Preet Thakkar

Textile & Surface Design, 2010 – 2012 Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City - Academic projects

2011-07-10T00:57:00.004-07:00

All things are imperfect - nothing that exists is without imperfections. When we look really closely, we see flaws. The sharp edge of the razor blade, when magnified reveals microscopic pits, chips and variegation. Every craftsman knows the limit of perfection: the imperfections glare back and as things begin to break down and approach the primordial state, they become even less perfect, more irregular.

From the book Wabi Sabi by Leonard Koren

Fashion Style and Sources

Project: Create a story inspired by medieval architecture and sculpture, source fabrics and present concept
Layout: Adobe Illustrator CS5

Photography Styling
Project: Storyboard presentation followed by still life photo shoot based on a single concept: Organic
Layout: Adobe Illustrator CS5

Photo Shoot

Concept presentation - Hand-painted Textiles

Project: Historically influenced stripe design
Inspiration: Tibetan Buddhist tantric paintings – Mandala

Concept presentation

Hand-painted stripe using watercolor dyes on Fabriano cold press 140 lb paper
Displayed at the Fashion Institute of Technology

Detail shots

Print design - Adobe Photoshop CS5

Floral design using watercolor technique in Adobe Photoshop

Print design - Adobe Illustrator CS5

Displayed at the Fashion Institute of Technology

Print design - Adobe Illustrator CS5
Advance hand screen print project - repeat size 25.25w x 32h printed on linen fabric in three colorways

Print design

Hand-painted conversational in gouache on vellum

Experimental Screen Printing - Layout designed in Adobe Photoshop CS5

Screen print using water-based pigment on cotton

Print design - India Inspired
Hand-painted conversational in gouache on Fabriano cold press 140 lb paper

Print design

Hand-painted floral in gouache on Fabriano cold press 140 lb paper

Original and weigh-in

Swatch and final design with layout

Print design: Hand-painted floral in watercolor dye and gouache on Fabriano cold press 140 lb paper

Industrial Studio Practice

Print design: large scale hand-painted traditional floral design for home furnishings
Color and story inspiration : English country 1800's

Story board layout: Adobe Illustrator CS5

Medium : Hand-painted Gouache on vellum

Experimental Screen Printing
Conversational screen print using water-based pigment on cotton in three color ways

Experimental Screen Printing

Vintage bicycles screen print using water-based pigment color trapping on cotton in three color ways
Currently on display at the Fashion Institute of Technology

Above: Designs inspired by an archival line drawing
Layout designed for screen printing using Adobe Photoshop
Pattern application using two silk screens color trapping technique and different layout experimentation.

Weaves

Above: soda cans re-used in to weaves

Above: Tapestry weave

Decorative Fabrics

Hand painted and CAD

Science inspired - Microscopic skin cell images

Story board Layout: Adobe Illustrator CS5

Above: Coordinated print explorations using Adobe Photoshop

CAD : Advance Photoshop CS5

Product : Comforters

Client profile : 18 to 24 year old guys living in New York.

Above: Concept board

Repeat size : Vertical 9" Horizontal 9"

Repeat size: Vertical 9" Horizontal 9"

Border with the field design - Used one point perspective technique and created a structured geometric design (hand-painted) and later made the digital version of the same using Adobe Photoshop CS5

Above : Initial sketch

Above: Hand-painted stripe - mirror repeat using Adobe Photoshop CS5

Above: Created the same deign using Adobe Photoshop CS5

Repeat size
Vertical 18"
Horizontal 18"

Textile Art: For Maggie Baxter, India 2007- 2008

2011-07-09T00:51:00.000-07:00

Maggie Baxter is a Western Australian artist who has been working with textiles in Kutch, India for almost 20 years. Her textiles are constructed, wrapped and folded to give form with embroidered lines floating freely over the surface. Large contour shapes of appliqué or block prints that suggest the unraveling of language also characterize Ms. Baxter’s work.

I worked closely with Maggie during the sampling and layout phase of three textile art and clothing projects during 2008 – 2009. I was solely responsible for the works’ production under the guidance of my mentor Kirit Dave. Varieties of techniques were employed—block printing, appliqué, hand embroidery and weaving. After construction, these garments, draperies, art panels and three-dimensional textile sculptures were shipped to the United Kingdom and Australia for exhibition.

Maggie Baxter's work was exhibited at

India Habitat Center – India, April 2008

Stroudwater International Textile Festival – U.K., May 2008

Anant Art Gallery, India, October 2008

White Gum Valley Art Space – Australia, February 2009

Art panel (200cm X 200cm or 78.7 inches x 78.7 inches) Silk, resist block print, tie dye, appliqué, takka kam (running hand stitches), embroidery

Above: Charcoal painting by Maggie Baxter, layered with silk hand treated fabric.

Above: Discharge block printed and appliqué drape

Art Panel (200cm X 200cm or 78.7 inches x 78.7 inches) Jute, block printed with pigment, hand tacking, embroidery

Above: Resist block printed and embroidered drape - silk.

Above Left: "Lattice" Textile sculpture- silk with hand embroidery and takka kam (running hand stitches)

Above Right : Art panel (100cm x200cm or 39.4 inches x 78.7 inches) Silk, resist block printed, applique and hand embroidery.

Above Left: Art panel (100cm x200cm or 39.4 inches x 78.7 inches) silk, discharge block printed with hand embroidered (takka kam)

Above Right : Art panel (100cm x200cm or 39.4 inches x 78.7 inches) silk, discharge block printed and hand embroidered (takka kam).

Above: experimental digital printed fabrics (Kaleidoscope)

Above: Cushion cover digital simulation

Above: experimental steel waving

Home furnishing and accessory design project using hand embroidery: Craftmark (AIACA), Parampara - (India 2009-10)

2011-07-08T00:55:00.000-07:00

Parampara is a textile craft based organization specializing in hand embroidery in Ahmadabad, India. Being the member of Craftmark(AIACA), Parampara was awarded funds to design a range of new products which were marketed through Craftmark's annual catalog and Craftmark online catalog store. I was appointed for quality and design training for artisans as well as for for product design and development- accessories, home furnishing and woman's apparel.

Home

Product: Cushion cover - 'chameli'
Embroidery: Phulkari hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Cushion cover - lily pond
Embroidery: 'Desi bharat' - hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Cushion cover - 'taranga'
Embroidery: 'Takka kaam' - running hand stitch
Fabric: Cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Cushion cover - Bamboo
Embroidery: 'Sadu bharat' hand embroidery
Fabric: Dupioni silk
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Cushion cover - Sitara
Embroidery: 'Sadu bharat - abhlo' hand embroidery with mirror
Fabric: Silk
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Table runner, place mats, napkins, coasters - 'taranga'
Embroidery: 'Takka kaam' - running hand stitch
Fabric: Cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Table runner, place mats, napkins, coasters
Embroidery: Phulkari - hand embroidery
Fabric:Certified organic cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Table runner, place mats, napkins, coasters - 'chameli'
Embroidery: 'Phulkari' - hand embroidery
Fabric:Cotton, lining fabric: batik
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Bags

Product: Evening bag
Embroidery: hand embroidery
Fabric: Dupioni silk and hand woven brocade fabric
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Tote bag
Embroidery: Phulkari - hand embroidery
Fabric: black - cotton and hand block printed fabric made from natural dyes.
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Hand bag
Embroidery: Russian stitch - hand embroidery
Fabric: black - cotton, lining fabric - natural dyed hand block printed cotton fabric.
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Coin pouch
Embroidery: hand embroidery
Fabric: black - Silk and hand woven brocade.
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Passport bag
Embroidery: Phulkari hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton quilted
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Apparel

Product: Women's wear tunic
Embroidery: Phulkari hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Women's wear tunic
Embroidery: Phulkari hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton pin-stripe
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Women's wear tunic
Embroidery: Phulkari hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Women's wear tunic
Embroidery: Phulkari hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Women's wear tunic
Embroidery: Sadu bharat - hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Women's wear winter jacket
Embroidery: quilting, applique and hand embroidery
Fabric: Cotton, lining - block printed cotton
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Product: Women's evening jacket
Embroidery: Phulkari embroidery
Fabric: Silk tie-dye
Embroidery yarns: Cotton

Textile and apparel design: Khamir - Craft Resource Center: Diploma project - National institute of Design (India 2007)

2011-07-05T20:14:00.000-07:00

Diploma project is the last phase of student’s academic learning at NID. It provides opportunity for students to practically apply their learning in a professional industrial setup.

I visited Kachchh (Gujarat, India) in 2006 to study various hand crafted textile processes that are practiced by the craftsmen since many generations as their family traditions. The techniques and processes involved in creating such textiles are very complex, time taking and meticulous.

I studied various techniques of fabric making and processing such as weaving, block printing, tie-dye and embroidery and by the end of my trip, I was certain to come back for more.

I approached Khamir-CRC, a not-for-profit organization based in Kachchh who facilitates local craftsmen with batter raw materials, design and marketing assistance with a proposal to work for them for six months as a part of my diploma project.

I was offered to work with the weavers in Kuchchh to create interesting fabrics using wool fibers that the weavers specialize in weaving. Using the same fabrics that are developed, I was also offered to design a range of appael for a trade show in New Delhi, India.

Left: Weaver in Bhujodi - Kachchh weaving yardage merino wool fabric.

Inspiration images for weaving

Project brief: Work closely with the weavers in Bhujodi and Sarli villages in Kachchh and create interesting fabric samples (four harness dobby looms).
Use fabric samples to create apparel range for Khamir's annual trade show in New Delhi, India.

Phase one: Weave sample development.
I worked with Akanksha Pareek, student from Vanasthali who was appointed as a textile design intern at Khamir and under the guidance of my mentor Dr. Himadari Ghosh and Somesh SIngh and design co-coordinator at Khamir, Ms. Meera Goradia.

Above: Weft yarn tie-dyed and spry dyed to achieve interesting effects.

Above and below: Hand woven fabric samples on four harness dobby loom using a combination of coarse cotton yarns, Australian merino wool and local hand spun wool, fabric samplers were woven by the weavers according to the design specifications.

Phase two: shortlisted fabric samples were woven in the length of 25 meters (27.30 yd).

Phase three - (tie-dye and shibori) Value addition on plain fine cotton/merino blends.

Phase four: Market research and design development of apparel Women's wear winter jackets for Khamir CRC's annual exhibition " Khamir and the weaves of Kachchh" were designed using the same fabrics.

Story of the collection: Based upon the final brief, and following the trend forecast the collection was planned. Product functionality was the core. Images were used to represent the look of the collection to the client.

Collection

Left: Local hand-spun wool with silk lining - Jacket.

Below: Local hand-spun wool/ rayon blended - bolero jacket

Right: Local hand-spun wool bolero jacket.

Left: Merino/cotton blend & shibori - accessory top.

Right: fine merino wool pullover.

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Left: fine merino wool/cotton pullover.

Right: Merino wool jacket with tie-dye with cotton lining and piping.

Right: fine merino wool pullover.

Textures from nature - Academic project: National Institute of Design, India 2006

2011-07-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

Inspiration for this project was taken from the nature (texture of a tree bark). Textures were achieved using hand and machine techniques on various unconventional mediums such as paper, plastic, foam and leather. Further, Woman's leather Jacket was constructed as a final product.

Above: Inspiration and sketch

Above and below: Swatches inspired from the texture of a tree bark using fibers and fabric

Left: Small pieces of leather glued and stitched to create bigger surface. It was burned with acid to achieve tree bark like texture, it was further dyed using bismarck brown and wax was applied to simulate similar effect.

Left: Unprocessed swatch
Right: After application of acid, dye and wax

Above: Women's Jacket was constructed as a final product.
Displayed at National Institute of Design (India) - panorama gallery during the annual convocation (December 2006).

Scribbles

2011-07-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

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