This collection is a bridal assortment that I designed to complement my custom bridal studio services and strengthen the FUTUREWIFE brand and point of view.
You’ll see below, the creative process that I use to develop an idea into a product. Sketching turns into digital mocks, then on to draping and proto development. When the idea feels fully formed, I work with my factory partner to finish developing SMS’s and set up for production .
Inspiration tears and quick sketches:
The inspiration behind the FUTUREWIFE aesthetic is all about dichotomy. High-minded minimalism meets emotion-laden punk. Architectural structure meets fluid forms. 90s androgyny meets 60s femme. The pieces welcome styling and emphasize play, designed with intention to be mixed and matched to create a one-of-a-kind ensemble.
Prototype development for the “Bird in Space” Pant - the first style I designed, inspired by my favorite Brancusi sculpture and the iconic Charles James “Clover” evening gown. I imagine this pant as a building block style of the collection - worn with sculptural tops, layered under sheer dresses and capes, and offered in the two-tone black and creme color way, as well as a white-on-white option with contrasted textures like floral jacquard mikado in back and duchess satin in front.
Starting with hand-sketching and mixed-media collage, I move into digital sketching and iterations on style details, before beginning to draft the patterns and sew the first muslins and prototypes.
I’ve experimented with a variety of sketching styles (and for freelance work, I often start by developing a style and croquis to suit my client’s preferences) and my preferred method is to sketch on top of a digitally manipulated photo of a real person, to accurately represent the silhouette and proportions.
I personally feel like fashion croquis and nine-heads figures don’t translate nicely to real bodies, and a lot of those aesthetic issues could be worked out sooner if the sketch was more realistic.
Example tech pack for factory hand-off:
For designs where I need to work out the desired specs in 3D, I often develop first base patterns myself, before passing off to a digital production patternmaker at my factory partner, to refine and standardize the specs and finishing. I work with their sample maker on finishing techniques, and conduct fittings with the patternmaker to ensure the design integrity carries through to production, and adheres to the original design goals.
Prototype development for the “Redemption Dress” - inspired by a 1960s vintage red chiffon Geoffrey Beene sleeve, and the chiffon dress I made for my senior prom, which was paneled with peach and black chiffon and covered with hand-made flowers (hence the name - I wanted a chance to redeem this circa-2010 concept!).
Imagining and experimenting with the style’s layering potential.
Prototype development for the “Spiral” Skirt. The skirt was inspired by a Steven Parrino artwork, which I imagined as a square-edged circle skirt, as if you stepped into the center of the artwork and wore it. I plan on using mixed materials and playing with high contrast color combinations as this style is developed further.
First prototype development, based off of my interpretation of the artwork.
