Snip a Picture – Detailing My Designs (Week 3)
Deanna B -
I hope we remember “Penelope”? Her closet is absolutely stuffed with clothes in every single shade and color. There has to be something out of dozens upon dozens of clothes that’ll match her afternoon brunch today…so why are there piles of discarded clothes strewn around her room and absolutely nothing to wear?!
Perhaps, Penelope’s issue is that she hasn’t identified which colors work best with her complexion? This week, I discovered the color palette which complements my complexion. With the help of a U of A fashion student, I learned that I match with “sunrise” colors (see image below). As it turns out, I was already planning to use a lot of these colors for my capsule wardrobe. This is great news, because this means I’m pretty in tune with what works best for my complexion (hair, eye, and skin color). Understanding my colors will help me create a more timeless collection for myself, as I’ll be more likely to wear clothes that complement my natural features already.
Besides getting a color analysis, I also made major progress with one of my pieces – my tote bag! I made a practice version of the bag (which I finalized the designs of). This practice is constructed of muslin, which Sonoran Stitch provided for me. It definitely could use some work (my stitches are assuredly not straight), but I’m pretty happy with how it’s turning out. At SSF, I was also able to sit in on a meeting with a prospective client from North Carolina. I got to see as Erica and Maggie asked the client about his product. What stitches would they need to use? What materials did they need? How could the factory work to help the client’s company grow? It was really interesting to see the creative/logistical aspects that are important to consider when expanding a small-scale business.
I’ve also been continuing to brainstorm the fabrics I’d like to use. With Asher, I’ve come to decide that I’ll be purchasing mostly thrifted fabrics to be more conscious of my budget. However, he introduced me to some options regarding other sustainably-made accessories and add-on bits, like buttons made of coconut. And though I’m likely not going to be using it in my project, Maggie Keef, at the U of A, showed me cactus leather. It’s exactly like it sounds, leather made out of cactus instead of animal skin. I encourage you all to look it up, from the pictures, it looks surprisingly a lot like regular leather. Many issues come up with leather (wasted leather with blemishes, questions of animal ethics) and leather alternatives (lack of durability; and the fact that faux leather is made of PVC). Cactus leather could be the solution for these problems, something which I find interesting since cactus is so abundant here in the Southwest desert region.
In addition, I’ve been looking at fabrics underneath a special magnifying glass, and it’s cool to see the differences between knit and woven fabrics! Knit fabrics tend to be stretchier, whereas woven ones look grid-like and can often hold onto wrinkles for a while.
I hope to see you all next week as I continue to work on my designs and source my fabrics!
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