My Day with Denim Deconstruction

What exactly is ‘denim deconstruction’? I looked the phrase up on Google just before my shoot for MTV but I couldn’t find anything concrete that explained it in any elaborate terms. But what I did find were lots of references to big names like Roberto Cavalli, John Galliano and Boudicca, whose creations have popularized the art of denim deconstruction from haute couture to ready-to-wear catwalk styles.

We seldom really know exactly what we pick up and buy off-the-shelf. We see, we like, we buy; no questions asked. But when we’re faced with the question of personal style and what it entails, how many of us can truly say we know what we wear? The GAS sponsored pre-competition seminar on denim deconstruction to be held at LaSalle SIA seemed like a good place for me to start forming ideas on the concept of defining my own style.

So with a vague pictorial idea in mind, I made my way to LaSalle SIA School of Design on the morning of the shoot, hoping to pick up a clearer idea of what ‘deconstruction’ meant in fashion terms. The camera setup and prep for the seminar took a quick 20 minutes and then the shoot was underway.

The rapid one hour was enlightening, to say the least. After a brief introduction by a GAS representative, our very own local designer, Steven, gave us his lowdown on ‘deconstruction’. On a physical level, it means getting down to the nitty-gritty basics of the material - what it's made of, how the thread is woven together, etc; on a more conceptual level, it encompasses the dissection of the idea behind the design. The ‘deconstruction’ of a pair of denim jeans could simply mean a manipulation of the design, or it could mean the creation of a totally different article of clothing, like a corset.

Because Steven strongly advocates that a designer's personal sensibilities plays a huge part in determining what the eventual design would look like, a large part of the interactive session was devoted to asking various students on their take on ‘denim deconstruction’. Each participating student will be given a pair of GAS jeans to work on and create a whole new, different design. I got a chance to interview a few of these students and so far, the potential entries for this GAS competition look set to push the limits of creativity!

All too quickly, the seminar drew to a close. The camera crew wrapped up with a few shots of the hustle and bustle of students choosing their pairs of jeans and after delivering my “sign-off” spiel, I had some fun taking photos with the headless, half-bodied mannequins! All things said and done, it was a really insightful day and I had lots of fun hosting the workshop. Although I didn’t get a pair of GAS jeans to ‘deconstruct’, I think I’m inspired enough to have a go at my old Levi’s with a pair of shears. Watch out wardrobe, ‘deconstruction’ is coming to town!