Portfolio
Product Development, Illustration, Patternmaking
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Product Development
Coursework from Product Development & Manufacturing in fall 2019
Through this course, I developed inspiration boards, initial sketches, market research and trend forecasts, and took those elements and incorporated them into a seasonal collection of 6 full looks. At the same time I created and progressively edited a tech pack with sourcing and costing worksheets while also designing, drafting a skirt pattern and sewing the first sample.
To incorporate another trend forecasting element, I chose to add visual scientific symbols as decorative features. While the golden spiral fit well visually with initial photo inspiration, I had actually been reading headlines that made me think there might be a need in the near future for individuals to visually advertise their belief in science. I take no credit for being right, but it has been nice to learn that there exist enough rational people to create a market for such items.
Since creating this collection, I have been trained in Optitex and using Marker software to develop professional spec packs used in industry. With that said, I am very satisfied with my design development work and am working on developing more sample pieces from the collection and iterating on my initial branding ideas.
Limiting my inspiration board to photos I had taken myself that didn't contain people, I found the ones I was drawn to had iterative patterns found in nature or the built environment. This gave rise to a natural/neutral color palette of green, grey, gold, white, mauve, and navy.
Using the iterative patterns as inspiration, I incorporated simplified quilted line patterns into the jacket and a pieced design into the short-sleeved blouse and vest, allowing for maximum fabric yields in production. In future designs, I'd like to further explore piece-quilting fractal patterns and creating unique pieced textiles.
My target customer is a modern professional in a casual workplace who values functionality as much as aesthetics and ethical production when it comes to their clothing purchases. Each piece incorporates wide hems and seam allowances, deep pockets, and high quality hardware and closures. Natural fibers and textile treatments would be prioritized ideally but I capitulated to supply and costing limitations and instead focused on designing quality pieces that could be tailored and reused to extend each garments' lifespan.
My final collection did not incorporate a skirt so I took inspiration from the pants and developed a paneled straight pencil skirt pattern complete with the ideal pocket design and hems. The deep pockets can completely and securely hold a large cell phone and they also lock into the seams of the back and center panels, contributing to the structural integrity of the garment. While quite fitted, the fabric has approximately 10% stretch and curved seams at the back. The paneled design also allows ease in tailoring to fit any body or preferred fit.
Building on what I learned developing this pattern, future pieces will have a slightly wider waistband and the top stitching on the pockets would be moved to .5". I also think this particular fabric, which I also intended to use for the culotte pant might need heavier top stitching on the front and back center panels as the tight stripe can make the seam look visually distorted. I think it works fine on the skirt pattern but I would explore a textile with less contrast or larger scale design.
Above is the first skirt prototype. Below are a sample of the documents and branding work created for this project.
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Illustration
Technical flats, digital and analog, 2019
Fashion sketches, 2019
This set of sketches came from a fashion imaging course that I took concurrently with product development. I had to get up to speed quickly with fashion sketching basics and Illustrator while simultaneously developing my collection. During this time I also developed a croquis with multiple poses and with proportions closer to my line's base size. The growth in my skills and development of a stylized realism is easy to see by comparing the first two images to the following 7.
Sketches and studies, 2007
This set of images are a sample of sketches and drawings I created in 2007, while studying abroad and drawing with pen in hand-made sketchbooks, focusing on landscapes and the human form. Realistic portraits are my forte but I'm keen to keep developing my skills when it comes to sketching textiles and using alcohol markers.
Patternmaking
Computer-Aided Design coursework, (Optitex 2D/3D, Marker), Spring 2021
Here is a sample of images produced as a comprehensive final CAD project. I really enjoyed learning Optitex and find it engages well with my desire to solve problems and I love how efficiently one can explore a potential solution before cutting into fabric. Creating 3D visualizations of garments is a really fun challenge and creating very efficient markers is possibly the best game since Tetris!
For the final project assignment, we were given a two-dart bodice, two-dart skirt, and sleeve blocks to digitize, edit, and alter to produce an accurate pattern for a look. Additionally, we had to add or reduce volume, lengthen or shorten something, incorporate a collar or facing, and produce an accurate pattern, and develop a 3D model with at least two colorways (one with embroidery details) and produce requisite reports, markers, and technical pack elements.
My final design is modified princess-seamed, three quarter sleeve knit maxi-dress pattern that is fitted through the bodice with moderate volume through the hips for fit and ease of wear. The design allows for colorblocking or abstract print use, a necklace-like embroidery option, and other elements that allow for both higher-end and casual style variations to be created from one pattern.