C O U R T E N A Y M C V I C A R D E S I G N P O R T F O L I O
C O N T E N T S
2- C O N T E N T S
3- T H E P R O T E C T I V E L A Y E R
11- A C C E S S O R I E S
16- R O D D & G U N N
21- J A H Z A H R A C A P E
25- A G E N T O R A N G E
Q U T G R A D U A T E C O L L E C T I O N
T H E P R O T E C T I V E L A Y E R
B I O
The human body is a personal blank canvas to
express one’s own individuality. We all are able
to find certain things that we like and don’t like
about our figure, some of which we may be
insecure about. The Protective Layer collection
has been designed to both highlight and
conceal the body’s natural form, showcasing
the art of leather drapery to create a
fabrication experience.
The Protective Layer collection has been
designed for the Autumn/Winter 2016 / 2017. For
this range, basic items are key, yet defined by
drapery and fabrication. The aesthetic of the
collection looks at the human body as a
personal blank canvas, expressing one’s own
individuality. Looking at the use of multiple layers
to portray a new silhouette over another,
drapery in both light and heavy weight
fabrications will be a main focal point
throughout the collection. Undulating sheer
shapes will be included throughout the
ensembles to create dense, yet non-structural
silhouettes, as well as to highlight raw and
unfinished textures. . Draping of Leather will be a
main highlight of the collection, showing the
folds of the skin in their most natural form without
the need of pattern creation and/or
manipulation.
Dresses and overlays are the main
garments that are included
throughout the range, both short and
longer lengths. Overall, this collection
is an expression of self-image, and
explores the boundaries of spirituality
and the inner workings of the self.
M O O D
The collection is influenced by the
forces of nature and factors of the
body, taking on board features such as
textile folds, undulating forms and
enveloping layers, whilst showcasing
skin toning’s in muted colours and
neutral coloured pastels. The
collection has been designed to both
highlight and conceal the body’s
natural form, with dominant focus on
raw unfinished textures and
nonstructural silhouettes.
J O U R N A L W O R K
F A S H I O N I L L U S T R A T I O N S
T H E P R O T E C T I V E L A Y E R
B Y C O U R T E N A Y M C V I C A R
Photography: Ellie Feiss
Designer: Courtenay McVicar
Model: Tara Speck
H&MUA/Styling: Alessandra Mencarelli
T H E P R O T E C T I V E L A Y E R C O L L E C T I O N
A C C E S S O R I E S
B A G D E V E L O P M E N T
The handles of the bags were created
by slicing circles of wood from tree
stumps and working them to create the
perfect circle. From there, handles were
drawn into place and cut out from the
base of the wood. Secure bars were
placed along the bottom of the handles
to securely hold the bag satchel onto
the handle.
The Satchel was designed to mirror the
aesthetic of the draped leather
throughout the collection. With the
handles finalized, sheep skins were
draped from the handles and tacked
into place, letting the skin fall in its
natural form. A leather basket-like bag is
secured underneath, with the leather
hide acting like an over flap to secure
any held good into the bag.
S H O E D E V E L O P M E N T
To complement the bags, wood has
been used to create a slide on flat-form
shoe for the runway looks. To begin the
production process, measurements
were researched to understand shoe
sizing/foot measurements etc. From
there, a basic outline/shape was
created on Photoshop and printed out
to be traced onto blocks of wood. After
the blocks were cut into shape,
experimentation was undertaken with
leather scraps to understand the
strapping of the shoe.
After straps were finalized and put into
place around the foot, upholstery tacks
were chosen to secure the straps to the
shoe.
F I N A L P R O D U C T
Photography: Michael Greves
F I N A L P R O D U C T
Photography: Michael Greves
R O D D & G U N N C A P S U L E C O L L E C T I O N
B I O
Overall, I have designed this range to show
the Rodd and Gunn customer a new flair to
the brand, one that will appeal to the
younger fashion conscious man, a clientele
who most likely would not consider Rodd
and Gunn currently. It is my desire that the
designs appeal to a new target market for
the brand and to introduce fresh faces to
their stores. I believe this range to be
versatile and appealing to a wide age
range. This is a point of difference in the
market place where other brands continue
to appeal a specific demographic, Rodd
and Gunn in collaboration with Courtenay
McVicar aim to appeal to the widest market
possible, a strategy that will maintain
customer loyalty over and extended number
of years. The range introduces new fits and
styles that have not been visible in Rodd and
Gunn outlets previously, providing a fresh
new look to the brand.
Rodd and Gunn have a very strong market
appeal to the older gentlemen, consequently
their range has limited appeal to the younger
generation. This collection aims to appeal to
the ‘twenty-something’ age group. By
strengthening the Rodd and Gunn brand
appeal and increasing clientele, a younger
target audience will continue to purchase the
brand as they transition into the older, more
traditional, Rodd and Gunn market.
The Courtenay McVicar for Rodd and Gunn
collaboration aims to bring a new and inventive
twist to the brand whilst maintaining their
essential DNA. In achieving this outcome, it
provides a refreshed product and generates a
new customer base, one that is likely to
continue to purchase quality product for many
years. Studying store environment and
interviewing current and potential clientele, I
found that the aesthetic, and perception, of the
brand is one that is aimed at the more mature
male. I did find however that the product itself,
apart from fit, appealed to a younger market as
well. The Courtenay McVicar collaboration
takes note of key products within the Rodd and
Gunn store; has tweaked fit, colour and print to
bring the store a more “ageless” and youthful
range, one which will draw in a larger target
market.
M O O D
For this range, I have taken inspiration
from the brands considerable
involvement in sports, in particular their
major sponsorship of the New Zealand
BMW Polo event. I found this was a
trending sport for younger men, very
much on par with horse racing, well
known for their “Fashions on the Field”.
J O U R N A L W O R K
F A S H I O N I L L U S T R A T I O N S
J A H Z A H R A C A P E T E X T I L E P R I N T D E S I G N
M O O D
For this project, I have taken inspiration
from traditional types of craft such as
fabric painting and beading, and have
expanded on the idea of these crafts
evolving due to technology over the
past decade. Concepts such as
Sublimation printing and 3Dprinters
have begun to replace these
traditional crafts and I wanted to
combine the traditional with the newly
advanced to create something
unique.
P R I N T D E V E L O P M E N T
In order to create the print for this cape,
it was a matter of painting strokes of
similar hues of colour onto an A4 piece
of paper. From this, the image was the
scanned in and altered through
Photoshop and blown up to a larger
scale. The print was then Sublimation
printed onto the fabric.
To enhance the texture of the
brushstrokes, beads were hand sewn
onto desired areas where the scratches
of paint intertwined with each other. The
less dense the paint stroke was on the
fabric, the more beads were placed,
creating a cascading effect of texture
down the sleeves of the cape.
Photography: Elizabeth Grinter
Designer: Courtenay McVicar
Model: Rachel Rosero
H&MUA/Styling: Alessandra Mencarelli
F I N A L P R O D U C T
A G E N T O R A N G E S W I M W E A R D E S I G N
M O O D
The Vietnam War was one of the world’s most
devastating wars. The conflict pitted a third world
country against the might of world’s most dominant
country. Although North Vietnam won the war, and
the pride of their country, the devastating effects
that were left are still evident today.
This piece was created to demonstrate the
effects that the gas “Agent Orange “had on the
environment in Vietnam.
P R I N T D E V E L O P M E N T
For my print, the design was inspired by the
burning jungles that occurred in the Vietnam
war. The original idea of this print was brought
forth by a painting I had earlier created. With its
dripping textures and effects of vibrant paints, I
began to see a 3-dimensional effect of stripes
overlapping each other, bringing out the image
of bamboo. The over lapping vibrant stripes
imitate the burning sticks of bamboo in the
Vietnamese mountains. Seen also is the intense
gas burning of these jungles with thick-to-thin
stripes occurring.
Photography: Rob Carter
Designer: Courtenay McVicar
Model: Brittany McVicar
H&MUA/Styling: Alessandra Mencarelli
F I N A L P R O D U C T