Medieval Shirt Dress
Working with Supima, the dress is made from 100% Italian cotton shirting and laced with chainette fringe. There was no sketching involved in this project, instead, I let the fabric guide my design.
I started with the bodice, draping the shape and movement, and simultaneously thinking about incorporating the lacing. Fitting on the model played an important role in the garment development process, ensuring the fit and cut-out placements worked in tandem.
I draped a circle skirt with a handkerchief hem, letting the waistline of the bodice guide the design line. I layered the skirt using leftover fabric scraps, intentionally placing the pieces to create a visually interesting hem and fullness. Last fittings were conducted and final details were added to enhance the design.
exoskeleton
Photos taken in collaboration with Alison Pratt @alisonprattphotography
A gown inspired by the exoskeleton of a bug with a waist and back emphasis in silk organza. The bodice and skirt of the gown were constructed first and then strips of organza were folded in half and sewn on using French seams. bodice lining was then attached. The dress was hand-painted to convey a bug-like texture. The waistline is emphasized using beading. Thumbnail sketches accompany the original design to create a mini collection.
Glass Garden
Photos taken in collaboration with Alison Pratt @alisonprattphotography
The dress is made from 100% rayon jersey and 100% silk chiffon. Inspired by the Chihuly Garden of blown glass in Seattle. The cutouts, intricate shapes, and ruching are meant to resemble the same shapes and textures created by the blown glass sculptures in the garden. Thumbnail sketches accompany the original design to create a mini collection.
The Last Unicorn Fantasy
Photos taken in collaboration with Alison Pratt @alisonprattphotography
Inspired by the 1982 fantasy film, "The Last Unicorn," the dress was created by drawing on elements from the movie such as color, texture, and movement. The dress contains multiple forms of fabric manipulation. The organza was sewn to shrink wrap and placed in the oven to create the wrinkled effect. The raw silk was dyed using ice over a 24-hour period. Beaded epaulettes adorn the shoulders. It was also constructed using techniques like gathering, ruching, and layering. Two thumbnail sketches accompany the original design.
