✂- Designer's Tip of The Day-The Dress Form

Ever wonder how a dress form is made? Watch this video-
- http://science.discovery.com/videos/how-its-made-dress-form.html

Source: Science Channel 

✂-Designer's Tip of The Day- Burn-Outs

What is a Burn-out fabric and how is it made?
A Burn-out fabric is a fabric made with two different yarns with a pattern effect produced by destroying one of the yarns in a printing process that employs chemicals instead of color.  Brocaded effects are obtained on velvet by printing with the chemical that will destroy the pile and leave ground unharmed,  (the top picture is a Velvet burn-out and the bottom is a Satin burn-out).

If you would like more information in regards to fabric processing, construction, dying and finishing, The Designer's Lounge will be teaching a Fabric Science class on July 27, 6-8pm.

Source- Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles, 7th Edition, by Phylllis G. Tortora and Robert S. Merkel

✂-Designer's Tip of The Day- Take the "hand-me downs"!

This Model 18 Consew Industrial Sewing Machine was given to us by a family member and it works great! They just don't make these heavy weight, strong machines anymore. There are many "older" machines floating around antique stores or flea markets and most can be salvaged, if you happen stumble across one, I say pick it up!
This machine was used to upholster the Albuquerque Public School buses and will now be used to make the new collection I'm about to start!
Thank you Ms. Chavez for the lovely gift!

✂-Designer's Tip of The Day- Great Book!

Dreaming of Dior by Charlotte Smith
Illustrations by Grant Cowen
From the cover-
"Charlotte Smith had already had more than her fair share of fabulous dresses and adventures. She lived life to the fullest in London, Paris and New York before falling in love with Australia and making it her home.
Then she discovered that she had inherited a priceless vintage clothing collection from her American Quaker godmother, Doris Darnell. When the boxes started arriving, they were filled with more than three thousand pieces dating from 1790 to 1995, from Dior to and Chanel originals to a dainty pioneer dress.
But when she unearthed her godmother's book of stories, the true value of what she had been given hit home. This wasn't merely a collection of beautiful things; it was a collection of lives. Women's lives. Tiny snapshots of our joys and disappointments, our entrances and exits, triumphant and tragic......"

This book is a great source of inspiration! The stories are fascinating and so personal, a brief trip back in time and the art of the Dress.
Enjoy!

Inspiration: Fashion Show Fun