THE BRIEF / 6TH FAD COMPETITION
URBAN NOMAD: objects trouvés

Calling all Fashion Archaeologists - we are inviting you to uncover the mysteries of Egypt through a journey from the pyramids of Giza to the hustle and bustle, smells and bells of Cairo. Egypt! A glorious open air museum of astounding temples and monuments. ...land of the lush, fertile river banks of the Nile. ...land of subterfuge.

Unwrap the unique architectural elements of the nomad’s tent and the pharaohs’ burial tombs: the pyramids

The triangular shapes engineered from geometric blocks form a skyline of “ancient skyscrapers” tailored to the “golden ratio” or “sacred ratio” used in their artwork including hieroglyphs, pyramids and countless statues. This indicates that the Egyptians were highly advanced in mathematics and astrology - each pyramid is geometrical and has a perfect square base. The sides of the pyramid appear to be golden isosceles triangles with base angles of 72°and a vertex angle of 36°. They are also aligned with the North Star.

The pyramids of Giza, harbouring mummies and designs like nothing ever seen before, are set against a backdrop of one of the most exciting and creative cities: Cairo. In contradiction yet in harmony with itself, Cairo evolves even as it nurtures a community of craftspeople steeped in traditions and Islamic faith, which adhere to customs and trades passed down from their ancestors. Mystery feeds the imagination and reaches across the vast expanse of desert, to nomads carrying their secrets and riches under starry skies from city to city - a camel caravan sashaying elegantly through the stillness of the desert heat.

In New York, in 1964, the sculptor Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude wrap, envelope and swathe pieces of architecture imitating elements of antique drapery and folds. However, the building underneath remains intact.

In their “Lower Manhattan Wrapped Buildings Project for no.2 Broadway and no.20 Exchange Place” modern skyscrapers resemble ancient monuments, and mysterious, shrouded geometric shapes loom on the horizon of Manhattan’s skyline. “We take space not belonging to sculpture and make sculpture out of it”. The key to Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s importance is their insistence on redefining the terms in which artworks are approached and assessed. Their esthetic is a distinctive one.

THE TASK
You will create 2 modern dignified complete outfits

1. Charm
With Cairo as your inspiration create a personal history utilising “objets trouvés”, charms and strips of fabrics lashed and stitched together to form a new fabric for your outfit, one which reflects and enhances your personality. Hidden pockets will contain secrets and amulets.

2. Geometric
Using triangular shapes and origami structures, create a mysterious “Christo-like” environmental and architectural piece that protects and dignifies the body. N.B. We are not looking directly at Egyptian fashion but at the craftsmanship, the symbolism, the techniques, the materials and the motifs used decoratively.

THE LIST
The city: Cairo
The architecture: the Pyramids of Giza
The era: 4700BC meets 1964
The shape: triangular
The stitch: tent stitch
The colours: sand beige, lush green, Nile brown, turquoise,
Metallic gold and silver
The chocolate: Toblerone
The music: Verdi’s “Aida”
The film: Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile”
The designers: Hussein Chalayan , Hamish Morrow, Christian Louboutin
The sculptor: Christo and Jeanne-Claude

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Spectres: When Fashion Turns Back. Clark, Judith (2005)
- V & A Publications

Egypt Style – Taschen, Angelika (March 2005 ) - Taschen

Christo and Jeanne-Claude - Jacob Baal-Teshuva, (2001) Taschen

The Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute Fashion -
A History from 18th century - 20th century (2002) – Taschen

“Blueprint” June 2005, article “Origami House”
on Carouso St John’s brick house

World of Interiors June 2005, article on
“The Treasure Hunter”, page 142.

Fashion: meaning and Message. An interview with Louise de Caires,
FAD Creative Director, and Mary Eyre, FAD Director

WEBSITE LINKS:
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass
Search Egypt from home page - will bring up about 800 objects, or under the 'tours' button look for four themed Egyptian tours.

http://www.bharattextile.com/features/rtwspring-05/collections/hchalaya.html

http://www.hamishmorrow.com

http://www.icon-magazine.co.uk/issues/december/hussein.htm

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/04/18/style/fhuss.php

http://www.princetoninfo.com/christo.html

http://www.jca-online.com/christo.html