Over the past few days I've come across 3 great new information resources for those of us Fashionistas that are looking to become fashion designers on a DIY basis or through traditional college or by getting a few online fashion degrees. (I'll provide the links to each of these sites after I tell you a bit about them)
First, I came across a wonderful explanation behind the precarious copyright laws regarding the protection of Fashion Designs, it's good for any fashion designer to familiarize yourself with these laws, your designs are not protected for your own good, if they were, your work could prove to be your legal undoing, a liability.
However pretty much direct copying is still a frowned upon disgrace, some designers have won battles with each other over this. Thank God, but it's a good thing too because we should all strive to be more creative.
For the greatest amount of protection of your work, document your fashion design process. You can do this by keeping your sketch book of the evolution and inspiration of your ideas, keep the mood board. Collect all your material created during the fashion design process, put it in an envelope and mail it to yourself, and never open it. That's one way, it's all about the creation date, another way I should think, is to post your work online, on a blog, on an online portfolio, person website, the internet is an archive of dated material.
I've done this with my own work already so I guess I've successfully protected myself in a way. Now all I have to do is get my work on the store shelves, well that's another story.
Second site I've stumbled upon was Top Fashion Designers, this webpage is a listing of all the top name fashion designers, not only can you check out their latest collections but you can also get a brief over view of each designers biography. I've enjoyed reading quite a few of them already, they're highlighted facts about their background, how they got started, just a very interesting information resource.
If you're attending an online fashion design school or you have to do a paper on a famous fashion designer, this is the place to go to find out which one you want to write about. As for all of us non-student, DIY people, read up on these designers, you never know where you're going to get your heads up about the next move you should make and that's besides the great collections they've got up.
Third site I found called Couture Candy, would be great in helping your creative wheels turn in the fashion design process. It's a special store that sells very high end, designer label, avant garde street wear, I love the site it's got some great garments to look at, I could get lost browsing this fashion store/gallery for hours looking for the next idea to work with. Not steal mind you, but mutate, add too, and other wise use as a jumping board for my own semi-original garment collection.
So far as the buying is concerned, the prices are high of course, but they aren't too bad at all if you've got the money.
Watch Johanna Blakley talk about Copyright Law in fashion:
Copyright Law In the Fashion Industry
The one stop site for quick biography highlights of all the best designers:
Top Fashion Designers
And here's that great fashion store I found:
Couture Candy
You can find more info and resources at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
Showing posts with label collection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collection. Show all posts
Monday, June 2, 2014
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Zac Posen's 09/10 f/w, Karl Lagerfeld's and Armani's new 2010/2011 collections
I'll be adding the links to each of these shows at the bottom of their reviews, enjoy reading and watching and feel free to leave me a comment,
Zac Posen's New Fall/Winter 09/10 Collection
Zac Posen's new Fall/Winter 2011 collection can be described as Luxurious Victorian Futurism. The rich metallic hues with just the right amount of dressy frills along with lovely bias cut numbers make for an elegant collection embodying a Victorian nearly turned minimalist feel.
Each look has a skillful absence of anything overdone and yet contains all the decadence of one of histories most romantic eras. The best Couture way to step into the future.
Zac Posen's 2009/2010 fall/winter collection slideshow
Chanel Fall/Winter 2010 Couture Collection
Karl Lagerfeld as always, has managed to project us into his luxurious well lit otherworldly lair of dreams by producing another collection from his sheer genius of design. Nearly everything in his fall/winter 2010 couture collection is a bolero silhouette but somehow, with all the elements he's used he's managed to make the very repetition of the silhouette itself consistently exciting and a delight for the visual palette.
Look after look, they're all gorgeously exotic designs without easily being culturally placeable with the exception of a few subtly Indian embellishment inspired garments that brilliantly stand far apart from even the remotest associations with Bollywood. Leaving you overwhelmed from the beauty like one that's just woken from a dream you'd rather not have left. We want more Karl Lagerfeld!
Armani's Collection fall/winter 2010
Armani has yet again exhibited his ability to masterfully produce the ultimate feminin easy to wear business suite without using any of the usual fashion additives to do so , no frills, no pink, no lace and none of the usual low cut exposure cheats.
Added, this collection has included a unique and interesting signature medallion size button/clasp type accent reminiscent of tribal style deco yet too sophisticated to be labeled as such adorning the necks and waists of those refined articles of luxury apparel.
You can find more info and resources at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
Zac Posen's New Fall/Winter 09/10 Collection
Zac Posen's new Fall/Winter 2011 collection can be described as Luxurious Victorian Futurism. The rich metallic hues with just the right amount of dressy frills along with lovely bias cut numbers make for an elegant collection embodying a Victorian nearly turned minimalist feel.
Each look has a skillful absence of anything overdone and yet contains all the decadence of one of histories most romantic eras. The best Couture way to step into the future.
Zac Posen's 2009/2010 fall/winter collection slideshow
Chanel Fall/Winter 2010 Couture Collection
Karl Lagerfeld as always, has managed to project us into his luxurious well lit otherworldly lair of dreams by producing another collection from his sheer genius of design. Nearly everything in his fall/winter 2010 couture collection is a bolero silhouette but somehow, with all the elements he's used he's managed to make the very repetition of the silhouette itself consistently exciting and a delight for the visual palette.
Look after look, they're all gorgeously exotic designs without easily being culturally placeable with the exception of a few subtly Indian embellishment inspired garments that brilliantly stand far apart from even the remotest associations with Bollywood. Leaving you overwhelmed from the beauty like one that's just woken from a dream you'd rather not have left. We want more Karl Lagerfeld!
Armani's Collection fall/winter 2010
Armani has yet again exhibited his ability to masterfully produce the ultimate feminin easy to wear business suite without using any of the usual fashion additives to do so , no frills, no pink, no lace and none of the usual low cut exposure cheats.
Added, this collection has included a unique and interesting signature medallion size button/clasp type accent reminiscent of tribal style deco yet too sophisticated to be labeled as such adorning the necks and waists of those refined articles of luxury apparel.
You can find more info and resources at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Climate Change and the Future of Fashion
We love the fantasy and beauty of fashion, a love that borderlines on being a helpless addiction for some and why shouldn't it? It's art and nearly the ultimate expression of the beauty and love of life itself. But what many of us dedicated fashionista's, stylists and fashion designers may not know is that fashion is one of our biggest sources of pollution.
As much as I hate to admit to it it's true, but the reality is taht if we love our planet as well as our fashion we need to look at how fashion pollutes so we can stop it and help save both our planet and our continuous creation of fashion.
How does fashion pollute? What are the factors we need to put an end to?
Take a look...
natural fibers (example: cotton and flax)
Pollution caused
- pesticides and fertilizers used in crop production pollute water systems and often effect the bird and bee population
- non-biodegradable bleaches, dyes and finishing chemicals used in textile production that again pollute water systems
- fossil fuels used in the production and transport of textiles and fibers
synthetic fabrics (example: polyester, acrylic, nylon, spandex)
Pollution caused
- sythetic filiments produced to create polyester, acrylic and other synthetic textiles are basically polymers, leaving us with the same pollution problems as we have with plastic production, after we've thrown our clothes away we'll have a surplus of these waste materials in the environment for 1000s of years to come
- chemical additives, dyes and finishes as well as special chemical treatments, all non-biodegradable, used in their production, polluting water systems around manufacturing facilities
- fossil fuels used in the production and transport of textiles and fibers
As with the other textiles that are in between natural and synthetic such as rayon, they also have similar pollution creation factors attached to them.
As for wool, leather and fur we've got the pollution factor of methane gas, a major green house gass associated with the production of livestock for commercial use) as well as serious animal cruelty issues we don't want when it comes to the treatment of sheep and the killing of animals for their hides.
Now this is not to say we should put fashion in the closet for good for the sake of our planet, this does mean though that we need to put an end to how we pollute throught the production of fashion.
In my next blog post we'll look at the possibilities and solutions necessary to create a new fashion industry using sustainability concepts.
As much as I hate to admit to it it's true, but the reality is taht if we love our planet as well as our fashion we need to look at how fashion pollutes so we can stop it and help save both our planet and our continuous creation of fashion.
How does fashion pollute? What are the factors we need to put an end to?
Take a look...
natural fibers (example: cotton and flax)
Pollution caused
- pesticides and fertilizers used in crop production pollute water systems and often effect the bird and bee population
- non-biodegradable bleaches, dyes and finishing chemicals used in textile production that again pollute water systems
- fossil fuels used in the production and transport of textiles and fibers
synthetic fabrics (example: polyester, acrylic, nylon, spandex)
Pollution caused
- sythetic filiments produced to create polyester, acrylic and other synthetic textiles are basically polymers, leaving us with the same pollution problems as we have with plastic production, after we've thrown our clothes away we'll have a surplus of these waste materials in the environment for 1000s of years to come
- chemical additives, dyes and finishes as well as special chemical treatments, all non-biodegradable, used in their production, polluting water systems around manufacturing facilities
- fossil fuels used in the production and transport of textiles and fibers
As with the other textiles that are in between natural and synthetic such as rayon, they also have similar pollution creation factors attached to them.
As for wool, leather and fur we've got the pollution factor of methane gas, a major green house gass associated with the production of livestock for commercial use) as well as serious animal cruelty issues we don't want when it comes to the treatment of sheep and the killing of animals for their hides.
Now this is not to say we should put fashion in the closet for good for the sake of our planet, this does mean though that we need to put an end to how we pollute throught the production of fashion.
In my next blog post we'll look at the possibilities and solutions necessary to create a new fashion industry using sustainability concepts.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Slow Progress, But That's How Things Are
Okay, so I've gotten into fashion pattern making now, I'm still doing freelance writing on the side because I'm not getting paid yet for my drafting gigs. If you teach yourself and you've got no experience and credentials, that's reality, you've got to do work for free to prove yourself. If you're dedicated it's not a real problem, but you still need to make money to live, especially important if you've got 2 kids and 4 cats, they don't stop needing stuff, so I'm choked. But, ONWARD! You know what Benjamin Franklin said? "Up with ye sluggard, there's time enough for rest when you're dead." I just love that, don't you? Goes hand in hand with my "Just do it!" motto I live by.
Wish I could keep up with my blog like I want too, nothing much has happened so far really, well, that's not quite true, I've managed to:
- land a few non-paying clients (everybody likes free labor don't they?" one in Illinois, a girl in Florida and another one right here in Vancouver, all by using the fashion industry network and craigslist, hmm, didn't think to use kijiji though, I'll do that too
- come across this awesome site for designers to upload their fashions, get exposure and even get their garment made and sold (and earn a profit from it, too cool huh? the site url is: http://www.garmz.com/ great team, great quality site, you got to love them and check it out
and I've come to realize that I better get Connie Amaden Crawford's book "pattern making made easy" so I can further professionalize my work, the lutterloh pattern making system has some nice "blocks" you can work from, but they're pretty poor on marking and labeling so I need another resource as well, I'm thinking Connie's book should do it. Maybe I should have done that first, but I'm starting to shun procrastination big time and wanted to get started. Face your fears, let nothing stop you, when you jump out the plane you've got to hit the ground running!
Anyway, wish me luck, I want all of you to succeed in your dreams, let's make a happy, eco-friendly world!
Eco Friendly Fashion Designers Resources page
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
Wish I could keep up with my blog like I want too, nothing much has happened so far really, well, that's not quite true, I've managed to:
- land a few non-paying clients (everybody likes free labor don't they?" one in Illinois, a girl in Florida and another one right here in Vancouver, all by using the fashion industry network and craigslist, hmm, didn't think to use kijiji though, I'll do that too
- come across this awesome site for designers to upload their fashions, get exposure and even get their garment made and sold (and earn a profit from it, too cool huh? the site url is: http://www.garmz.com/ great team, great quality site, you got to love them and check it out
and I've come to realize that I better get Connie Amaden Crawford's book "pattern making made easy" so I can further professionalize my work, the lutterloh pattern making system has some nice "blocks" you can work from, but they're pretty poor on marking and labeling so I need another resource as well, I'm thinking Connie's book should do it. Maybe I should have done that first, but I'm starting to shun procrastination big time and wanted to get started. Face your fears, let nothing stop you, when you jump out the plane you've got to hit the ground running!
Anyway, wish me luck, I want all of you to succeed in your dreams, let's make a happy, eco-friendly world!
Eco Friendly Fashion Designers Resources page
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
Saturday, February 1, 2014
The Time Doctor, Setting Priorities And Patternmaking Practice
Okay, so there's only so much time you can squeeze out of a busy schedule. However, remember that you make time for the things that are important for you, we don't always like to face up to that. However, setting priorities and especially with something technical like patternmaking and making a commitment to laying one brick at a time, will allow you to reach your goals.
I'm already a quarter of the way through my patternmaking book and it's thanks to a great little program called TimeDoctor. It's free and what it does is help you stay focused on you're real priorities, not all your distractions. You'll be able to keep track of how you spend time on the computer and different tasks you list in you current schedule that way you have a little reminder and a way to get a bit self conscious about letting yourself swerve from the things you're supposed to do.
Well, I use it for sticking to my article work and when I've got milestones for article work completed that's when I'll use any bit of extra time to get busy with my patternmaking. Every little bit helps.
And a wonderful thing happened a few weeks ago, when I was working on developing the panels for the princess panels for the torso blocks, I discovered how to create the pattern for one of my own designs. This was a pivotal moment for me similar to how it felt when I first realized the secret to making successful cream puff dough. Or how to save your computer on your own from a virus. The knowledge of how to create something from scratch is very empowering and it definitely has increased my resolve to complete my study of Connie Amaden Crawford's "Patternmaking made easy".
I'm already a quarter of the way through my patternmaking book and it's thanks to a great little program called TimeDoctor. It's free and what it does is help you stay focused on you're real priorities, not all your distractions. You'll be able to keep track of how you spend time on the computer and different tasks you list in you current schedule that way you have a little reminder and a way to get a bit self conscious about letting yourself swerve from the things you're supposed to do.
Well, I use it for sticking to my article work and when I've got milestones for article work completed that's when I'll use any bit of extra time to get busy with my patternmaking. Every little bit helps.
And a wonderful thing happened a few weeks ago, when I was working on developing the panels for the princess panels for the torso blocks, I discovered how to create the pattern for one of my own designs. This was a pivotal moment for me similar to how it felt when I first realized the secret to making successful cream puff dough. Or how to save your computer on your own from a virus. The knowledge of how to create something from scratch is very empowering and it definitely has increased my resolve to complete my study of Connie Amaden Crawford's "Patternmaking made easy".
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
My Lack Of Patternmaking Tools - I Can Cut It
Working on those patternblocks, aiming to having everything (at least my slopers) complete by the end of December.
I'm taking stock of which tools and rulers I use most often and I have to say that my curve square and L ruler are in biggest demand when I'm drafting my patterns. If I had that flexicurve ruler though I think that may change depending on how well it keeps its shape. For now I'm just stuck using my trusty old tape measure. I'm going to get that curve square replaced though as the one I have has a few serious cracks in it. If you don't know the tool I'm talking about here it is:
I consider this delicate thing indespensible and the only place I can find it online is at this UK store, here's the link:
http://www.sewessential.co.uk/Category.asp?CategoryID=776&NumPerPage=5&Page=1
You'll find it at the bottom of the page and it's not called a "Sew Easy Curve Square".
The other thing I wish I had was that thing called an awl, a little hole poking device for marking dart points and 'walking' sleeve blocks into armholes. Instead I use a soap smoothed point on a safety pin to facilitate dart transfer like this (I usually have two fingers supporting the raised paper underneath while I'm making the hole):
I manage to 'walk' my sleeves by taking what ever bodice/torso block and 'walking' the sleeve onto it tiny pinch by tiny pinch. This can be a distance of about a 1 cm to 1 inch depending on the curve area. I'm making due alright.
Was doing a little 'window' shopping online for what I've got in store when I want to make patterns for my own collections. As I'm not going to use non-eco fabrics for my designs (or their development) it leaves me with a number of pricier options. I'll probably get most of my fabric from Near Sea Naturals, they've got dyed and plain organic cotton wovens for around $10 and up and organic cotton knits starting from $12 and up. Not great, but not too bad either. If I want to get cruelty free wool, they've also got that (not at all an easy thing to come by trust me) it'll be quite a bit more costly with their most affordable options being their black and fawn solid color wool wovens for $55 per yard. Now if I want to get some satin, I'll have to go to GreenFibres and get their undyed cotton product for around $26 a yard (13 GBP that is).
Well I've got an idea of the price range at least. It'll be a while till I can get started to be sure, but it will happen. Just got to some patternmaking work and experience with clients.
By the way, when I 'shop' for fabric, I just go straight to my Eco Friendly Fashion Designer Resource Page. One of the reasons I made it, when I need materials to get started with my collections I'll have everything there in one place and in a great way that everyone else can use it too with it's selection of eco fabric sources, dying informatios, eco-friendly fabric paint, notions and more. Here's the link if you're also interested:
The Eco-Friendly Fashion Designer's Resource Page
I'm taking stock of which tools and rulers I use most often and I have to say that my curve square and L ruler are in biggest demand when I'm drafting my patterns. If I had that flexicurve ruler though I think that may change depending on how well it keeps its shape. For now I'm just stuck using my trusty old tape measure. I'm going to get that curve square replaced though as the one I have has a few serious cracks in it. If you don't know the tool I'm talking about here it is:
I consider this delicate thing indespensible and the only place I can find it online is at this UK store, here's the link:
http://www.sewessential.co.uk/Category.asp?CategoryID=776&NumPerPage=5&Page=1
You'll find it at the bottom of the page and it's not called a "Sew Easy Curve Square".
The other thing I wish I had was that thing called an awl, a little hole poking device for marking dart points and 'walking' sleeve blocks into armholes. Instead I use a soap smoothed point on a safety pin to facilitate dart transfer like this (I usually have two fingers supporting the raised paper underneath while I'm making the hole):
I manage to 'walk' my sleeves by taking what ever bodice/torso block and 'walking' the sleeve onto it tiny pinch by tiny pinch. This can be a distance of about a 1 cm to 1 inch depending on the curve area. I'm making due alright.
Was doing a little 'window' shopping online for what I've got in store when I want to make patterns for my own collections. As I'm not going to use non-eco fabrics for my designs (or their development) it leaves me with a number of pricier options. I'll probably get most of my fabric from Near Sea Naturals, they've got dyed and plain organic cotton wovens for around $10 and up and organic cotton knits starting from $12 and up. Not great, but not too bad either. If I want to get cruelty free wool, they've also got that (not at all an easy thing to come by trust me) it'll be quite a bit more costly with their most affordable options being their black and fawn solid color wool wovens for $55 per yard. Now if I want to get some satin, I'll have to go to GreenFibres and get their undyed cotton product for around $26 a yard (13 GBP that is).
Well I've got an idea of the price range at least. It'll be a while till I can get started to be sure, but it will happen. Just got to some patternmaking work and experience with clients.
By the way, when I 'shop' for fabric, I just go straight to my Eco Friendly Fashion Designer Resource Page. One of the reasons I made it, when I need materials to get started with my collections I'll have everything there in one place and in a great way that everyone else can use it too with it's selection of eco fabric sources, dying informatios, eco-friendly fabric paint, notions and more. Here's the link if you're also interested:
The Eco-Friendly Fashion Designer's Resource Page
If you'd like to read more about fashion, information on the industry and online schools check out my site at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and ResourcesThursday, November 28, 2013
Why Watch Current (and past) Fashion Videos
I've heard and read that the reason to watch fashion shows are to keep up with the latest trends, and when it comes to collections of the past, to gain insight and inspiration from what designers have done before. And this is just one of the ways to get ideas for a new "original" collection of your own. Other ways of course are to look at the different clothing styles from other cultures and periods, looking at art and artifacts, nature, architecture even just checking out the new textiles, prints and fabric innovations can be a source of inspiration.
However these are designer's reasons to watch fashion videos, Patternmakers have completely different reasons and approach to watching both new and old fashion videos. For example I was watching Donna Karan's winter 2012/2013 collection a while ago and as a patternmaker I was inspired, challenged and intrigued by the cut of the garments. I found myself automatically wondering "how was that done?" and then challenging myself with the question of how and if I could do that myself for my own designs. Take a look for yourself:
This was actually quite a wonderful experience for me and I look forward to it every time I watch a new fashion video now (or a retro one for that matter).
Designers come up with new design challenges and adventures all the time that work out to be a great way to keep a patternmaker's mind on it's tip toes. It's actually made me head in the direction of looking into more speciallty patternmaking books as well, right now I've got my eyes on Pattern Making Portfolio Skills and the Pattern Magic series.
If you'd like to see more great quality fashion videos subscribe to fatalfashion's channel on Youtube.com
just visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/FatalefashionII?feature=watch
If you'd like to read more about fashion, information on the industry and online schools check out my site at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
If you're a designer or home sewer and you'd like to find some cool eco-friendly fabrics and more check out my resource page at:
The Eco-Friendly Fashion Designer's Resource Page
However these are designer's reasons to watch fashion videos, Patternmakers have completely different reasons and approach to watching both new and old fashion videos. For example I was watching Donna Karan's winter 2012/2013 collection a while ago and as a patternmaker I was inspired, challenged and intrigued by the cut of the garments. I found myself automatically wondering "how was that done?" and then challenging myself with the question of how and if I could do that myself for my own designs. Take a look for yourself:
This was actually quite a wonderful experience for me and I look forward to it every time I watch a new fashion video now (or a retro one for that matter).
Designers come up with new design challenges and adventures all the time that work out to be a great way to keep a patternmaker's mind on it's tip toes. It's actually made me head in the direction of looking into more speciallty patternmaking books as well, right now I've got my eyes on Pattern Making Portfolio Skills and the Pattern Magic series.
If you'd like to see more great quality fashion videos subscribe to fatalfashion's channel on Youtube.com
just visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/FatalefashionII?feature=watch
If you'd like to read more about fashion, information on the industry and online schools check out my site at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
If you're a designer or home sewer and you'd like to find some cool eco-friendly fabrics and more check out my resource page at:
The Eco-Friendly Fashion Designer's Resource Page
Sunday, November 24, 2013
I've Got My Lemon Tulip Lingerie Pattern Printed Out At Staples
I thought it would be taking me at least another month or so to finally get around to having my lemon tulip pattern printed out but what do you know, I called Staples up to find out if I could do this online and... Well I couldn't because their system isn't set up to handle two different file sizes (poster and double poster size) but I could load the files onto a disk and bring it in for them to do.
On March 20th I had the money to do a little something and turns out it cost $13 dollars for the whole pattern print out. Next time I'll be a little more efficient in my layout, but I couldn't tell which size I could use by Staples' online restrictions that turned out to be irrelevant anyway. They do larger sizes for example. And it was like 36 cent a page, not bad. Here they are: just click on it to get a closer look.
So now all I have to do is cut it out, cut the pattern out in fabric and sew it up and put it on my dressform, then there'll be a piece in my portfolio to show off, well, the first and only piece till I've got more to show. That reminds me though, I forgot I can add the garment photos from my other previous client, from last year. That'll be great.
The other great news is that I'm a little over half finished with my client's 10 look collection, she loves my work and would like to work with me over the long term. I don't think there's a bigger confidence booster than someone liking to work with you (and of course liking your work) so much that they want to continue. Hehehe, she's in New York too, fashion hub of America, how cool is that?
Okay well when anything new comes up or I get a breather from my work and family responsibilities I'll be posting again. I just haven't been able to get around to it. I've got article rewriting projects to take care of aside from my patterns and money has been really tight. Despite this though, I want to set a strong moral tone for my son and start a monthly donation project with him. Ever heard of Plan Canada? I love what they're doing, you can pick out "gifts of hope" to have sent to someone over seas. So what I did is told my son how the program works, and had him pick out two gifts that we'll be sending to someone... that is, as soon as I get my payment for the last pattern I did.... still waiting for that one, it won't be long though. Even if it goes into the beginning of April I'm considering it March's donation and will be sharing the notification on Facebook then I'm going to let him pick another gift for the end of April. For March, he's picked out 3 chicks and a mango tree. He's a pretty smart little guy.
If you'd like to read more about fashion, information on the industry and online schools check out my site at:
If you're a designer or home sewer and you'd like to find some cool eco-friendly fabrics and more check out my resource page at:
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
My Lemon Tulip Skirt Only Needs A Button Or Two Now
I just managed to finish my lemon tulip skirt portion of my portfolio piece today, I had to blind slip stitch the waistband to the wrong side of the skirt and then tack the hen facing to the inside of the skirt edge with the same blind slip stitch. I have to say, after seeing how it looks, I think I change my mind about wanting a fine hand rolled hem instead. I really like the way this turned out. Take a look below...
I love the way it curves gently outward from the waist then tapers to a narrow opening at the hemline...just like a tulip. So lovely. Now, I remember hearing on Fashion File, years ago, they were talking about one of John Galliano Couture collections for Dior had such fine craftsmanship, but that it was done with such a fine hand "...the clothes didn't look beat up". I was afraid that once I tacked down the facing to the inside of the skirt that it be weighted down and look overworked instead of looking like...a tulip, but it turned out great. Thank God.
I just have decide on what kind of closure type I'm going to use. In a Threads Magazine article, I read that any kind of closure on lingerie should act as additional embellishment and treated like jewelry. Okay, I've got to look for the right buttons then and make sure I've got 4 altogether, two for the skirt and two for the bodice piece.
When I'm finished with this portfolio piece though, I mean the entire look, not just this skirt, I'm going to put up another Patternmaking ad and include my portfolio link, I think I'll redo the url for that thing too, it's not great for Google pick up with the words it's using now. I think I'm going to offer my old deal again too, 4 patterns at $35 EUR each get the 5th one free.
On another note now though, I've put together a Pinterest board in dedication to my mom who has passed away. I haven't been able to think about much else lately, it troubles me that not enough people got to know just how wonderful and loving my mom was. She had an extremely well rounded range of interests and concerns for many things, the kind of things that mattered. I miss her very much and wanted to share what I could about her character. Here is the link to the Pinterest I made for her: http://pinterest.com/ayisha1978/all-about-mom/ and the photo of her that I'm going to use as the cover.
If you'd like to read more about fashion, information on the industry and online schools check out my site at:
If you're a designer or home sewer and you'd like to find some cool eco-friendly fabrics and more check out my resource page at:
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Got My Fashion Design Book And Started My Pattern Revision
It's only Wednesday but a lot has happened this week to allow me to now actually have more time to work on my patternmaking and play with my kids more, what a blessing. See I got a sinus infection about a week ago, and it was just getting worse, till I looked up some herbs for it, the three I started taking are cat's claw, burdock and St John's Wort.
And what do you know? Although it's been slow in treating my sinus infection, it's brought my depression down to some positive side effects. I can now quickly get my articles done in the morning, with them only taking about 45 minutes a piece rather then 2 and 1/2 hours so I'm having time I haven't had in years and years. It's like a miracle. I recommend it to anyone who has any level of depression that your psychiatrist can't prescribe medicine for, this herb is a God send.
Now for patternmaking, I've been deciding to tie up loose ends with my pattern making stuff so this morning I checked out my basic bodice block, posted the image of the finished product on facebook and I've just finished a couple hours work on the revision for my lemon tulip lingerie pattern. Next, I'm going to do a couple extra blocks for the size 6 set of pattern blocks, the jacket, pant and skirt slopers. Then I'll grade a set up to size 8.
After that though, I think I really want to start working either on one of the designs in my personal collection, or the other portfolio piece I designed (a light purple asymmetrical jacket and skirt set). Then again, although, I like that portfolio piece, I could use the one from my collection as my portfolio piece too. I'll see how I feel about it later.
Now about the fashion design book I got from the book depository. "Fashion Design Course" by Steven Faerm came in the mail on Monday and you know, I'm just on the fifth section, but I realize I should have gotten some books on specifically fashion design too rather then just getting all the other stuff, portfolio development, fashion illustration, fashion designer's sewing secrets, patternmaking and even how to survive as a fashion designer. I actually made the mistake of thinking that fashion illustration and a book on how to make it as a fashion designer would basically cover everything that I'd need to know as a designer. I was wrong though,
A book specifically about fashion design, such as this one written by a leader in fashion design education (the director at Parsons, no less) will cover history of fashion, reasons why certain designers are so important, why fashion changes as it does, who controls it, how and why. The other things it covers are details in how a fashion designer works with other people, such as the illustrators, patternmakers and sample hands to create prototypes and so on. The responsibilities of the fashion designer are mapped out in great detail.
This book will also be teaching me about the different techniques designers use to develop collections, like how to use inspiration around them, how to combine things, learn more about garment engineering and things like that. I mean it's not to say I don't know anything about it already, I do, but I'll be learning so much more through this, it'll open new doors and crystallize things I already have the right idea about. I'm hoping it'll cover a few extra 'designer' insights about patternmaking too though.
If you're interested in my digital pattern making service (at $35 per garment pattern) contact me at stylistwithacause@gmail.com or on my FaceBook page "Fashion Patternmaking And Design"
If you would just like to order basic pattern blocks for bodice, torso, coat/jacket or skirt you can place an order for the size and kind you need here at my fiverr gig where I will draft a basic digital bodice or skirt pattern block in the size you require for $5
Want more information on the industry and online schools? Check out my site at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
Want to find some cool eco-friendly fabrics and more check out my resource page at:
And what do you know? Although it's been slow in treating my sinus infection, it's brought my depression down to some positive side effects. I can now quickly get my articles done in the morning, with them only taking about 45 minutes a piece rather then 2 and 1/2 hours so I'm having time I haven't had in years and years. It's like a miracle. I recommend it to anyone who has any level of depression that your psychiatrist can't prescribe medicine for, this herb is a God send.
Now for patternmaking, I've been deciding to tie up loose ends with my pattern making stuff so this morning I checked out my basic bodice block, posted the image of the finished product on facebook and I've just finished a couple hours work on the revision for my lemon tulip lingerie pattern. Next, I'm going to do a couple extra blocks for the size 6 set of pattern blocks, the jacket, pant and skirt slopers. Then I'll grade a set up to size 8.
After that though, I think I really want to start working either on one of the designs in my personal collection, or the other portfolio piece I designed (a light purple asymmetrical jacket and skirt set). Then again, although, I like that portfolio piece, I could use the one from my collection as my portfolio piece too. I'll see how I feel about it later.
Now about the fashion design book I got from the book depository. "Fashion Design Course" by Steven Faerm came in the mail on Monday and you know, I'm just on the fifth section, but I realize I should have gotten some books on specifically fashion design too rather then just getting all the other stuff, portfolio development, fashion illustration, fashion designer's sewing secrets, patternmaking and even how to survive as a fashion designer. I actually made the mistake of thinking that fashion illustration and a book on how to make it as a fashion designer would basically cover everything that I'd need to know as a designer. I was wrong though,
A book specifically about fashion design, such as this one written by a leader in fashion design education (the director at Parsons, no less) will cover history of fashion, reasons why certain designers are so important, why fashion changes as it does, who controls it, how and why. The other things it covers are details in how a fashion designer works with other people, such as the illustrators, patternmakers and sample hands to create prototypes and so on. The responsibilities of the fashion designer are mapped out in great detail.
This book will also be teaching me about the different techniques designers use to develop collections, like how to use inspiration around them, how to combine things, learn more about garment engineering and things like that. I mean it's not to say I don't know anything about it already, I do, but I'll be learning so much more through this, it'll open new doors and crystallize things I already have the right idea about. I'm hoping it'll cover a few extra 'designer' insights about patternmaking too though.
If you're interested in my digital pattern making service (at $35 per garment pattern) contact me at stylistwithacause@gmail.com or on my FaceBook page "Fashion Patternmaking And Design"
If you would just like to order basic pattern blocks for bodice, torso, coat/jacket or skirt you can place an order for the size and kind you need here at my fiverr gig where I will draft a basic digital bodice or skirt pattern block in the size you require for $5
Want more information on the industry and online schools? Check out my site at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
Want to find some cool eco-friendly fabrics and more check out my resource page at:
Sunday, October 6, 2013
This PatternMaker Just Finished Reading Fashion Design Course By Steven Faerm
I've just got finished reading Fashion Design Course by Steven Faerm, the BFA Director of New Yorks Fashion Design at Parsons The New School For Design. As a patternmaker / aspiring designer and someone who has already read quite a few books on the fashion industry I hadn't actually realized how informative and insightful this book would be. And when I got it in the mail, between it's saturation with pictures and it's apparent thinness, I felt it would just be a fun read about things I'd already read about fashion design.
I was dead wrong!
Where can I start? Yes, there is a lot of pictures, but once you read the deceptively small amount of text that comes with them Steven Faerm shares a wealth of key advice and tips in so many areas:
- how to find, use, and combine different sources of inspiration
- the intricate chemistry and importance of preparing color and fabric stories
- the key purpose and creation of mood/inspiration boards for your collections and how to put them together
- how to easily develop numerous looks for a single cohesive collection
- how to compose your collection to maintain viewers' interest and why collections should include a selection of day to evening wear
- how and why to create a 'one stop shopping' element in your collection
- demystifies the incorporation of important marketability in your collection
- how to choose, use and combine textiles for a collection in unique, imaginative and appropriate ways
- ideas regarding the interpretation of chosen inspiritions
- how to create a focus collection that isn't redundant
- and so much more
And the images and layout which clearly demonstrates the information provided in the text is very professional and very cool:
Although a few things, (a very few) were in it that I've read before, (and previously only very lightly covered in a fairly uninformative way), Just about everything in this book is new, in depth information for me and as for the small size, what Steven Faerm has done was outline many, many ways to learn more about each aspect of the elements that go into designing a fashion collection. He's also explained why each of these elements are so important in fashion design so that any aspiring designer will have a clear understanding of their creative responsibilities and exactly what they have to do to meet them.
If you're serious about fashion design, you have to get this book. Following the assignments given in the book, it's truly a surprisingly outstanding crash course in fashion design. If you're an aspiring designer, or you are already a designer, you should read this book, you should read this book, you should read this book. The only thing missing that could get you hired is the networking opportunities.
The one thing I would have liked to see in this book however, is discussion of fashion design theory regarding the art and science of using proportion, and more discussion and illustration of design styling dealing with garment components (as in types of sleeves, skirts, necklines, hem finishes, style lines etc, etc). That's why the bulk is missing, but hey, for that I can always get the book The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style: Over 500 Mix-And-Match Elements for Creative Clothing Design. I just need to get either that book on patternmaking for lingerie or Chunman's book on patternmaking, the portfolio skills one. Because as a patternmaker first, I need to specialize in what I'm doing here. I've got to get a book on draping for patternmaking too. I'm going to get Connie Amaden Crawford's book for that.
If you're interested in my digital pattern making service (at $35 per garment pattern) contact me at stylistwithacause@gmail.com or on my FaceBook page "Fashion Patternmaking And Design"
Want more information on the industry and online schools? Check out my site at:
Budget Online Fashion Design Schools and Resources
Want to find some cool eco-friendly fabrics and more check out my resource page at:
If you would just like to order basic pattern blocks for bodice, torso, coat/jacket or skirt you can place an order for the size and kind you need here at my fiverr gig Patternmaker 78, where I will draft a basic digital bodice or skirt pattern block in the size you require for $5
Thursday, January 26, 2012
New Clients And How To Plan Out Your Digital Patternmaking Process
People are still contacting me about my patternmaking services even though I haven't refreshed my add since the first time I posted it. I do wish communication with people who contact me was consistent. Things happen though, one lady has had an unexpected tragedy in her family, this is usually a time consuming disaster in anyone's life, however, I think some people just starting out can get easily side tracked, like one fella I was talking to, that reminds me, I should email him again see what happened to him.
Never be afraid or put off emailing people, it's how to stay in touch. Don't always assume that people have changed their mind about you, it's just that there's so many things to do in work and life that if your services aren't needed "right now" than you may not hear from them in a while. However, this can put you at risk of being forgotten or shied away from. People will be like, "Gee, maybe she's forgotten about me and maybe I better contact someone else because she's probably gotten real busy, it's not like she's contacted me recently" You know what I mean?
So contact your contacts, hehehe, it won't hurt and they won't bite. I'm going to contact that guy right now... be right back.
Done. And they got back to me already too, so cool, you got to love clients who are that fast :) . So here it is, the fella I was talking about is just taking care of all the necessary prep work, he's got 3 shows coming up all in one month and one of my lady clients is going to send me a payment for some work I've done already.
Now for the Digital Patternmaking Process:
As I've done this several times already, I've worked out a step by step system for setting up and completing a digital pattern in the most efficient and time effective way, here it is:
1. pick out your sloper in the right size and type
2. don't get rid of anything in your pattern vector doc, you may need it for reference, alterations or even another pattern so keep everything and copy everything too
3. copy your sloper into the new garment pattern file making sure that front and back side seams have been aligned perfectly then separate a copy of them on a separate page (within the same vector file) but keep them on the same level (waist and bust lines are aligned across the page) this will help you keep your pattern drafting in correct orientation.
4. do your garment shells first
5. have a copy of all the necessary pattern markings you'll need ready on the outside of your pattern's vector page
6. group front and back pattern blocks then place them one on t0p the other with side seams matching
7. true up your pattern blocks and place your pattern markings
8. plan out your facings/interfacings
9. mark them accordingly
10. create your seams, plackets and hems
11. make as many copies of these front and back sandwiched blocks as other pattern pieces you'll be needing, for example if you need armscye, front and back facings, make a copy of the block 'sandwich' for each separate piece
12. ungroup the pattern block sandwiches and delete each unnecessary piece till you have each pattern piece you need from each group of front and back pattern block 'sandwiches'
13. group each new piece with their own separate pattern markings
14. arrange in order on the page, save again (do this often, make it almost like breathing)
15. export a copy as a jpeg and send it to your client and another one to yourself preferably in gmail should anything happen to your computer you'll still have your work in an email account that won't get rid of it
In my next blog post I hope to have a few pictures of my "lemon tulip lingerie" number as I'm almost done with the pattern. Just have to do those pretty little tulip sleeves. Slow going only because I've also been working on my clients projects. I'll have it completed before long though, no worries.
If you'd like to check out my fashion or eco friendly fashion resources lenses here are their links, feel free to drop me a note if you like what you see/read, I'll be happy to hear from you:
The Eco-Friendly Fashion Designer's Resource Page
Never be afraid or put off emailing people, it's how to stay in touch. Don't always assume that people have changed their mind about you, it's just that there's so many things to do in work and life that if your services aren't needed "right now" than you may not hear from them in a while. However, this can put you at risk of being forgotten or shied away from. People will be like, "Gee, maybe she's forgotten about me and maybe I better contact someone else because she's probably gotten real busy, it's not like she's contacted me recently" You know what I mean?
So contact your contacts, hehehe, it won't hurt and they won't bite. I'm going to contact that guy right now... be right back.
Done. And they got back to me already too, so cool, you got to love clients who are that fast :) . So here it is, the fella I was talking about is just taking care of all the necessary prep work, he's got 3 shows coming up all in one month and one of my lady clients is going to send me a payment for some work I've done already.
Now for the Digital Patternmaking Process:
As I've done this several times already, I've worked out a step by step system for setting up and completing a digital pattern in the most efficient and time effective way, here it is:
1. pick out your sloper in the right size and type
2. don't get rid of anything in your pattern vector doc, you may need it for reference, alterations or even another pattern so keep everything and copy everything too
3. copy your sloper into the new garment pattern file making sure that front and back side seams have been aligned perfectly then separate a copy of them on a separate page (within the same vector file) but keep them on the same level (waist and bust lines are aligned across the page) this will help you keep your pattern drafting in correct orientation.
4. do your garment shells first
5. have a copy of all the necessary pattern markings you'll need ready on the outside of your pattern's vector page
6. group front and back pattern blocks then place them one on t0p the other with side seams matching
7. true up your pattern blocks and place your pattern markings
8. plan out your facings/interfacings
9. mark them accordingly
10. create your seams, plackets and hems
11. make as many copies of these front and back sandwiched blocks as other pattern pieces you'll be needing, for example if you need armscye, front and back facings, make a copy of the block 'sandwich' for each separate piece
12. ungroup the pattern block sandwiches and delete each unnecessary piece till you have each pattern piece you need from each group of front and back pattern block 'sandwiches'
13. group each new piece with their own separate pattern markings
14. arrange in order on the page, save again (do this often, make it almost like breathing)
15. export a copy as a jpeg and send it to your client and another one to yourself preferably in gmail should anything happen to your computer you'll still have your work in an email account that won't get rid of it
In my next blog post I hope to have a few pictures of my "lemon tulip lingerie" number as I'm almost done with the pattern. Just have to do those pretty little tulip sleeves. Slow going only because I've also been working on my clients projects. I'll have it completed before long though, no worries.
If you'd like to check out my fashion or eco friendly fashion resources lenses here are their links, feel free to drop me a note if you like what you see/read, I'll be happy to hear from you:
The Eco-Friendly Fashion Designer's Resource Page
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