Welcome, all you DA Fashion Designers out there!

It's about dang time we had a place to call our own that is SERIOUS about the technical and professional aspects about fashion design. If you're here you know designing clothing isnt always about the pretty picture or the glamorous haute couture...it's about perfecting an art in a dog-eat-dog industry.

So whether you have your own line, work for someone who does, or are an aspiring fashion designer, this club and those at DA who are designers are here to help each other...because after all that's what DA is for.

I am the founder, *dedredhed, and I am looking for staff! Note me.

Send a NOTE expressing your wishes to join, no comments! And watch us for updates.

Give three serious examples of your fashion design work, -or- give me what you think fashion design is about.

Who can join? Well, there are three galleries here at DA dedicated to fashion design, so if you contribute to either, you can join.

Fashion Design - in the Designs & Interfaces gallery, this is where the technical drawings, croquis, presentations, and other 2D artwork concerning fashion design goes.

Textile Art - in the Traditional Art gallery, this is where made fashions in textile, 3D form goes.

Fashion Photography - fashion advertisement or website photography for yours or someone else's product.


Each time this journal is updated (which will try to be every month, but as a working professional in the industry - my does that sound scandalous - I may not be able to keep that schedule, but dont worry...I wont forget about you), you will see updates in the following sections:

Staff Member:
Designing can mean anything to anyone. It can mean making your own prom dress to running an international accessories line, drawing on a piece of paper with markers and ink to clicking away flats on Adobe Illustrator. Whatever it is to you, if it has to do with clothing, its a design.

Shoes, hats, socks, underwear, shirts, pants...if it's worn on your body, it was designed by someone. Even if it doesnt look like much - like a plain straight tie bar - it was carefully mastered by someone in a design studio somewhere.

But there are certain ways to design certain things. Everything has a plan...it just doesn't happen overnight. Many many sleepless nights go into what you and I wear everyday.



Got a deviation you would like for us to edit? Send it to us through a note and we'll post a Before and After deviation showing you (and the rest of DA) just how to correct those mistakes you (and possibly others on DA) keep making.


Tutorials:
[link] Flats
[link] Designing a Line
[link] Fashion Terminology!

Books:
I’ve put many useful books into this Amazon.com list!
[link]

If you have resources to share, please do by sending us a note!

This section is looking for a staff member. This person should be adept in design and perhaps work in the industry. This section is geared more towards coaching ideas and artistic design.

Staff Member:
Patterns, grading, draping...it must be done, and there are actually some people out there who enjoy doing it. It is the step after design, where a garment is put into sample, checked, and rechecked, then sent into production.

*tiinateaspoon invites you to take a look at her explanation on fashion cutting. [link]

Basic Blocks [link]

Need a pattern making book? recommends the following!

[link]

“One of the things I liked about this text over others are that the instructions are really simple to follow. I guess some of the design details they discuss could seem a little dated, but it really does cover the basics and spends a lot of time on modification of basic patterns, which is really useful to anyone attempting to work primarily from slopers rather than draped pieces. It also includes basic pattern pieces (sleeve, front/back bodice, front/back pant, front/back skirt, if i remember correctly) for those that do not have their own slopers, so that one has a set of patterns to begin modifying.”


Los Angeles fashion seems to be picking up the pace! In the Thursday, November 4, 2004 issue of WWD, sporty, flirty sundresses are featured for next spring a ala Los Angeles sun n fun style!

Staff Member:
Fashion Photography is how we learn of fashions. They make the model and clothing become a reality, whether it be a simple underwear ad or a couture fashion spread.

This section is looking for a Staff Member, preferably someone with knowledge in camera usage and shooting fashion models.



by shows how to render croquis artistically with punch and flavor...and class.



15 DAYS LEFT



A formal wear contest with one Grand Prize and three First Prizes for anyone who wants to enter.

Formal Attire

Submit 1 Male Fashion, 1 Female Fashion, or both together

Include:
--Fabric swatches (real, made up, or from an internet source) with fabric content information (i.e. 100% Cotton Poplin)
--Flats of all garments to be eligible for grant prize. Flats for accessories not required. Include style numbers. Flats need not be proportionate to your figures, but they must be proportionate to each other. They must be colored/masked/indicate pattern (either or).
--Two typefaces, one decorative, one informative, are allowed.
--A man and woman fashion together requires that they match. How they match is to be interpreted by you.
--Show any special materials used to create it. You may describe the garments in detail in your description when submitting.
--Some sort of border. Backgrounds are allowed but not required.
--Can be as big or as small as you want it. Can be digital or hand drawn.
--A full figure for the type of garment is reuired (i.e. no cut off hands or feet!).

Theme: Nature meets Industry

The garments must be wearable to be considered (i.e. a person must be able to wear it in real life).

Submit by December 15, 2004 11:59 PM (your time) into the Fashion Design Gallery under Designs & Interfaces here on DA. Note *fashionabledesigner by December 20, 2004 with your entry...we will not go looking for it for you.

Prizes
Up to $200 in prizes, one Grand Prize (art supplies, sub), three 1st Prizes (subs)
(In the event insuffecient entries are recieved, subs will be provided to entrants and thats it )

(hints and tips will be provided by * fashionabledesigner to any deviants who wish to enter but are having trouble understand fashion terms...this does not mean we will do it for you)


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Assignments are given to help spruce up DA's galleries regarding fashion, which we all know could use a little help. Everyone who participates should send us a note with a link to the deviation, and it will be featured in the journal as soon as we get it in.

November Assignment

Design a cute sundress in next spring's colors.


IF YOU NEED HELP WITH ASSIGNMENTS OR CONTEST, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK. JUST NOTE US.

*Art supplies can include but are not limited to marker paper, Prismacolor markers, drafting paper, and may or may not total to $200. All shipping costs to be paid by the winner if out of the state of California, USA.


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GETTING INVOLVED: Everyday, there is misuse of the galleries here on DA. Do your part by understanding what you are submitting before you submit by reading the gallery queue thoroughly. Also go through your gallery and rearrange your items, as some of the categories have changed. If you see a deviation in a gallery that is not following the rules, just report it by clicking the Policy Violation button below the deviation, and telling the admins what’s up in the window that comes up.

Remember, drawn and otherwise 2D versions of fashion design go in the Fashion Design gallery, while 3D versions of fashion and costume designs go in Textile Arts.

Be sure to also leave correct and helpful comments for your fellow deviants. The only way many of us will get better is if there are those who will give great constructive criticism, not just pats on the back. If you would like to learn more about commenting the right way, click here: [link]



DA Network of Designers:



Photographers