Continuing my experiments in the Investigate projects, I have tried quite a few ways to constructing shape-distorted holes in the garment. However, by further researching my concept and narrow it down to the relation with reveal/conceal and pocket, I started to have the idea to make an expandable structure. Exploring conveying emotions with structure in my work, I was thinking something more abstract, like a black hole devour us.
In the end I decided to use drawstring to created the hole structure
Drawstring is a widely used construction in fashion, no matter is for accentuating silhouette or creating a hollow shape. However, in my design I want to construct the drawstring directly on the garment seamlessly. So when the string is not tightened, the dress is in its normal shape; when it is tightened, it started to create a pocket/pouch structure in the garment and distort the silhouette.
Based on my sketching above, I was thinking making use of the seam on the garment as a place to construct opening of the drawstring tunnel. So the whole structure will have a perfect finishings. However, the only downside is because of the hole needs to be in the middle, it means the seam will run through the middle of the round shape.
One more options is using buttonhole as a place for the drawstring opening. In this way the position of the whole will have more flexibility and it can also solve the problem of having a seam running through the round shape. I will need to further test this method with the machine in school as I don’t know if it can make a perfect and clean looking buttonhole.
CHRISTINA TAI 