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A day in the life of a designer .... Find out what working in the industry is
really like.
The term "haute couture" is French. Haute
means "high" or "elegant." Couture means "sewing."
This is the business of
designing, creating, and selling bespoke, high fashion clothes.
Just imagine getting paid to dress people and make them
feel wonderful .... well that's what I do.
I adore my job , its creative, inspiring and often exhausting.
Let me chat you briefly through a typical Day at Artwear ...
although nothing is ever typical in the world of Bespoke
couture.
You see no two pieces are ever
identical, that's what makes my job both exciting and challenging.
Therefore at Artwear no day is ever the same, although we do happen to begin and end each
day pretty much the same
In early, out late !
Our morning usually begins around the coffee table
with sketch books in hand.
Surrounded by good music and excellent
lighting.
We enjoy a good brainstorming session discussing our
latest ideas and inspirations.
If time allows, a few moments are spent keeping up with the glossy magazines, press and red carpet events.
Today I am having a " Studio
day" with appointments scheduled occasionally throughout.
These meetings provides
the opportunity to discus the progress of a project
.... through the many stages of development
from the original design
concept through to the completed garment.
Before my client arrives there's
just enough time to do a little Computer work.
This mornings first client is popping in for her final
fitting. This is where the last details are
discussed and finalized.
Any final alterations are made to perfect the fit to the satisfaction of all involved.
It's amazing how
much more confident and beautiful one can feel after discovering the joys of the sympathetic designer.
Someone who really can create something
original and give you a glove like fit and wonderful finish.
I
then go on to the next task of the day , finishing a pair of earrings
which I designed to match the outfit I completed yesterday.
The jewelry making is quite calm and relaxing for me and far quicker than
garment creation ... In just an hour or two they are ready to wear.
This
particular pair have been crafted from a combination of rich ceramic
waves hand marbled in a swirl of color and texture , delicately
encrusted with Austrian crystals.
They are very distinctive and
individual .... and exactly what my client had in mind
A series of
bespoke sketches
exploring a basic design concept is the
subject of conversation with my next client.
One of the best parts of
the job is drawing and playing with ideas.
Its quite difficult to
translate a verbal description of an abstract design idea into tangible
reality,
so my sketches are very important and help identify whether we have correctly
interpreted what the client envisions.
This is by far my favorite bit ! Coming up with
an idea myself and in turn realizing theirs.
My brains is bursting with images and I am never short of ideas.
I really try to get to know my client too .... the more I understand
them and the way they feel about themselves the easier it is to design
something that will fit them as well as their lifestyle.
I take my client’s body measurements, which usually takes about twenty minutes.
The
measurements serve the valuable purpose of providing a numeric
representation of the body's form.
It's quote a sculptural thing for me too .... seeing the body as a moving
piece of art.
Good fit is dependent on extensive and accurate measurements. Each body is
unique.
Nowadays professional women need a service that will take them through
their lives ……they’re short of time and need guidance.
It’s important they find someone who understands their lifestyle demands and can capture their body on pattern.
Before leaving the client is advised of fabric and labor costs.
They will also be informed of time needed to produce the garment :
generally around six to eight weeks from beginning to end.
We also book in the appropriate number of fitting appointments which the
customer will be asked to commit to.
This clients next appointment will be
to fit the calico or muslin toile.
We usually schedule this a week or
two later which allows us time to draft the pattern, cut and stitch.
Some days I am " out of the studio " so to
speak.
Photo shoots, Fashion Shows, Interviews,
Fabric hunts, Research etc : These days are often as exciting as they are
exhausting.
Naturally we schedule days purely for sewing too.
I find these rewarding : slowly a piece of art starts to take shape in front
of me .... and stitch by stitch a design is born.
When we are working on something really challenging, creativity often takes over and time slips by unnoticed.
On these days work often continues well into the
night, where
concentration is plentiful and focused.
I then sleep really sound after completing the task. The rest of today is booked to finish 4 outfits in
their final stages.
When that's done I shall collect together some interesting pieces to
present at a High school this evening.
I feel its important to spread the word so to speak and I love the buzz teenagers
have around fashion.
I always feel far cooler afterwards too.
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