Fashion Collection Inspired by Lois Mailou Jones is Full of Energy and Vibrant Colors

I love using art as inspiration for my fashion design. So you can only imagine how excited I was to work on a collection inspired by the fabulous American artist Lois Mailou Jones. Her wonderful paintings explore topics such as identity and heritage and showcase influences of Cubism and abstract art. 

I delved into researching Jones' work and discovered a word of deep thought and extraordinary bravery. Jones stood her creative ground as an artist and a woman during changing times and today is an important figure in the art world. 

Take a look below at the development of my collection. I created a moodboard (a board that provides information about my inspiration and color scheme) and selected fabrics. In this case, I worked with leathers, cottons, and silks. I was mesmerized by the Cubist influences in Jones' work and created 3D samples of cuffs, sleeve hems, and collars in which I utilized a variety of tools. I cut irregular edges, sewn leather swatches to cotton background, painted with fabric paint, embroidered sections of cuffs, and used embellishments.  

I love color and texture. The more, the merrier! As you can see in my final lineup, I did not hold back. It was so much fun to create garments full of intricate design details and overflowing with colors. I have learned a lot about Jones and will continue to keep her work in mind for future projects. Stay tuned!

For additional details about this collection, check out my Portfolio.