I just realized my fabric choices were making my designs look cheap

I was looking at photos from a small show I did in Austin about 6 months ago, and my pieces looked flat next to the other designers' work. The tip-off was a friend who said, 'Your sketches are great, but the real thing feels thin.' I was using a lot of basic cotton twill and cheap polyester blends to save money. After that, I tried a sample with a medium-weight linen and a wool crepe, and the difference was huge. The fabric just falls and moves in a better way. Has anyone else had a moment where changing your base materials completely shifted how your designs are seen?

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3 Comments

spencer_kelly7mo ago

That "thin" feeling can be a style choice though. I've seen some great designers use basic fabrics on purpose to get a specific, raw look.

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sageellis7mo ago

Read something similar about that raw look, spencer_kelly.

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rosebennett4mo ago

I tried that whole raw fabric thing with a summer dress last year and it worked way better than I expected. The trick for me was using a soft cotton that had a natural uneven weave, it kept the look intentional instead of just unfinished. Took some trial and error with different fabrics but once I found the right one it became a go to piece.

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