About
Seriously, who doesn't want to see a guy in a sharp-looking pair of Lederhosen? The shorts, the straps, the accompanying homburg with its bright feather. Or how about a young Mädchen in a colorful dirndl and tightly laced bodice? Yes, people, I'm talking about Germany!
Ever since I was little and learned that I was nearly born in Germany, I have tried to learn all I can about Germany's fashion, culture, food, history, and geography. When I was sixteen, I even got the chance to be an exchange student to Trier for a month. The experience was fantastic!
Since then, I've become a costume designer. So often in my job do I still use good old-fashioned books for my daily research. Yes, books! There's just something about a book that you can't replace with modern devices and the internet. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot of books out there that fulfill my need for in-depth photos and studies on an individual country's historical, modern, military, and folk fashions. There are books that feature maybe one or two folk costumes from many different countries. Other books feature a country's historical costumes but only cover up to a certain decade, usually ending somewhere in the mid-twentieth century. Military uniform books usually focus only on a specific war.
This is why my book will be different. It will be a highly detailed, informative look at all aspects of Germany's fashions. History, folk, uniform, and modern fashions all come together in a beautifully photographed volume that not only costume and fashion designers will be enthusiastic over but also those who love travel, Germany, photography, and history.
The book will be divided into chapters dealing with different topics of a country's fashion. These chapters are generic enough to work for any country but will lend themselves to exploring specific fashion topics. I have begun writing the introductions that will allow the reader insight into what is being discussed in each chapter.
One of the highlights will be meeting with the producers of Germany's fashions and textiles. Can't wait to see and photograph the Spitze Werk (lace maker) I've been contacting!
Another exciting aspect of my project is that the more we learn about other cultures, the more we can come together to celebrate our similarities and differences. Dress is a common link among all humans. We all put our pants on one leg at a time, as the saying goes. Highlighting a country's fashion can bring us together as a joined people.
Not only will my journey to Germany bring into the world my fashion book, but as an added bonus, I will be blogging the entire trip on my travel blog at erikahitstheroad.wordpress.com.
So join me in bringing to the world my vision of a stunning fashion book that can enjoyed by all.
The journey itself will be a fifteen day trip throughout Germany. My husband will join me on the trip, as he is also a costumer with an interest and knowledge in military uniforms. With two photographers, we'll be able to take twice as many photos. Loaded up with model releases, we'll hit the German streets and festivals to take photos of people and what they're wearing. We will be spending five days each centered in the following cities: Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin. When our Kickstarter campaign is successful, we will be taking our trip in August.
The money that I am requesting through my Kickstarter campaign will not only pay for our travel expenses but also the following:
-Food
-Camera equipment
-Household expenses (this allows us to take the necessary time off work to fulfill our dream of making this book)
-Book publishing fees (very important in the whole book-making experience)
-Extra money to cover any unexpected expenditures.
Risks and challenges
1. Travel fees- As we all know, plane tickets, hotel rooms, and gasoline prices can vary greatly not only from week to week but from day to day. I will adjust my travel schedule to get the most out of my trip.
2. Although I plan to self-publish my photo fashion book, I am exploring multiple options to get it on store shelves in order for the rest of the world to enjoy it.
3. Technical difficulties- As we all know, technology doesn't always favor us. That is why I am planning on buying TWO high-quality Canon EOS digital cameras for the trip. My trusted laptop will also be traveling with me to keep safe back-ups of all photos taken.
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Funding period
- (30 days)