Over the next six months, I’m excited to show you the behind the scenes, nitty gritty, start to finish journey from a tiny idea to a finished collection. This month I am starting the design process for the Storybook Organics Autumn/Winter 2018-2019 collection, which will be released (fingers crossed, all goes according to plan) in August this year. Watch this space for a series of updates on my process and for exclusive sneak peeks at the upcoming collection.
I started this journey on the basis that my business would be honest and stripped to the roots of what I believe fashion should be. To me, fashion is a form of art, but utilitarian and practical at the same time. Often, the fashion industry is shrouded in mystery and exclusivity. There is a mirage of glamour but behind the scenes, the production of clothing is often fraught with the exploitation of labour and natural resources. Rather than writing about all the negativity in the industry, I will simply show the world my own dedication to a more positive movement: slow fashion. By taking it slow, the garments produced are of the highest quality and I am able to ensure that the products are manufactured fairly and ethically.
Every collection is a little bit different in the way that it takes shape but my design process is usually in some similar order to the following:
- Inspiration
- Colour selection
- Fabric research
- Textile manipulation/print development
- Silhouette and garment detailing
- Fabric selection
- Final garment lineup
- Pattern drafting
- Sampling and fitting
- Production
- Photoshoot!
I aim to show you a wee bit of every step along the way. By showing you the full design process, I hope you will cherish any items you purchase just a little more. It becomes more than just fabric stitched together, it becomes a story. You will see my trials and errors, my failures and triumphs. So without further ado, feast your eyes on the very beginning of this journey.
Step One: Find Inspiration
Every collection begins with that feeling you get in your tummy when your imagination runs wild. Wether it’s a line in a book, a stranger you see in a cafe, a weekend trip to a new place, or just a refreshing chat with friends, I’m sure everyone can relate to the feeling. The hard part comes down to developing that spark of inspiration into a story that can be worn as a garment.
The inspiration for the A/W 2018-2019 collection is the stunning Scottish Highlands. As my second collection for the brand, I wanted to keep it close to home. If I’m ever at a loss for inspiration, I’m only a short drive away from the source. This blog is a live telling of events so I can’t say for sure where this idea will take me yet. It requires development and research before I can produce anything tangible. But this is the exciting bit.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next instalment of this blog series: Colour Story
Let me know in the comments what you'd like to see for future posts!
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