Sample Fashion Project: Trims and Hardware.
For this particular project, the request was that I bring any specific hardware I would use on outerwear. As such, the trims here are mostly closures. However, there are a host of different kinds of trims to consider:1. Closures:
Closures are just what they sound like: things you use to close a garment. Included in this category can be buttons, snaps, zippers, buckles, velcro (or hook and loop as it's called if it isn't actually velcro brand), d-rings, hooks, and any other way of closing a garment you can think of.
2. "Inner Beauty" Trims:
These are especially important in menswear and outerwear. These could include things like twill tape (to use as a seam binding), Interior piping (you'll sometimes see this at the place where a jacket's lining meets the front facing), any kind of seam tape or binding, and sometimes grosgrain ribbon. These trims will be things that can add a little extra something to the interior of a garment while still keeping its outside understated, if that's what you wish.
3. Embellishments:
Embellishments are things like studs, sequins, beads, ribbon, fringe, tassels, and anything else you might use on your designs to fancy them up. This category is really open to whatever you like.
When I did this project, I just went to pacific trimming and picked out the items i thought were most fitting for the brand with which I was interviewing. They are simple and often understated, so I made sure I stayed classic. This scan doesn't really show them well, but the first column holds some flat top frosted gold shank buttons, some leather covered shank buttons, and an oversized interior snap. The second column has leather covered d-rings, a dainty gold oval buckle, and a rectangular sliding buckle. At the bottom is my favorite piece, the spring-loaded bit closure for outerwear. It's kind of heavy in hand, but I think it's really nice.
They key to this is either having those little baggies you can get at a jewelry-making store, or using magna tack (if you have heavier paper and a little time) to stick all the trims down. Label each of your trims with names that display your knowledge of hardware and trims, and separate them by category and size if possible. For example, if you're using ribbons, buttons, buckles, and fringe, I suggest you group the soft trims together by category (that means ribbon with ribbon and fringe with fringe, but potentially ribbon and fringe together on the same page, and likewise for the buttons and buckles).
In the absence of a good trim store, there's always google images. You just want to make sure your images are high-res and set up nicely on your page.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the actual drawing part!
