#collegeoftextiles

[theonethatsleftbehind]

When Dawg met WolfPack 🐾🤟 . . . . . #ttna19 #wilsoncollegeoftextiles #collegeoftextiles #mrandmrswoof #godawgs #textilescience #healthyrivalry (at NC State Wilson College of Textiles) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuZ7bbqhZyV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qrnyf2685iki

[rachheather]

Threads Update! Come out to El Cerro tonight from 6-9 to support the Fashion Show // if you want to know more about my collection Makai, click the link in my bio to read about my first critique! #ncstatethreads #ncstatecollegeoftextiles #collegeoftextiles (at NC State University College of Textiles)

[thimblesandneedles]

Left Cheek, Right Cheek?

Why not tell a funny story when you have nothing else to do with your time? My thoughts exactly...

The story begins in December of 2013, unfortunately during finals week for me. I was given a final project for my studio class to create a garment that was inspired by architecture. I searched high and low, and finally found a building that had a very triangular ceiling. Everything was going to be perfect. Of course my brain was reeling with what my design would look like. I had the patterns created and my muslin(a cheap cotton fabric that allows designers to test their patterns first) dress worked out perfectly. 

What are all designers great at? If your answer was procrastination….then you are most definitely correct. I decided that waiting to sew my entire dress until the day before my final was going to be a great idea. Unfortunately I was incredibly wrong. I began working midday and everything was running very smoothly to my surprise. All of my pieces were matching up, even though I was using two totally different fabrics(taffeta and faux suede). After dinner I realized excitedly that I was in the final stretch and just needed to add the zipper, and I would be DONE! At this point it was taking everything inside of my not to run around screaming the good news. 

I had a great idea pop in my head, or so I thought at the time. Serging in a zipper is of course NOT a good idea. Seamstresses, take note. For those of you questioning what serging means, take a look at the inseam of your pants, that is a serged seam. On a Serger, a razor blade chops of the excess fabric. I sent my dress right on through the machine. I soon came to realize that a part of my dress was tucked, and some part….at this time not sure which, had been cut off by the razor. 

I decided the best way to view the damage was by putting the dress on, to my horror, there was a gaping hole right where my butt cheek should be covered. I was mortified. 

There was nothing I could do at this point(1:00 am) but laugh…and go back to the sketch book. I couldn't start over, my dress was due in seven hours. So I had to improvise. I took a poll from the other four designers in studio and we all decided on a new design, so I seam ripped the zipper and cut a few more pieces. I began back on my path thinking this was finally it, the light at the end of the tunnel, right?

WRONG AGAIN! I put the new pieces in and gave a half inch seam allowance on my zipper. I had to blow all the air out of my lungs while my best friend was trying to zip me into the dress saying "think skinny thoughts"... trust me, I was. I finally heard the zipper go all the way up and that was it for me, time to take it off and catch some sleep. I waited, and waited….and waited for the zipper to finally open so I could fill my lungs back up with air, but everyone stood around me slightly laughing and slightly crying for me. I wanted answers immediately. Although I was tired, I knew something was wrong. One person piped up and finally said "Ash, umm your zipper is completely broken, the teeth have snapped and the only way to get you out is by cutting it off of you." 

Now I don't know if y'all have ever felt extreme desperation, but this night ladies and gentleman, I most definitely did. The thought literally crossed my mind to make it home in the dress, sleep in it and then go to my final and have someone cut me out after. My fantasy didn't last long. I handed over a pair of scissors and listened as the fabric popped and the scissors squeaked to exclaim my release. Everyone there knows me well enough to know when I'm upset, I eat. Probably not the best idea since I had just had made a zipper literally bust open, but I ate anyways. 

We enjoyed every bit of those calzones at 3:00am. And I worked for the next three and a half hours to finish my dress, sewing in a completely new zipper. I left campus at 6:30am making it home with enough time to get ready for the photo shoot at 8:00am, hair and makeup ready to go.

With another all nighter down, I somehow managed to pull this whole gown together. I honestly can't look at it without laughing at the traumatic night I shared with the dress. I truly believe my dress turned out better after the mishap then my original design. We all can learn from our mistakes, trust me I have learned from mine. Mistakes can most definitely be a blessing in disguise!

[gawareckistudio]

Give us a twirl! @zihan_dou @coutureforcause #ballgown #gowns #gown #dress #eveningdress #design #designstudent #collegeoftextiles #couture #cfac2015 #coutureforacause #slowmotion #fashion #fashionshow #fashiondesign #fashiondesigner #fashiondesignstudent (at Raleigh Convention Center)