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There are a select few of us that walk around calling ourselves and being called designers. Yes, it is true we earn this title from years of study and practice or a deep passion for creating. But truth be told, there is a designer in almost all of us in the world. Think about it, designing (simplified) is the creation of new fashions this done by what I like to call innovative designers and a great deal of revision and enhancement on things that already exists by improvement designer. Thinking about it that way, how many times have you, seen something and really liked it except for one or two details that you wish were different. Voilà, you have designed something! Okay, it maybe something only you would wear (or so you think) but it still the exact procedure followed by many “improvement” designers. We manage this step of clothing design sometimes without even thinking we are doing it. For instance, you don’t like the cut of a pair of pants so you pull them tighter around the leg to see the difference or you take a dress to a tailor to get specific work done to make it into something you want to wear like shorten, darted, add or remove sleeves.
I think it’s a good idea for us all to encourage and develop this natural talent. I say this because no one in the world can know exactly what you want to wear without your own input. So I suggest you attempt cutting out the middle man. Try coming up with or searching for something new which you would want to get made. Of course, in order to try this you will first need to find yourself and dress maker, tailor or seamstress whose skills you have faith in. having someone who can adequately take your directions and recreate them as you would like is very important also. I don’t endorse someone steal a designers ideas but I honestly don’t see anything wrong with you using them as inspiration for something you want to create that is better suited for yourself. Keep in mind that previously created styles are not the only source for inspiration. Try looking to nature architecture or even something as basic as colours to find the muse for your own creation. Once you have a general idea of what you want to design, by this I mean: is it a dress, skirt suit, top etc. the next step is to figure out what colour and fabric would you like it to be made of? Most of us don’t have extensive knowledge of types of fabric but textile basic knowledge is simple enough to figure out. Is you fabric soft or rigid, thick or light weight, opaque or translucent, and very importantly is it stretch or non-stretch? Once you have all these information in mind go to you manufacturer and explain your case. This will probably be the most difficult as it can be difficult to relay an idea. A tip is to cut out magazine images of clothing that has details which you would love to incorporate into your design. (The best thing to do is sketch you design exactly as you would like it but I understand all of us are not art inclined).
Before you totally dismiss this process, keep in mind that at the end of the day despite the additional work (as opposed to just going in a store and picking something up) you will end up not only with a new garment, but one which was specifically manufactured with your own tastes and style in mind. It should be of a higher quality, dependant on the skills of the manufacturer you chose, than mass produced pieces bought in stores and of course the fit will be and exact match to your body type not some world average. |
