Meet Jake D. , one of our Fashion Design Students. His designs are pretty awesome, so we thought we would share some with you. It's fantastic that he is also exploring the art of draping fabric on the dress form, which was really a wonderful surprise to see when he sent over the photos. That skill and practice will come in handy when and if he studies pattern making (finger's crossed). I think it will be really fun for him. But first Sewing!
Read MoreMany of you have been sewing for many years and already have your needle and thread preferences. But for the beginner, the choices for both can often be confusing. The size and quality of both needle and thread have an even larger impact on your sewing quality than thread tension. Keep thread tension in the middle settings, by the way, and pay attention to your needle size/type and thread type/quality. Below are some basic rules of thumb for using both.
Read MoreAmy has been a student at The Sewing Room for about a year and a half now. She loves to sew vintage clothing and pays careful attention to all the details. Amy has also been part of our Fashion Studies program for the last year and I've been super thrilled to see her blossom in ways she couldn't imagine. Self proclaiming that she couldn't draw, we can see she proved herself incorrect in that assumption. Just look a the fabulous illustrations she created above! That little collage also shows you her mood mood board as well as a rendering of her fabric design. I can't wait to see what she dreams up next!
Read MoreEddie has been sewing with us now for about 1 year. They are an ambitious and determined student who is not afraid of a challenge. As you can see from the photos of Eddie's work, below, each project is carefully and creatively curated.
Read MoreThis month we highlight Fashion Studies student - Wendi G. Wendi is one of Julie Ann's Illustrations and as you can see, has a very whimsical and colorful style. Here is a little more about Wendi in her own words:
Read MoreLet’s explore minimalism when it comes to our clothing. Maybe you are looking to have a more minimalist lifestyle, living with fewer things. Clothing plays a large part in each of our lives. Most people have more clothing than they actually need. Fast fashion & mass consumerism have driven our culture to buy more and more and this is not sustainable for our planet in any way. As our closets bulge and clothing falls apart, much of it gets thoughtlessly dumped in the landfill. Creating a "sustainable" wardrobe" can help you leap out of this vortex of mass consumption.
Read MoreJust like everything we produce at Thought, the process of creating our bamboo socks starts with sustainability at heart as well as making sure we offer really fun and joyful designs each season - because, while we’re serious about eco-friendly living, we really want it to be full of fun and joy, too, which our socks definitely are - perhaps that’s why they’re what we’re best known for!
Read MoreThis month we highlight Fashion Studies student Ann C. Ann has been attending classes now at the sewing room for about a year. It’s been an absolute joy to see her hand work emerge and grow as she works through the Ann Wood Handmade Slow Stitch Book and posts photos of her work on Instagram. It’s somewhat rare to find a student who enjoys the hand work like this, as many want to rush through the process. This slow stitching is a good meditation for the practicing of patience. It will also prepare her for the work she will do in our Couture Sewing Intensive we are holding in spring. (Shhhh….don’t tell her I told you). In any case, here is a little more about Ann…
Read MoreFashion is an ever-evolving industry that encompasses clothing, accessories, jewelry, and more. It is an art form where creativity meets practicality and incorporates the latest trends in design to create new looks.
Read MoreMost of us are looking for ways to live more sustainable and less wasteful lives. We’re thinking of how we can be more environmentally friendly and do our bit for the planet. One big problem when it comes to wastage is fast fashion. Fast fashion is typically cheap items that are made and sold cheaply, using poor-quality materials that won’t last.
Read MoreI recently spoke with Autumn Adamme, Founder of Dark Garden Corsetry. Autumn became known as the Godmother of Modern Corsetry after launching Dark Garden in 1989, reviving corsets for a modern body and audience. Growing up on the Renaissance Faire circuit, Autumn made her first corset at 13. Shortly after reaching the age of majority, she turned the crafting of custom corsets and historical ensembles into the groundbreaking business which established many of the techniques and standards observed by corset makers across the world today.
In our discussion you will find out how Autumn as built her business from a semi-solopreneur to a team of 19. We talk about the importance of her amazing team, Tik Tok, having signature offerings and manufacturing in San Francisco. Her ”all-bodies-are beautiful” ethos has created an inclusive and luxe experience for her clientele which gives her an advantage in the corset making business. I so admire Autumn and the business she has created. And I hope you enjoy this interview.
Here are some of my key take aways from my conversation with Autumn:
Read MoreA photo stylist is someone who works with a photographer and sometimes a team, such as an art director and/or an assistant stylist, to make clothing or products look the way the Brand or Magazine wants them to look. Their goal is to translate the vision of the designer or art director into a scene that can then be photographed.
Read MoreRecently I interviewed my friend and colleague, Susan Aplanalp-Weeks. She has had a varied career in the fashion industry and has worn many hats, some of which are Pattern Maker, Designer, Technical Designer, Production Manager and finally Professional Fashion Instructor. Susan Currently teaches Fashion Classes in the Design Department at UC Davis and she's also taught for the California College of the Arts and Otis Design School in Los Angeles. During the interview we discuss what new designers need to know when starting out.
Read MoreFashion has always played a key role in the global economy. The numbers further amplify the need for brands to become more eco-responsible. A 2020 report by Global Fashion Agenda and McKinsey found that should the industry continue with its existing decarbonization initiatives, emissions will be capped at 2.1 billion tons a year by 2030, which is the same level the report estimates the industry emitted in 2018, accounting for 4% of the world’s total emissions. This underscores the importance of a shift to sustainability and sustainable practices for fashion.
Read MoreHer advice likely came from an economic standpoint, but I think she had more in mind. Last summer I decided to explore what she said and set out to recreate my favorite wool shirt. Merino wool is renowned for its softness and ability to deflect odors and maintain a comfortable temperature whether hot or cold. Its price, however, reflects those super-powers.
Read MoreSewist, Sewer, Someone Cool Enough To Sew Own Clothes (SECSOC) – whatever it’s called, my question was, “How do I become one?” Sure, I took Home Ec (now Life Skills) and learned to make a draft dodging sock stuffed with rice. I distinctly remember when it developed a hole (along my stitching line), and the rice went everywhere.
Read MoreThe prevailing stereotype of a fashion designer: design what you love while also wearing cute clothes everyday, bow at the end of the runway show, take a long vacation when it’s over and finally, get your work so famous that it is featured on stars at fancy events. Th
Read MoreA Technical Designer's job is to sit between the Fashion Designer, Merchandiser and Production Manager to make a garment fit the customer that the merchandiser is targeting, adhering to the designer's original vision, while also producing it at the right price. This is usually done remotely by sending communications overseas to agents and factories.
Read MoreThis month's student spotlight is on Ava S., who is currently in our ONLINE Fashion Studies Program. Her instructors speak very highly of her and she is producing very lovely work. Ava is 16 years old and a Sophomore at Skyline High School in Oakland, California.
Read MoreThis month's student spotlight is on Rylee B., who is currently in our ONLINE Fashion Studies Program. She's an amazing artist an what she has written is very inspiring. Below is a little bit more about Rylee in her own words -
Read MoreI live in Alameda, California, with my husband, our roommate, and — most belovedly — our cat. We’ve been in California for roughly 3 years after moving here from Florida. I’m currently a nurse and I work night-shift, so hobbies are what keep me going since most of my awake time is while the world is sleeping.
