Text c. Elements and Types of Design

Color and Texture also play a great role in designing clothes. Almost every season colour emerges in the fashion scene which is decided by the manufacturers, exporters and textile experts of the fashion world. While choosing a colour one must be utmost careful as colour creates the first impression and hence can glorify or destroy one’s appearance. Texture is the feel, drape and degree of firmness or softness of the fabric, and also creates a visual effect upon the wearer. So the designer must see the texture and fall of fabric to design successfully.

Types of design include structural and decorative design. Structural design details in a dress include collars, sleeves, yokes, pockets, position of seam lines, etc. Structural design depends on the form and the fabric. It is considered to be good if it suits to the purpose; is simple, suits to the material the garment is made out of. Structural design is more important than decorative design because it is essential to every garment whereas decorative is the luxury of design. Decorative design is the surface enrichment of structural design: appliqué, embroidery, painting or any trimmings.

There are 5 types of decorative design:

a. Naturalistic design: Objects from nature are reproduced exactly: flowers, leaves, animals and landscape.

b. Conventional design: An object from the nature is taken to suit the purpose and ceases to be naturalistic.

c. Abstract design: The combination of lines producing irregular forms.

d. Historic design: It refers to the famous monuments or buildings of historic importance.

e. Geometric design: It is derived from circles, rectangle, triangle, parallel lines and so on.

Decorative design is very attractive when it is created in size and structure to the textile of the garment.

Exercise 9. Find the information in the text which shows 1) the importance of textile for successful designing; 2) the type of design more important for every garment; 3) the type of decorative design which produces irregular forms.

Exercise 10. Draw a sketch of any garment to your choice to present and explain structural design, details and decorative elements.

Lesson Eight. Trimmings and Accessories

Text A. Fabric Trimmings

Text B. Fashion Accessories

Reading for general understanding

Text a. Fabric Trimmings

Fabric trimmings are used as ornamentation and to enhance the beauty of the garment.

Fabric bows are trimmings that can be made from any kind of fabric. The size of the bow must be altered to suit the weight of the fabric. The bows can be used to compliment or contrast the colour of the main fabric and its colour. There are two types of bows – a tied bow and a tailored bow.

Tassels and fringing if bought in the shop can be more economical with time and money than hand-made ones. Sell fringe – most soft, thick fabrics can have threads pulled out to make a self fringe.

Ric-rac is available in a vast number of colours and sizes and are relatively inexpensive. Many rows may be used together or two pieces may be “wound around” one another to form one braid with an unusual effect. In metallic form it is popular for evening clothes.

Appliqués are a quick, eye-catching embellishment just right for fleece fabrics. Any shapes such as flowers geometric shapes, even letters can be used for making appliqués on ponchos, vests, jackets, hats and other garments. When sewing appliqués to fleece you can use a highly visible stitch as a part of the design. Today so-called “felting” technique of making appliqué becomes popular.