Tunage

First off, I'd like to introduce you to my main inspiration. 
The brand, Lazy Oaf. 

Since I typically do confusingly weird vintage inspired lines, I thought it would be fun to change things up.  This is the first time I'm creating clothing with a modern edgy feel. Something I normally avoid at all costs, I think it's important to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Experimentation is paramount in fashion. 

Lazy Oaf's website

Lazy Oaf 
is a brand that screams TRENDY, EDGY, and NEW AGE with lots of attitude and incredible ascetics.  They are the perfect brand to guide me as I delve into my premier swimwear line. I fell there are not nearly enough cartoons on current bathing suits. This would change things right up. 

See more inspiration on my pinterest

Here's some of my beginning sketches for the line.

Tunage: Resort 15

click to see more from my sketchbook

Materials and construction

I started with this sheet that was donated to the fashion students of Canada College. 

Then I bought a huge roll of cotton/poly white fabric from Scrap SF.
 I used strips of plastic water bottle for boning and to add structure to the garments.

 I also cut up bras I bought at the market, and some I found in the garbage (at the top). 
I used elastic I brought from America and white netting I bought in a hard wear store in Thailand. 

Producing a photo shoot

I have been sewing this line fore three months. I finished it a week before my vacation to Southern Thailand. This is where I planned to have the photo shoot. 

I have been thinking about this shoot since before I came to Thailand. Knowing this was the best place to showcase swimwear because of the white sand, clear water and large rocks that will loom behind. 

I posted ads on numerous Facebook groups looking for models and photographers willing to work for free. It's hard to find professional women willing to travel and work for no pay. 

At home I just use my friends, but to be an international brand, I needed to hire models for the first time. I had five models who lived in Bangkok and a local photographer and a local Hair and Makeup Stylist.

 Three models dropped out weeks before the shoot so I was nervous. We were lucky enough to have a backup model who lives in the area. She is in her 50's and I've been wanting to use an older model for ages, so this was wildly exciting. 
The last addition to our group was an ex-olympic trained athlete who had never modeled before, but wanted to try it out.  

Running out of time and stressing out, I cut one of the looks from my line and added two tank tops. I also created a costume contest dress for myself in the same week. Ironed everything and left for Bangkok.

The day of the shoot

So my model who is an up and coming international electronic pop star was vacationing with her mom and found out she had to do a visa run the day before our shoot. She had to go to Malaysia and back in 24 hours. She got back to Krabi Thailand at 3 am and her mom and her found the hostel I arranged for them, it was closed and everyone was asleep. So they had to walk back to their original hostel, stay there, then wake up the next morning and return to the hostel that they couldn't access the night before. 

The Hair Stylist arrives at 10. We all become acquainted and she starts putting foundation on our first model, a huge travel guru and a strong voice for the transgender community world wide. I explain the hair and makeup I'd like, we eat breakfast and I have each of the models try on their garments. I only had to alter two swimsuits to fit them perfectly. So I have plenty of time to fix our transportation sitch. 

Makeup for the shoot

Hair for the shoot

Models

Transport struggles

My local friend who agreed months ago he'd take all of us (in his long tail boat) to the location. He cancelled the island scouting day (a day before the shoot where we would visit all the islands and find the perfect spot) so I pushed the photoshoot two hours earlier to make sure we had time to find a great location. After driving me home from the bar the night before the shoot, he said "See you tomorrow!" and we never heard from him again. The next day, he didn't meet me and turned his phone off. So my photographer takes me to the dock where we find a new driver (of course charging me three times what my friend quoted). I didn't want to shoot on the shore of the mainland, I wanted an experience for the models. I wanted an island adventure for my line. 

So that's sorted, I'm taking out money for my champagne and I leave my card in the ATM. In Thailand, your cash comes out first then your receipt then slowly your card returns. I was in a hurry and forgot my card. 

I come back to the hair and makeup station, everyone is on track, girls are doing each other's makeup and hair. Everyone is helping out and we had snacks all good to go. It was time! 

We go to the boat, it's me, my photographer, Fiona, Scarlet, Scarlet's mom, Amy, Zina, our driver and his friend. The ride is very loud and wet but so beautiful. We pick and island and they charge us each 200 Baht to embark. So we decide this will be a single island photo shoot. My lovely models understand my financial struggle and pay their own fees. We set up camp and start shooting! Scarlett's mother quards our snacks and phones. 

I was holding a light the whole time and the models rotated holding a giant lamp for each other. We had snack breaks with wine and potato chips. We had jumping shots, Laying shots, Sand covered shots, water splashing, rock climbing, rock laying and epic beach posing. My models were so diverse and shared their valuable knowledge with each other as a team. It was a treat working with everyone and my photographer did an incredible job directing and guiding the girls and they took direction well and created shots more beautiful than I could have imagined. A truly incredible experience. 

Please see for yourself

Full Shoot

95% Second Life Fabrics 
0% Sewn in Sweatshops
100% Casually Uncommon