NATURE IN DESIGN A Fashion Perspective
Department of Fashion Design Pearl Academy, Mumbai Year 2016-2020
Colloquium paper compiled under the guidance of
Ms. Harroop K. Grang
Submitted by
Nayan Maity
ABSTRACT
Man's relationship with nature dates back to ancient times. In that interest, one of the natural occurrences that have inspired the designer is the crown shy, a naturally occurring phenomenon, results in crack-like gaps in the tree canopy. There are some forests, trees develop in a way that keeps their branches from touching one another. While most are happy to rub branches with their neighbours,some are a little more touchy. They create a space from each other for passing sunlight. Personal space is required for self-sustaining and self-protection as well. Man is not different from them . The project is portraying the beautiful connection between nature and man through shyness. The designer is depicting this story through art and design form in mankind. Fashion is a medium. "Crown Shyness'' story has been drawn by paintings and mixed media. All visuals are showcasing the same feeling of the mind. The explorations ideas come from secondary sources and also self-re-creating the story between plant and human beings. The final concept visuals help to procreate one perspective concept, colour and textures. The colours palette with accent colour are narrating a shy character's mood during the Spring-summer, considered as the best fit for the season. The texture board comes with print and embroidery to portray the concept theory. The survey on this project plays a great role in understanding the people and their lifestyle. However, The collection targets some class of shy men as profession doctor, designer, artist, filmmaker, marketing head and entrepreneur, between the age of 30 to 40. The collection intends to be ready to wear casual with varieties of cotton fabric. Also, focus the category from the middle class to high-class people. This collection will inspire and reveal shy genus in a unique way.
Keywords : Trees, Crown Shyness, Spring and Summer, Paintings and mixed media, Shy Men, Ready to Wear,
INTRODUCTION
For many, finding form and function inspired by nature has played a significant role in making a brilliant plan. For the designer, nature is at the heart and soul of everything, he does and makes, and it frequently gives representations that have driven to arrangements that have an unpretentious effect. Nature study can be portrayed as "considering the development as a free association of networks even of people, social orders, and establishments experienced to locate some overall ground in the investigation and energy about the common world." - Daily.Jstor The project is portraying a deep-rooted connection between nature's response and people's reactions to certain groups. The concept developed into human character and it illustrates the connection between nature and man in a very beautiful way. The research held on some community people who are basically shy or introverted. Here the project reveals their thoughts, behaviours, lifestyles and their fashion statement. The purpose of this study focuses on the community of people who face some trouble in their life. It may be some difficulties like face to face talking, thinking about society's perspective into their character, even choosing some other colours that they did not even apply to them. This study helps other people to understand them entirely. The project is enterprising them to bring some certain changes and a new taste of fashion with current trends and some twists so that they can present themselves in a remarkable way.
CROWN SHYNESS : TREES AVOID TOUCHING Secondary Research
If we look up toward certain types of towering trees—including Eucalyptus, Sitka spruce, and Japanese larch, the person may observe an interesting marvel, the highest branches don’t touch. Known as “crown shyness,” this natural occurrence ends up in rupture-like patterns within the forest canopy that appear to perfectly outline the trees’ attractive silhouettes.
Trees can seem utterly alien in some ways, but in others they are not so different from us. While most are happy to rub branches with their neighbors, some are a little touchier.
Image No.1, Patrice,(2008). Canopy of Dryobalanops aromatica Crown shyness may be a mutual response to light sources by neighbouring trees, by expert research. Sometimes a tree is a bit too respectful of 1one another's boundaries. they simply stop growing after they get too close. The phenomenon is termed crown shyness, when the tops of individual trees avoid touching in the forest canopy, creating separation lines and limits within the sky.
CROWN SHYNESS Crown shyness doesn’t happen all the time, and experts aren't exactly sure why the naturally occurring phenomenon happens, but they've been studying it for decades and have a few theories. According to one theory, each tree forces its neighbors into a pattern that maximizes resource collection and minimizes harmful competition. Whether by accident or by design, crown shyness functions as a form.of truce between competitors with limited options
FRICTION HYPOTHESIS The initial hypothesis of Maxwell R. Jacobs (currently barely accepted by the scientific community) explains that the friction of some branches with others, when the wind hits them, would limit the growth of the branches to avoid touching the neighboring trees, due to the damages produced by the abrasion. ALLELOPATHY HYPOTHESIS “In botany, allelopathy is any effect that one plant transmits to a different through the assembly of various either causing a positive or negative effect on the opposite plant. These compounds are the so-called allelochemicals. In other words, plants and trees communicate with one another by chemical signals. This relationship occurs more frequently between trees and plants of the identical species, although it also occurs between different species.” - Maxwell R. Jacobs
THE CREATOR HAS CREATED SOME GOOD ADVANTAGES •
It permits a more prominent entrance of sunshine in the woodland to perform photosynthesis all the more effectively.
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It avoids from harming the branches and leaves when hit against each other in the event of tempest or whirlwinds.
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It prevents diseases, larvae and insects that kill leaves from spreading easily from one tree to another.
SELF- STUDY Primary Research CHARACTERISTICS OF A SHY PERSON
Image No.2, WEN,(2016). Visual framework (mindmap) of shyness An important interview with Ms. Gauri Raut, Clinical Psychologist at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai. Here I marked the best and average adjectives below, Speak quietly, Mature, Hesitant, Avoidant, Indirect in expressing their thoughts and feelings. Shy people are attractive because when they find connection with anyone they will present a whole different side of their personality. That’s like two different people in one body. At the same time, their outside is light also presents happiness and another inside may be full of darkness and pain. Among so few other people, get to see the transition between what the world sees and the person only self-know, and that’s immensely appealing. An introvert is very much comfortable just by himself or herself and needs that time and space. They can like or don’t like social interactions but they definitely value time by themselves. Shy and introvert comes together sometimes. If someone is shy, is most likely introverted or looks like a man is introverted. Because the man is shy and they are scared of people, they don’t talk. They keep their distance, and it seems like they want to be alone by themselves, which might or might not be true.
EXPLORATION
After the secondary data analysis, the process is focusing to study with depth and details. So, the next study is about visuals and developing them into a mainstream concept. The below pictures reveal a continuous development process.
Idea 1 - The visual is showing colour patches that indicate trees' heads. It is related to the crack of crown shyness. Basic thought is drawn here. Watercolor medium is used here. Idea 2 - A Mixed media art with watercolor and printed OHP sheet. The visual is showing painted branches of leaves. And layered branches on it. It is telling how they touch with each other to respond to the call of others. Idea 3 - The media is digital print and collage on it. The visual is a closeup view, it is describing them both inside and outside mood. When a shy man reveals two different people in one body, the trees also express their mood in this way. Maybe they are happy in front. This way the concept was built through the process.
Here the survey displayed some important data that is coming from the survey and it supports the research and gives a perspective to the collection.
Platform : Google Survey Date : Nov.2019
After having surveyed 20 people, the ultimate understanding is that the people are looking for intermediate experiment clothes. They mostly prefer cotton-based fabrics with non-shiny texture. They will choose an over-Shirt, kurta, and blazer for presenting them in a good manner. They are serious about their garments. So loud garments are not preferable. During the meeting, they presented them very politely. They mentioned their lifestyle very practically. Some of them are a little bit serious about their journey. they are struggling to stand out from the crowd, they are putting more effort into their creative skill during the weekend. The report reveals their thought process as well.
BOARDS DISPLAY
Concept Board Image No.3
Shyness is the feeling of apprehension. There are still many people who are involved with it. Even nature is following us. Every creature in this world wants to grow in chains of peace and their own privacy. Trees also are nothing different. When one goes along with love, protection, integrity and faith, they can overcome the apprehension and seek fearlessly. In this largest population, when everyone desperately looks for their own space, some shy creatures make it for their own. And for being a little shy type personality, they refrain from bothering the neighbors. There are reasons why they build deeper friendships without connecting and blaming each other .They need to be little touched where they are unable to speak . Keywords : Trees, Apprehension, Neighbors, Friendships, Protection
Image No.4, Mood of Trees The visual is describing how they lives with each other and creates personal space
Image No.5, Mood of Man Visuals from photographer Inta Ruka and self-click. The visuals are describing about man’s mood and about showing their personal space
Image No.6, Fabric Board Cambric,Cotton blend, Cotton-linen, Rayon, Twill cotton, Compact cotton and Knit fabric are used for this collection .
Image No.7, Color Palette
Image No.8, Texture Board ( Medium - Digital print, hand painting, mix-media, machine embroidery )
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DESCRIBING PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE When the concept story is untold, it will also keep the same impression to create some uniqueness in garments. The nature-inspired garments with soft natural tone color , that brings a cool look and suitable for any kind of mood. The color plate is upgraded with SS20. The collection's purpose is casual, it can be wearable in any casual events or social gatherings. Also, the product will deliver a message into the viewer's mind about naturalism. We don't think about them. It may feel new observations about nature again. The medium follows digital print and embroidery techniques. The collection aims shy and introvert men but it can be wearable by any similar personality. For sending messages through garments, it can be displayed in art academy, installation, any social media campaign or maybe by any personality who can carry it. The colour is touching the commercial colour plate, and also the garments with some twists make it eye-catchy. PERSONAL INTERPRETATION Before taking this concept, I had research on top fine art photographers, where I found the word "crown shyness" and decided to work on that. After the concept targets the shy community. During the research, I used my skills to reflect the story through visuals. The project allows designing for a particular group and a detailed life study about them. The collection and its story will add some footsteps into the human's mind. Also the project is portraying a current situation ( Image No.9) in 2020.
Image No.9,Social Distancing in nature. Present Environment 2020. Medium- Photoshop During the coronavirus disaster (COVID-19) in 2020, the World is maintaining social distancing for controlling the disease. But Social distancing was found in nature many years ago. Sometimes plants transmit a dangerous chemical signal like pesticides, or any bacteria through the assembly of various chemical signals or touching each other. So they keep a safe distance., Nature is giving a true message to humans to follow the basic discipline.
REFERENCING Abdou, K. (2017).Trees with “Crown Shyness” Mysteriously Avoid Touching Each Other (Online) , Available at https://mymodernmet.com/crown-shyness-trees-phenomenon/ Archibald,Francis,Geoffrey and Putz. (1984). Mechanical Abrasion and Intercrown Spacing, Volume. 112,(1), p. 24-28 : Biotropica. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2425452?mag=the-mysteries-of-crown-shyness&seq=2#metadata_info_tab_c ontents India Today, (2018). Crown shyness...patterns in the sky, New Delhi. (Online) Available at: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/crown-shyness-patterns-in-tree-canopi es-html-1378626-2018-10-30 Jurkštaitė, (2018). 27 Amazing Examples...Trees Avoid Touching. (Online) Available at : https://www.boredpanda.com/crown-shyness-trees-avoid-touching/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=o rganic&utm_campaign=organic Jobson, C. (2017) The Phenomenon Of “Crown Shyness” Where Trees Avoid Touching. (Online) Available at : https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2017/08/the-phenomenon-of-crown-shyness-where-trees-avoid-touching Mail online, (2017) Incredible images reveal...the appearance of winding rivers (Online). Available at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4795230/Stunning-visual-effects-crown-shyness.html Patrice,(2008). Canopy of Dryobalanops aromatics. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryobalanops_aromatica Rebertus, A. (2015). Crown Shyness in a Tropical Cloud Forest, Volume. 20,(4), p. 338-339 : Biotropica. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2388326?mag=the-mysteries-of-crown-shyness&seq=1#metadata_info_tab_c ontents Ruka, I. (2013), My country people, Available at : https://intaruka.wordpress.com/ Wen,(2016). Visual framework (mindmap) of shyness. Available at: https://oss.Adm.Ntu.Edu.Sg/wtan036/visual-framework-mindmap-of-shyness
QUESTIONNAIRE Here I listed some top questions that asked to the people during survey
1.
Where do you prefer to shop from - Online/ Local store/ Designer stores/ Shopping mall
2.
Which profession describes you best - Salaried / Self-employed / Other
3.
Do you think would you classify yourself as a trend follower - Yes / No
4.
Do you think that your achievements are not recognized at work - Yes / No / Sometimes
5.
How do you prefer to spend your free time -Travelling / Meeting up with friends / Social gatherings / Other
6.
How would you prefer your clothes - Readymade / Tailor-made
7.
What describes your fashion statement - Casual / Urban / Fashionable / Formal /Trendy and well groomed
8.
Which types of fabric would you prefer most when you are going to buy a special cloth - Cotton Fabric / Silk Fabric / Linen Fabric / Khadi Fabric / Other
9.
What would you prefer wearing at a social gathering - Over-Shirt / Kurta / Blazer / Jackets / Suits / Other
10.
Do you seek advice when you buy clothes - Yes / No / Sometimes
11.
Do you worry about what others think about you - Yes / No
12.
What describes yourself best - Independent / Stylish / Fun loving / Funny / Cool & funky / Trendy