here is alos the description that was on the back of the mood board:

I was inspired by Jewish culture, especially the old world Hasidic faith founded in Poland in the mid 18th century.  Aside from the religious aspects of the Hasidic faith I was drawn to the prayer shawl or Tallit, which is worn during morning prayers, weedays and Shabbat.

The main inspiration was the Tzitzit or the tassel at the four corners of the prayer shawl, which remind us as Jews to observe all of G-d's commandments.  When I came up with this idea I wanted to try to convey the very rich woven tapestry that is my personal Jewish faith.  That while I am in prayer, three times a day, I am set apart for a brief moment from the madness that can be our planet and our personal lives, by being engulfed in the prayer shawl I invite a tranquil and intorspective time where I can speak to G-d where he inspires and moves me in ways no one else can.  That this very private and sacred time is now being opened to you with the creation of this coat; I hope it invites you to find that time for yourself.

The coat was originally four double extra large t-shirts dyed a light cream color, with a few left white.  Included in this coat is linen canvas dyed a deeper brown color and some left undyed as well.  The material then was cut into strips about three inches wide and woven together.  The woven material is than all top stitched in blue thread to stabilize the weaving.  I used Blue Satin for the lining.

The weaving is also representative of the custom of Jews who are in mourning of ripping their clothes which started centuries ago and is most remembered in the story of Job. Job 1:20 "At this, Job got up and tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and said 'The Lord hath giveth and the Lord hath taken away."

The layout for the board I wanted to convey the htought that the prayer shawl is for some an everyday part of our lives and for some identifies not only who we are but also what we believe and that reality sets us apart.  That we can find the peaceful, the etheral and the tranquil in our lives and all we have to do is look inward.