Ye Olde CattWalke

[femkes_follies]

Prodded here and there I am revisiting the "Project Runway" event idea.

For those just joining us, in a fit of aggravation with the Golden Seamstress event, brought on by sugar shock from Ben & Jerry's and a Project Runway Marathon.... I, with the evil support of others whose names have been changed to protect the innocent, have been contemplating an event that is basically a "Project Runway" challenge, SCA-style. One of the original posts is here.

Recently it's been suggested that the problem of fabric expense on OUR part would be to provide muslin. Then let people make a muslin. Maybe add fabric paint. (Or watered down acrylics).

SO I'm a-noodlin' again. I try to use the gauge of whether I'd be interested in taking part in any given challenge. Gotta say, this one doesn't really excite me. But it has the advantage of being feasible. Hrrrmmmmm..........

I guess it comes down in part to whether you prefer a design challenge or a construction challenge as the primary factor. And whether there are enough people around who are comfortable enough with enough styles to be interested.

Also sort of toying with the idea of a "Don't go Topless" millinery challenge on the side.

So.... I need your thoughts, criticisms, inspirations and ideas. Whaddaya think? (Site not a problem, sponsorship of a local group not a problem. Staffing really not a problem.)

Things to consider:

1. A fun Challenge
2. Can be completed in ~8 hours
3. Not too much up front expense for the organizers
4. Can be built on in successive years - but needs to have enough appeal in year 1 to make it that far.
5. Ideally promotes accurate costuming
6. Doesn't crush anybody's ego

Comments

[alysten.livejournal.com]

That sounds like fun actually.

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

Did you have a preference for which challenge?

What do YOU think you could get done in that period of time? (Maybe in teams of 3-4). And would you be willing to bring your own fabric without knowing what you'd be making?

[alysten.livejournal.com]

I would be fine with bringing my own fabric. I could complete almost an entire outfit in about 8 hours, depending on what it was. Especially if it was a team effort. It could be fun if it were an iron chef type deal of mystery period, instead of the mystery ingredient. I would probably like the construction challenge.

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

But would you be able to do ANY period? What sort of references would you need to do it? Anything that would just be completely OUT?

I'd also thought about having each team submit a proposal for an outfit - then have everybody draw from the proposals. So you don't end up doing what you designed - but everything would have appropriate references.

Had you read the original post - and did you have a format of those ideas that you like better than another?

[alysten.livejournal.com]

Actually I didn't see the post other than this one. The research idea and then swap/draw would be kinda cool. As long as hand sewing was a minimal part of the criteria, then a full project should be able to be completed. Also if we are going for historical representation as oppose to complete authenticity, you would still achieve the objective of teaching people how to do appropriate garb within a time limit. Some aspects are going to have to be over looked like materials and modern construction.

I personally would not have a problem with any time period. You could however limit it to 12th-16th century or something like that, maybe pick a culture any century.

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

For your perusal:

1. (Which I've gone into before). The Mystery Box Challenge: Each team shows up and gets a rubbermaid tub of fabric and trims. They must then create a garment from it. Trading between teams and a table of extra bits allowed. It'd be nice to have internet access for research.

2. East Meets West - this one would be scored both individually, and via team. All registered teams would be assigned to either "east" or "west." "East" teams must create onsite the "eastern" garment of their choice - Middle Eastern, Byzantine, East European, Japanese, etc. However far you feel you can push that definition. Ditto for "West." Scoring would include points for originality and the breadth of cultures covered by each team. You might get fewer points for trying to, say, create an "Eastern English" costume - or otherwise missing the category in the opinion of the judges.

3. Dress a Duke - Each team gets a Royal Peer as a victim/model. They must create a Court garment worthy of Royalty - and take that Peer's input into account, as the Peer will also score the team on how well they listened to and responded to requests. Peers will be randomly assigned on site.

4. The Prince and the Pauper - create TWO garments: One for someone of the nobility, one for a bourgeois/"peasant." The two garments must be matched in gender, location, and time period. In other words, dress two contemporaries of different classes.

5. Rules are made to be broken - Bring research regarding a particular time and locale's sumptuary laws. Then create a garment that breaks them. *g* Knowing full well that those laws wouldn't exist if it weren't a problem!

6. I see London, I see France! - This challenge would involve creating only the undergarments for an outfit.

7. You Outta Be In Pictures: Pick a favorite portrait - recreate the outfit. Then pose your model and we'll take a picture for comparison.


Thoughts?

[alysten.livejournal.com]

Sorry... been a little hectic.

Wow these ideas are fantastic! I really like 1, 3, 5, and 7 (hmmm... all the odds) and the others are great too. On a theme variation for 1 you could do a trading spaces. Each team brings a box, and then all boxes "shuffled" and given to a different team. Research ideas could be present in each kit.

You could also do allegory garb. This would tie into #7..

I really, really like #5. How often are we handcuffed by sumptuary laws. That would be a hoot.

[odettedamboise.livejournal.com]

Good luck with #6. Somebody will have a crushed ego no matter how well intentioned you are. That is the nature of competition combined with artistic temperament.

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

OK, well, not deliberately set OUT to crush egos.

Let's face it, I ran into GS judges who had just that in mind.

I'm even of the opinion that by this point, judges for GS ought probably be limited to those who've competed at least once.