This is look was created for the Threads Pink Power fashion show fall of 2024. Pink Power is a breast cancer benefit fashion show hosted nearly every fall semester. This look is inspired by the resilience of the human body facing the most difficult situations. This look was created on V-Stitcher, printed, cut and sewn by me.
One of the ways I most clearly see this resilience is through the practice of body suspension. As explained by piercer and piercing educator Lynn Loheide, "Body Suspension is the process of piercing hooks into the skin, and hanging from those hooks." This is an ancient practice that has existed throughout many cultures across the world and it is still practiced by many. In the original concept sketches of this design it included hooks placed through the different petals of the shirt. Unfortunately it proved to be very hard to purchase comically large hooks that were not real fishing or suspension hooks. In the interest of not hurting my wonderful model Meredith Bradshaw, I decided to forgo the hooks in the blouse on the runway and they will be added to the look at a later date.
As for the design process, I wanted to challenge myself by creating a garment for the fashion show entirely in V-Stitcher. I had used it before in a couple of my classes, a majority of the time only changing colors and prints of existing garments, or changing small details like dart placement or necklines. The top of this look was entirely drafted in V-Stitcher. One of my professors provided me with a illustrator sloper file which I modified to hang further from the body, duplicated and shifted the hem edge to create the petals of the top. The same process was then repeated for the sleeves. Once I was happy with the design on the computer I printed out the pattern and did a mock up of the sleeve and bodice area to ensure fit. And on the first try it worked! I went ahead and cut out all of my fashion fabric, bold move I know, but the sewing process was so quick and easy since everything was already determined in V-Stitcher. I was able to complete my look in record time which was so surprising since I already sew fairly quickly. It is so wonderful to see first hand the power of digital design and truly confirming my love for the process.
I paired this look with a wide leg pair of grey pants that I wanted to create in order to grow my personal professional wardrobe. I learned from this look that at some times I do get bogged down with details and need to consider how everything works together. This look, while created with good individual pieces, I need to have considered how the pieces pair together in the final silhouette, which ended up being a bit to wide for my liking. Either way these are of the most craftsman and truly wearable garments I've created and I'm happy to have seen tangible progress in my sewing abilities especially in comparison to my first Pink Power look.
