5 Things Worth the $$$ as a Fashion Designer
iPad + Pencil + Procreate
If you think you can’t draw, you’ve never tried it digitally! I used to never sketch my ideas out because they never looked like what I envisioned in my head, but I’ve dramatically improved my fashion illustration skills just by practicing on my iPad. The ability to work in layers, freely erase and redo strokes, zoom in/out, access unlimited colors, and test out different brushes made sketching less intimidating. There are also so many fashion-specific tools, templates, and textures you can find online to streamline the process and create very polished illustrations. You basically have the entire world’s supply of drawing supplies at your fingertips, and in a portable format! A crucial part of fashion design is ideating and refining, so the more accessible you can sketching for yourself, the more inclined you will be to develop your ideas.
Large Cutting Mat
Paired with a rotary cutter, it makes cutting slippery silks, thin linings, and delicate mesh so much easier! Because you aren’t lifting the fabric and the mat has a grippy surface, there’s no shifting and you can get more precise than using scissors, especially on small corners and tight curves. The printed grid on the mat helps you align the fabric grain to your pattern grainline. Plus, it protects your floor/table from the blade and prevents the blade from getting dull. A larger size allows you to cut bigger pieces such as giant skirt panels in one go. I suggest at least 24x36”, but I adore my 40x72” mat. Make sure it is “self-healing,” which means that the mat is safe for rotary blades and the surface stays smooth even after cuts. I suggest Olfa, Fiskars, or Sullivan!
Good Quality Thread
Good quality does not mean expensive! But please steer away from those no-name bulk packages on Amazon or bargain bin deals. Cheap thread can be prone to breaking, fraying, uneven stitching, and even creating excess lint or tension issues with your sewing machine. To avoid frustration, use smooth all-purpose thread from reputable brands like Gutermann, Coats & Clark, and Maxi-Lock, which are sold everywhere for $2-3! Thread is also what literally holds your garment together through washing and wearing, so it’s worth the few extra dollars to ensure your work lasts.
Serger
A serger clean finishes the raw edges of fabric to prevent them from fraying. It creates stronger seams and increases longevity of your work, making them look more professional from the inside out! Even if there’s a lining, I will serge the lining edges to prevent them from fraying as I’m handling the pieces and from friction with the exterior layer over time. Also sergers are great for sewing stretchy seams on knit fabrics—the overlocking stitch loops allow the fabric to stretch opposed to a straight stitch on a normal sewing machine. Mine is from Babylock but I’ve also had great experience with Brother sergers!
A Professional Dressform
Not a hard shell mannequin, not a styrofoam form, not one of those adjustable plastic ones. A professional dressform is truly pinnable and durable enough to last years and years. As a eveningwear designer constantly working with sculpted silhouettes, draped overlays, and asymmetrical style lines, a dressform allows me to visualize the design on a body and check the proportions as I’m building a dress. Being able to freely drape on the form, see how different fabrics behave, and test out different shapes unlocks a kind of creativity that that you can’t get from flat patterning. The professional build from quality materials makes the actual act of sticking a pin and removing a pin easier, which may seem negligible until you have hundreds of pins in a pleated bodice! I have two forms from The Shop Company, and one has lasted me over 10 years! They are on the more affordable side of professional dressforms but the quality is top notch.