Fashion Design

Unit Description: 

CDS Fashion Designers will learn the fundamentals of fashion research, trend patterns, target customer bases, and more, by creating a Mood Board for their future Fashion Illustration Collection.

Following their 2D exploration of the industry trends, CDS Fashion Designers begin investigating the foundations of fabric manipulation and sewing techniques (Baste Stitching, Bias Ruffles, Knife Pleats, and Box Pleats), in addition to understanding fabric composition (knit vs. woven fabric). 

As a final "Thesis" investigation for the Unit, students will be asked to create a Non-Textile garment, a piece of clothing constructed from of anything BUT fabric. They will be asked to incorporate their recently acquired knowledge of fabric manipulations into their final design.

*Projects from this Unit will be presented at CDS' Annual HS Winter Art Show this year!

Unit Description: 

CDS Fashion Design students will be introduced to Industry fundamentals (marketing, business strategies, Graphic Design) to inform their designing a Fashion Illustration line. Traditional and contemporary methods of Fashion Illustration techniques will be discussed.

Additionally, CDS Designers will be tasked with taking apart, combining, and reconstructing multiple thrifted garments into a final design. Fabric sustainability and fit are discussed, as well as their previous knowledge of hand sewing applied. The sustainability of fashion and ethical manufacturing practices are also discussed.

Unit Description: 

With their newly acquired hand-sewing knowledge, CDS Designers are challenged to make a garment solely from geometric pattern pieces (circle, rectangle, triangle, square), where the original shape's integrity cannot be compromised in any way. For example, with a circular pattern piece, they cannot cut into the edges of the circle, only somewhere within the circle (i.e. to create a hole for the head), or, they can fold and drape the circle to work with the contours of the human form to begin engineering a garment. Students will become more familiarized with the structural integrity, tension, and characterizations of knit and woven fabrics, as well as the importance of finishing elements and care of their final pieces, such as ironing and steaming. Designers such as Pierre Cardin will be investigated, as he used many geometric forms within his collections, specifically his 1960's retro futuristic works.