Creating my collection

Trying to create a collection of 1930s & bear inspired clothing was the next step.

I wanted to create a small collection of clothing, but finding clothing from the 1930s was rather difficult.  Clothing from this era is not readily available to buy & vintage stock is expensive and hard to come across when looking for something specific.

I looked into hiring from local theatre companies:
- The Criterion Theatre, Earlsdon, Coventry.  Having called & emailed several times, no-one replied or passed on the message so this was a dead end.
- The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth.  This company was very helpful, but did take a while to respond to my email, and unfortunately what they were offering was not suitable.  I could look at their wardrobe, but it was only open once a week & at the rate of £20 per costume, it was going to get quite expensive if I wanted several items.

Earlier in the year I worked on a project with the PDSA, using their vintage stock to style & create a collection for selling online.  I contacted the organiser from the project & asked if it would be possible to come and view their vintage stock in the hope of borrowing some items that would fit the theme.
At the warehouse, I found lots of fur coats & accessories (very 1930s & bear inspired!) which I borrowed, but unfortunately not the 1930s clothing I was hoping for  - day wear or evening wear.  There were a few possible items other than the coats which I borrowed with the hope I might be able to adapt them to the theme, but I did not use them in the end as I felt that they were not really suitable.

Clothing borrowed from Vintage stick at PDSA

I then started to look at dress patterns with the idea that I could make some clothing - I came across a dress pattern at home that seemed to fit the 1930s trademark of halterneck & backless floor length gown, and searched the internet for further patterns.

I came across several 'Vogue Vintage' patterns which were actual 1930s design.  I got them ordered on next day delivery, and went to purchase fabric the next day.

I was on a very tight turn around, I wanted to get the clothing sorted quickly so that I could find models and get filming - incase I needed to re-shoot anything, and also because I was dependant on the weather - as the Bear Ravine is very mossy, I needed a day where it had not rained previously to make the ground as safe as possible to walk on, and also a day where it was not actually raining - clothing and equipment being a major issue in the wet weather.

Making the outfits

Dress 1:

Dress 2:

 Dress 3:

Skirt: 

(I used the skirt section from the pattern of dress 3)

Blouse:

After completing my mini collection of 1930s clothing, to add the 'bear' influence I am going to team the items with the fur coats which I have borrowed from the PDSA, and also try and find chunky knitted or fur accessories such as gloves/leg warmers (as influenced by the Topshop Unique Collection Autumn/Winter 2011).