Creative Musings

So, for those who do not know yet, the internship with the knitwear company did not work out. They interviewed a few other people (so they said) and have never had a non-Italian intern before, so I think they decided to stick go with a person with the same native language, because that's easier.

That means that I had to go through another interview! yeah! I must say that going to an interview in a language that you are not fluent in has to be one of my favorite things. And by "one of my favorite things" I mean that it's not the most fun thing. So this past Monday I interviewed with a company called Patrizia Fusi, and interviewed with the actual designer. And I got it! Last Wednesday was my first day, and it's going well.

It's a very interesting company. My internship coordinator was telling the truth when she said they used strange materials. And since textiles are one of my favorite things ever (for real this time) it's pretty fun for me. The are only 4 employees. Patrizia, the designer; her husband, a secretary that speaks like 6 languages, and an awesome little old lady who is a master seamstress and patternmaker! It was quite a surprise to me that even though there are only 4 people working there, they have a HUGE office! Naturally there is the show room area, with lots of mirrors, a cool couch, a big meeting table, and mannequins wearing her jacket design hanging from the ceiling. Then there is the design room that has a few big tables that are like my work table, which is a large plank (or a door in my case) supported by trestles. Then there are 3 drafting tables and TONS of magazines and seasonal Collection magazines. The next room is the work room. There is a small portion of it full of notions, zippers, buttons, and small machines for grommets and snaps and the likes. The larger portion of the room is 1/2 hanging clothes from previous seasons, and 1/2 sewing and cutting area. Then there are like 3 offices and naturally a bathroom. One of the most fun things, is that they have their own coffee machine! So for 45 cents, I can get myself an espresso, machiato, cappuccino and like 6 7 other drinks. It comes out super hot and in a little plastic cup.

Ok, here are the only downsides so far to my new job. I work 9-6 during the week, with an hour of travel time each way (I have to transfer buses once). So that gives me an 11 hour day. With those hours I actually can't ever check my postal mail at school, and have very little time to go to the grocery store because it closes at 8. The last hard part is that it is really hot in the building. I am pretty sure that they don't have air conditioning, because it would cost way too much to cool a building that big. I really think it is around 80-85 degrees in there sometimes. I need to take my travel alarm clock to check it out. Other than those minor things it's going to be wonderful. The first day I spent almost the entire day drawing and coming up with designs for funky jackets that can be made out of nylon (which is a tiny challenge for me because I don't think I've ever made anything out of nylon before). The second day Patrizia looked over my designs and choose one for me to take to the next step which is the technical "Flat" drawing which shows stitching and detailed things. Then I got to choose fabric and buttons. I've also been doing some random jobs around the studio when I am needed, usually involving cutting fabric and sewing.

I'll keep you all updated on anything exciting that happens with my internship.

Labels: Internship

I just had to share with everyone my most splendid news.

I officially have an internship interview with the company that I really want to work for: Patafisic.

I was able to visit the design studio for this company in 2005 when I was in Florence and met the designer(s). Everything is made here in Italy from beginning concept and design through choosing the yarns and production. They deal entirely with knitwear, which is multifunctional and what I would consider to be fashion forward. The pieces are very unique and interesting.

I have my interview at 3pm on Monday the 14th! Wish me luck!

Here is some info about the theory of patafisic from their web site (which you should also check out if you are interested). patafisic

"Patafisic was estabilished in Florence in 1995 by designers Brenda Cecchi and Andrea Sicuro, as a design studio dealing with fashion, interiors, graphics and live performance.
As a conscious tribute to the rational absurdity described by Jarry as Pataphysics, the search has always been focused on the intimate relations between basic and pure concepts and their possible, imaginary, deviant possibilities."

"In the years knitwear has been the main field of application, a proposition of excellence in made in Italy. From the yarn to manufacture, the principles are quality, originality, focused design.
Patafisic looks at every item as an object, where complexity is clear and defined, and the goal is a confortable and playful wear."
"Each season is not a style, no themes are pre-ordinated, there is no attempt to define a closed and static vision. Every collection is built around a continuous focus on the relation between body and geometrical shapes, the action of wearing and its potential creative consequences. It can starts from a detailed body observation as well from the domain of traditional elements or any possible experiment of (un)conventional wearing.

"As an indipendent and unclassifiable design studio Patafisic has collaborated with different subjects and in different contexts and directions, from contemporary performing to highly qualified technical research, and some particular cases of individual projects, to enjoy a playful design for a private language."

"Patafisic is a true personal action. It is not couture neither architecture: it is design, in the meaning of care for what it will be."
"In motion and in meaning, a synthesis of language, design and - mostly - different considerations."

Labels: Internship, Patafisic