Trend Watch: Crocodile
Three fashion weeks down, one more to go. Today marks the start of Paris fashion week, and we couldn’t be more excited. Before Paris fashion week unfolds, we will recap a key trend seen in New York, London and Milan: CROCODILE
Posts by: Francesca Sterlacci
Francesca Sterlacci is the CEO of University of Fashion (UoF) which she founded in 2008 as the first online fashion video library bringing the art and craft of fashion design and business to schools, libraries, organizations and the general public. As owner of her eponymous label for ten years, her collection sold in fine stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Barneys and Nordstrom. As a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology for 11 years, she became Chair of the Fashion Design Department where she initiated the complete revision of their AAS and BFA degree programs, as well as wrote three certificate programs: Leather Fashion Design, Outerwear and Haute Couture. Francesca has also taught graduate level fashion design at the Academy of Art University San Francisco for six years, both on site and online. Her publishing accomplishments include: Leather Apparel Design, the Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry (First and Second Editions), the A-Z of the Fashion Industry, Leather Fashion Design and a 3-volume beginner series on Draping, Pattern Making and Sewing designed to complement the UoF lessons. She has also made literary contributions to both the Encyclopedia of Clothing & Fashion and You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Women. Francesca holds an AAS, BA and an MSEd (master’s degree in higher education).
When Trends Collide: London and Milan Fashion Week
As day 3 of Milan Fashion Week begins, we can draw that there are definite trend overlaps between London and Milan Fashion Week. The sheer trend continues to be strong in almost every collection, with metallics being a reocurring trend as well. Today, we will be covering the trend : SHINE
University of Fashion Trend Watch LFW: Embellishments
Sometimes more is more. While some designers’ play with minimalism and clean lines, others fill their collections with detailed intricacies. A trend we loved from London Fashion Week: EMBELLISHMENTS
Trend Watch LFW: Stripes & Dots
Prints, prints, prints! Designers have been fun for Spring 2014 on the London Fashion Week runways. Today we will be looking at the emerging trend, stripes. Read More
Trend Watch LFW: FLORALS
London Fashion Week has been off to a good start. We are seeing similar trends as New York Fashion week, but with exciting twists. Stay tuned this week as we will be covering the trends emerging on London’s runway.
Colour is in full bloom on the runway, with pink being the ‘it’ colour. We are also seeing floral prints, which will be the first key trend that we will be covering. Read More
Trend Watch NYFW: Lace and Sheers
As the debate rages on about the expense of fashion week, especially given the fact that the Internet delivers the designer’s message real time to the world, one thing is for certain, the clothes do excite and inspire! We will be covering the key trends during this fashion season, beginning with the lace and sheer trend.
Product Development: From Design to Department Store
Product Development is known as the process of following a product from concept to production. This process may differ depending on the size of the company. For a medium to large size company, many people are involved in the creation of a new design starting with the creative director and/or the designer who gets the ball rolling with the help of their design assistants. This process begins approximately one to two years in advance of the season for which the merchandise will be sold at retail.
Pattern Making: 2-D Designs to 3-D Garments
Prada patterns photographed by Brigitte Lacombe
A pattern is a two-dimensional diagram of a garment, drafted by what is known in the fashion industry as a pattern maker or pattern cutter. The process is also known as pattern drafting, pattern cutting and flat patterning. Once a pattern is made, it is subsequently cut and sewn in fabric to make a garment. The history of pattern making can be traced as far back as the thirteenth century concurrent with the introduction of form-fitting clothing. Tailors and dressmakers authored guides on how to cut and sew men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. Guilds were formed offering apprentices the opportunity to learn techniques of the trade. By the late 1770s, publications such as Garasault’s Descriptions des Arts et Metiers, Diderot’s Encyclopedie Diderot et D’Alembert: Arts de l’Habillement, and The Tailor’s lnstructor by Queen and Lapsiey, all contained pattern drafts for the professional tailor, as well as the home dressmaker.
Pinterest as a Tool for Inspiration
Technology, and the use of sites such as Pinterest, has greatly influenced the creative process. Pinterest allows users to easily create boards by collecting, saving, and curating images. These boards can also serve as mood boards, a way to visually represent your ideas that convey the style and tone of your inspiration. Creating a mood board is an important step in creating a collection.
Pedro Pedreira
Fashion Art: Drawing and Illustration
French Fashion Plate: 1880
Fashion Art is the process of visualizing your design ideas through the medium of fashion drawing. The art of fashion drawing dates back to the sixteenth century, much before Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, blogs, and ‘costume’ books depicted regional and ethnic dress. From the seventeenth century through the nineteenth century, France and England produced a multitude of fashion magazines containing fashion illustrations. Among the most proliferate were Lady’s Magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, La Belle Assemblée, Ackerman’s Repository of the Arts, Le Cabinet des Modes, & Gallery of Fashion. Within these early magazines, fashion plates depicted the latest fashion trends of the times.