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eBook - ePub
Reconstructing Clothes For Dummies
About this book
Reconstructing Clothes for Dummies offers inspiring projects and savvy tips on how to salvage those tired old clothes in your closet and turn them into a one-of-a-kind wardrobe. It shows craftsters, DIY enthusiasts, budget-conscious fashionistas and people from all walks of life how to unleash their inner fashion designer and transform outdated duds into hip new clothes. Featured projects include making good use of old scraps; reviving shrunken sweaters; finding redemption in that bridesmaid dress; decorative repair and embellishment of existing pieces; and creating unexpected home décor with what's hiding in your drawers.
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Information
eBook ISBN
9781118051443Edition
1Part I
Let the Reconstruction Begin! But First . . .
In this part . . .
In Part I, I lay out the prep you need to start your reconstruction projects successfully. You discover not only how to use this book to your best interests, but also develop some realistic expectations and inspiration in reconstructing clothes. You become privy to my most precious secrets in finding good starting material . . . shhhh . . . it’s just between you and me and thousands of other readers. With this knowledge and a pile o’ clothes you can read on to find out the best ways to take garments apart and put them all back together again.
Chapter 1
The Ins, Outs, and Inside-Outs of This Book
In This Chapter
Before I knew what reconstructing clothing was, I was doing it. Heck, I was doing it as soon as I knew how to use a pair of scissors and thread a needle! Just as my dolls all had crew cuts, they also had tricked-out reconstructed clothing.
Like most reconstruction creatrixes, my initial impetus for heading down this path was a desire to do things differently. Patterns bored me and made me feel boxed in tight to someone else’s rules. Existing clothes that I found at the mall (my only choice for shopping) were always lacking. They were especially lacking the individuality that I was compelled to express. I wasn’t a rebellious troublemaker, the opposite in fact. I was a little bit of everything and thus not fully able to be defined or stereotyped. I like to think of my clothing in the same way.
Reconstructed clothing is not limited to a certain style, culture, or peer group. Reconstructed clothing is for each and every individual. It is a mishmash of styles. It is about dismantling mass-production, both in what we put on our bodies and how we function as a community unit, as well as an individual in that same community.
Sample sales a.k.a. trunk shows!
When I lived in Boston I attempted, in vain, to put together a trunk show. I soon realized that nobody even knew what this was. Because of this experience, I feel that it is important to share this amazing thing with you in hopes that you can produce and/or support them in your own community. Trunk shows, also known as sample sales, can range in size and location but generally involve local clothing and accessory designers gathering to present and sell their creations to the public. Word on the underground design street is that they started as true “sample” sales, a sample being the initial garment that a designer sews together to test out the design prior to production. This has broadened to designers bringing their entire collections, samples or not. The perks to this are beneficial to not only the designer, but the consumer as well. It provides a means for even the smallest designer to test the waters on selling their work. It also allows for them to clear out their samples and other pieces that aren’t suitable for retail shops for whatever reason. For the consumer, it’s a great way to get good deals (usually half of the retail price) on fantastic stuff. Typically the designers present their work in person, which allows for a direct relationship to form, increasing support for the artist and customization for the consumer.
Reconstructed Clothing Defined
As reconstructed clothing is becoming more widespread, it is also subject to definition. Personally, I think we should all have our own personal dictionaries that express our own unique use of language. While definitions provide clarity in communication, they also have an inherent tendency towards limitation.
Clothing is a very accessible form of art and self-expression. Think about it. You sculpt and paint yourself every day with the clothing you put on your body. Clothing defines who we are to the outside world, as well as to ourselves. At times there is comfort to be found in dressing in a manner that defines you as part of a commonly-known stereotype. However, on the path of life and self-actualization, shouldn’t you start defining this for your true self?
While not everyone can be their own fashion designer, you can start making more conscious choices. You can start demanding more of what you want to express yourself. You can start supporting local designers in your community over mass-produc...
Table of contents
- Title
- Contents
- Introduction
- Part I : Let the Reconstruction Begin! But First . . .
- Part II : Shirts: Sluggish to Spectacular
- Part III : Breathing Life into Dead Pants
- Part IV : Salvation for Your Sweaters and Other Knits
- Part V : Skirts and Dresses (re)Done Right
- Part VI : Now What to Do with All These Scraps?
- Part VII : The Part of Tens
- : Further Reading
- : Color Insert