The "Urban Gothic" Collection for Diesel Jeans - Menswear Fall 2011 by Crystal Natsuko.
This concept stems from a partnered project in a fast fashion context, and includes marketing elements and accessories; altogether a devious challenge. The inspiration is classical Gothic architecture and ruins, clothing and a dark mood. Materials include velvet, colored leathers, wool blends, pure alpaca hair jackets, jersey, and various high quality shirtings to compliment Diesel's image of high end fast fashion that remains on the cutting edge of youthful style.
*Note: Collection created for a class project.
This is an unfinished collection. The inspiration takes its cue from a 70's song "A Horse with No Name" by the band "America" and a trip to the Joshua Tree National Forest. The materials reflect a calm, natural mood and uses only pure fabric content instead of blends, such as: 100% wool gab, 100% bamboo, 100% wool crepe, 100% linen, and 100% cotton. With an outlook to minimalize consumption, the designs incorporate cinching instead of buttons, in an attempt to pare down hardware.
The "East Asian Library" Collection - Women's Wear Fall 2010
A women's wear collection inspired by the East Asian Library on the UC Berkeley campus. This was my first attempt at using Illustrator to finalize a design collection, and also my third women's collection.
The main themes for this collection were to incorporate jeanswear into a RTW collection for the most well known and influential modern jeans designer. By creating original textile designs through tie dying and batik processes, and developing conceptual leather art with raised "gainage", a technique borrowed from renowned accessory designer Natalie Brille, this collection stays true to the look and feel of today's Calvin Klein while inserting my own designer's philosophy and taste level.
*Note: this project was for a class excerise
The "Motosport" Collection by Crystal Natsuko - all season 2009 to infinity.
The collection concept is for motorcycle riding outfits. The concept could be elaborated by adding true body armour made out of fiberglass shells, an idea that was rejected by the committee at my school who reviewed my final project. The inspiration comes from the hard outer shell of beetles, plus the soft inner membranous wings - that make up this collection.
Created in Fall 2008, "Cannibal Cats" was my first collection concept. The inspiration was Aztecs, cannibalism and the mysterious South American jungles. There is a bonus lingerie collection.
