cone mills/todd oldham (2001)

I hate these illustrations. They were done at school during my junior year, and I like to think I’ve improved since then. I am posting this because I still think the designs are modern and relevant. This was my favorite project at school and if I were to produce a denim line, I’d clean these up and produce them. I had so much fun designing for this project, I ended up with almost 200 croquis and around 75 final sketches (about double the requirement).

The project was pitched by Cone Mills with Todd Oldham. Direction: take a denim jeans a place it’s never been before. Use beatnik references for styling. Re-invent the basic white t-shirt.

This is the one Todd Oldham and I chose to make for the fashion show. After graduation, I altered it a bit and I’ve worn it out a couple of times. The skirt is made of about 15 pairs of jeans, all donated by classmates; the fronts are in the front, the backs are in the back. There’s a hoopskirt underneath, with frayed tulle at the hem.

I love trench coats. I am forever redeveloping this classic. This one has a crazy quilt-type pattern bleached out as the “print”.

For some of the pieces, I started with the basic jean and just started turning it around the body.

Others I took the denim, sliced them into different width strips, and put them together using different stitches and seam methods creating an entirely new denim fabric.

Leave constructive criticism if you wish. I highly encourage it, as always. Thanks.