Clothing Design Ideas
Clothing design, whether you are considering it as a career or a way to expand your own wardrobe, is creative, interesting and challenging. As with many creative endeavors, a good eye for style is key; however, you will also need to know how to cut, sew and fit a garment. Experiment with some of these clothing design tips and ideas to add to your own wardrobe and explore fashion design.
-
Refashioning and Repurposing
-
One of the easiest ways to get started with clothing design is to remake clothing you already have or items you have found at thrift or secondhand stores. An outdated dress can become a stylish short jacket or an oversized man's shirt can be remade into a well-fitting blouse, a playful short dress or a fitted tunic. You can even combine fabrics and pieces from more than one item to create a new design that suits your body and lifestyle. Refashioning and repurposing old clothing is a good way to experiment with fashion design at a low cost.
Sketching
-
Creating a fashion sketch is an important part of the clothing design process. Even if you can't draw, you can roughly create shapes and details. Take advantage of printable fashion croquis online to make clothing design easier. Use good-quality colored pencils to add color and detail to your sketch and consider adding swatches of fabrics and trims, especially if you won't be sewing your clothing design right away.
-
Sewing Patterns
-
Once you have clothing design ideas in mind, look at commercially available patterns. Pattern drafting takes a lot of skill, and can be quite challenging. Fortunately, there are a wide range of sewing patterns available. You may find one that works with your clothing design ideas or that you can combine several patterns to create your clothing design.
Sewing
-
Once you have chosen your fabrics and patterns, take the time to make a test run of your own design or a muslin in inexpensive fabric. Cotton muslin, old sheets or cheap $1-per-yard fabric all work for muslins, but you can also opt for a fabric that is inexpensive but still wearable. Use a long stitch length to baste the garment together, then try it on inside out to assess the fit. Adjust the fit as needed, taking in seams, adding darts or noting length changes. Make these changes to the regular pattern before cutting your garment out of your final fabric and sewing it.
Pattern Drafting and Design
-
Designing your own patterns offers you full creative control and the ability to achieve the perfect fit. You may want to begin experimenting with pattern drafting by creating bodice, pant and skirt slopers. These tightly fitted garments serve as a pattern base that allow you to make a multitude of other garments and clothing designs, all perfectly fitted to your body.
-
