I found this video very inspiring. You’ll see how from a simple idea sketched on paper you start to build the prototype of the dress.

The prototype technique is to define the types and volumes of the garment by casting a neutral cotton directly on the mannequin dressmaker with pins.

The prototype allows the designer to make a first impression of the final appearance of his creation and it is essential to carry out the boss of the model.

Christian Dior 1939 - Haute Couture Robert Piguet

“Moulage” movie made by Grand Marquis for the expo ” Prototype” of the Swiss Mode Museum http://www.museemode.ch/expositions.html

By Iulia Stanescu

Source: mymodernmet

There are numerous techniques for adding a great design to your T-shirt. Paint, dye, color spray or print to make your own innovative textile creations. But, I think that the most adorable and exclusive T-shirts are the ones painted.

So, today I invited artist and illustrator Maryanne Oliver, to write a guest post, an useful guide that will help you to prepare the T-shirt, to choose the correct fabric paint and provide guides and tips to create for yourself the perfect hand painted T-shirt.

Prepare yourself, get your paints and pens ready! It’s time to create something beautiful for you to wear!

In this photo, artist Maryanne Oliver and her amazing illustrations.

* STEP 1 * Choose the materials you’ll need *

• T-Shirt - 100% cotton will get fabulous results, avoid lycra based fabrics for painting.
• Fabric Paints - Invest in a high quality fabric paint. It will make a huge difference. I use Pebeo
• Fabric Pens - I use “Y & C FabricMate” pens
• Thick piece of cardboard
• Paint brushes
• Hair Dryer
• Iron
• Paper Towels
• Piece of scrap fabric - for ironing

* STEP 2 * Prepare your materials and find some inspiration *

Place your shirt on a nice flat surface, with the cardboard placed inside the shirt to allow you to paint on (without paint going through to other side). Select your colors you wish to paint with. I have used black only on this shirt, not only to keep the process simple, but it looks stunning also! Pick out a picture you wish you use or your design for your shirt. It can be a fashion photo from a magazine, a picture, something that you like.

* STEP 3 * Outline a rough sketch on the T-shirt

It’s time to draw a rough sketch of your design or idea on to the shirt, either with a fabric pencil or a lead pencil is fine as you will be painting over it anyway.  Do not be too precious, its just a rough sketch. Pour paints on to your palette ready to go, make sure you water the paint down as much as possible as the lighter the paint the easier it will be to work with and you can always build the tone up as you go along. But it’s better to start light.

Remember don’t be afraid of making mistakes! There are no mistakes in art! You can always cover it up or work around it, so removing that fear from the start will make the process so much more enjoyable and easier!

* STEP 4 * Start to paint the tones and shadows to your sketch *

The most important thing is to not worry about paint spilling during this process. Have your paper towels ready on hand, and if you really are not happy with the paint running then just blotch it hard with paper towels and you will find that will absorb the paint.

Fabric paints watered down will bleed on fabric also, so try to make this work with your design and like I mentioned earlier use the paint lightly. So in small amounts at a time. Use light paint strokes when you are getting started and especially when working on detail on the face. You can load up on paint when you paint the tones and shadows and hair etc. Use light free brush strokes as you paint. Remember what I said about relaxing, this is the key to beautiful brush strokes that flow freely, trust yourself and what you are doing.

* STEP 5 * Dry your painting. Take care of the shadings!

The good thing about a really nice thick piece of cardboard inside the shirt, means you can load up on water and paint as you feel needed. If it gets too wet just dry off with a hairdryer, this is fantastic when you are doing the detail on the face etc, In this way you can take care of your shading, then dry it off and finish the final details without having to wait around or any running of paint.

* STEP 6 * Fix the latest details. Iron the T-shirt.

Your shirt should be starting to look pretty impressive by now! Once all the paint has been dried off you can start to do the final details with your fabric pens. The eyes, nose, detail on the mouth, outer lining and also smaller finishing touches to the hair. Once you have completed all the detail, dry off completely or allow to dry naturally.

After the T-shirt is dried, place your piece of cotton fabric over the top and iron press the shirt to allow the paint to seal further. Once the paint has sealed allow your shirt to sit over night, then iron again the next day.  I always like to hand wash the shirt the next day once all the paint is sealed, and allow shirt to drip dry in the shade. Once dry iron yet again, and your beautiful piece of art will be ready to wear!

Congratulations!

Your shirt is complete and by this time you should feel pretty impressed with yourself. Enjoy!

All photos are copyright Maryanne Oliver

So, dear friend, if you want to try it for yourself, the entire process of painting will take you almost two hours and one day for drying. Then you can wear the beautiful piece.

Thank you my dear Maryanne for your inspiring post! For more fabulous and inspiring artwork of artist Maryanne Oliver check out her website.

Article edited by Iulia Stanescu

I’m sharing with you inspiring and useful video on how to create your favorites clothes. Fashion designer and illustrator Lovisa Burfitt from Paris, shares the process behind her fashion creations.

The following video should be a part of a wonderfully affordable way to learn how to make clothes.

For more details about Lovisa Burfitt’s work you can read an interesting interview with her over here.

by Iulia Stanescu

{My mother always told me: “You are a dreamer. You always dream, dream…”}, Valentino in the documentary ‘Valentino the Last Emperor’.

As I watched this documentary, I gained a new perspective on designing fashion, on spreading the word about it, on building value. I also, answered questions I had and questions I never asked about making fashion business.

So, I warmly recommend you to watch it not once, but every time you need tremendous inspiration!

By Catalina Rusu

I’ve recently discovered this nice website: Beta Fashion an online community of young designers.

The challenge here is that, this site is the world’s first online fashion label whose collections are entirely based on designs submitted by members of its own community of raw talent designers.

By running regular fashion design competitions Beta Fashion provides young designers with a platform to showcase their talent, see their work produced and sold in the Beta Fashion online store, and win considerable cash prizes.

Fashion Designs by Holly Sulivan

How it works?

1. Select a Competition and Create your Design

First you’ll need to read about the latest competitions we’re running on the site and select one that best suits you. Then let all your creativity flow to come up with the best original design you possibly can to inspire the community.

2. Upload your Design

Next you’ll need to upload your design onto the site making sure you’ve followed all the necessary submission requirements that you’ll read about in a minute.

3. Watch as the community rates it

Over a two week period the rest of the community will have the chance to rate and comment on your submission. Only designs that are rated highly by the community will have a chance at becoming part of our collections.

4. See if your Design Wins

All community members have the opportunity to rate their favorite designs, with only the highest rated designs being eligible to win. It is the entire community that determines the competition winners.

Beta Fashion is your label so whether you are an aspiring designer or a shopper with an eye for trend, get involved, create awesome pieces.

I look forward to seeing how your ideas influence the future of fashion.

by Iulia Stanescu

You have possibly read about ways or techniques to increase your creativity. I did it, too. But this one, I have experienced myself recently so I decided to share it with you.

You know that sounds, color, smells, tastes, images are able to recall certain memories or states at human beings. So, while working in my class during the fashion drawing for beginners short course at Central Saint Martins in London, they put us several times this song.

After one week, I randomly heard the same song in a different scenery, but I suddenly felt a crazy will to start drawing. I felt a boost of creativity and a will to create.
The same can happen with any kind of set: smell, decor, color.

If you don’t have such a set that could boost your creativity due to previous experience, you can simply create one. If you want it to be a song, train your mind. While working listen for the same song several times. After a while listen again to the same song.

See what happens. Then enjoy your creativity boost!

By Catalina Rusu

The fashion industry is exploding and everyone, it seems, is vying for a part in the action. To get ahead in the business and sit with the ranks of Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, you as an aspiring designer should have some of the same qualities as the world’s top designers. Here are some of the qualities you’ll need to succeed as a designer:

1. Strong Business Sense
   A great fashion designer has excellent business skills. You understand budgets, marketing, and sales concepts that are vital to getting designs produced and sold.
2. Good Communication
   A number of people are involved in the creation of a garment, and as designer, you must be able to effectively communicate to everyone involved what he or she expects.
3. Sense of Competition
   You continually strive to do better than your peers to come up with quality innovative designs quickly.
4. Highly Creative
   You have a great sense of style and are constantly coming up with new ideas for fashions.
5. Strong Drawing Skills
   Excellent drawing skills mean you can easily sketch your ideas onto paper to start the production process.
6. Good Eye for Materials
   You have an eye for the materials of a garment, as well as the elements that make it unique, such as color and fabric.
7. Strong Sewing Skills
   You can construct the garments you design. You understand what materials work best in the designs you are developing.
8. Team Player
   Great fashion designers work well as part of a team. Designing a garment for production involves the work of many, from pattern making to sewing to shipping. As designer, you must be able to work well with all involved.
9. Knowledgeable of Current Fashion Trends
   You follows trends and have a good eye for anticipating what your audience will respond to next.
10. Strong Visualization Abilities
    Good fashion designers can visualize a garment before ever putting an idea on paper. You can see the finished product well before production and can put your ideas into words and onto paper so others can grasp the idea as well.

Source: Fashion Schools

by Iulia Stanescu

Having a great portfolio is very important for jump starting a career and getting jobs in these areas. There are certain guidelines for a fashion portfolio. Using the tips from this book to get started may be successful for you!

In this comprehensive guide to creating a fashion portfolio, designer and educator Linda Tain shows you how to plan impressive and professional portfolio .

With more than 300 illustrations ranging from sketches by newcomers to top designers, this new edition offers hundreds of concrete tips.

Learn to:

• • choose the right layout design, shape and size for your portfolio.
  • make the computer work for you
  • draw precise flats and write accurate specs
  • customize your portfolio for specific customers.
  • plan your job hunt, create the best story and polish your interview strategy

You can find this book on Amazon

By Iulia Stanescu

The talented fashion designer Alexander McQueen is adept not only at designing revolutionary and unique clothes, but also to transform the classic fashion into fascinating pieces of art.

In the following video, McQueen transforms a bridegroom into a bride in a frenzy of cutting, ripping, painting and gaffer-taping. A suit by Yohji Yamamoto, a shirt by Jean Paul Gaultier, and tie by Hugo Boss, are turned into a ‘bride’ using a length of string, a bundle of ivory fabric, and paintbrushes.

Watch this fabulous and inspirational video of Alexander McQueen and how he, using his creativity, redesign the classic fashion.

by Iulia Stanescu