As a fashion designer, I have an abundance of ideas as the creative process never halts and I constantly think of inspiration for my designs. However, I find that the most successful ideas are the ones I test and take through to a garment sample.
In a fashion design class at the Academy of Art University, I designed a collection of garments inspired by traditional African art. I was happy with the color scheme - a combination of beige and brown - and the selection of garments (dresses, tops, skirts, coats, and pants). The best aspect of the class was that I was required to make a few of the looks in test fabric. This has turned out to be truly informative and educational.
See below for a sample look for the collection. It is a dress with box pleats in the skirt. The imagery will take you through the three steps of the process.
Step 1 - Drape sketched garment on the dress form: With my sketch nearby, I created a muslin sample on the dress form. Creating a muslin forced me to think in 3 dimensions - this is when the flat sketch becomes a garment a human being could wear. I made extensive notes on the fabric to remember how all of the pieces would come together later.
In a fashion design class at the Academy of Art University, I designed a collection of garments inspired by traditional African art. I was happy with the color scheme - a combination of beige and brown - and the selection of garments (dresses, tops, skirts, coats, and pants). The best aspect of the class was that I was required to make a few of the looks in test fabric. This has turned out to be truly informative and educational.
See below for a sample look for the collection. It is a dress with box pleats in the skirt. The imagery will take you through the three steps of the process.
Step 1 - Drape sketched garment on the dress form: With my sketch nearby, I created a muslin sample on the dress form. Creating a muslin forced me to think in 3 dimensions - this is when the flat sketch becomes a garment a human being could wear. I made extensive notes on the fabric to remember how all of the pieces would come together later.
Step 2 - Create pattern: I took the muslin fabric off the dress form and traced each section on pattern paper. I then added seam allowances and labeled each piece.
Step 3 - Sew sample garment: Finally, I cut the pattern pieces out of my fabric and sewed the garment together. Et voila!
Taking the idea all the way to the finished garment allowed me to reassess the proportion and silhouette of the dress. It was a great learning experience. And it demonstrates how testing an idea can support my original inspiration.
Taking the idea all the way to the finished garment allowed me to reassess the proportion and silhouette of the dress. It was a great learning experience. And it demonstrates how testing an idea can support my original inspiration.
