Fashion Croquis Books: Design Development Sketching
Where to begin? How do you get started??? What do designers do and what are the fundamentals of fashion design development sketching?
What are Fashion Croquis?
Croquis books are the most important part of the work I do with my Parsons students and private students here on my platform. The Croquis book is where all of the process, development, and exploration sketches and research happen! Swatches, trims, color palettes, notes, sketches, samples, stitches, fabric manipulations samples, drapes, photos,… an unedited and authentic fashion-creative treasure-chest.
What do you need to know, and how can a croquis book enhance your creative life and your capabilities as a designer?
SEE MY FIRST FASION DESIGN CROQUIS BOOK EVER!
START WITH YOUR FABRIC SWATCHES!
There are four FREE videos to this phase of the series, all posted here below!
- You’ll see me take the figure (from Sketching the Fashion Figure
- and then use this “paper doll” or croquis as a base to trace garment design ideas and shapes onto….
- so that you can focus on the garment design when you don’t feel like freehand drawing a fresh body every time.
(And there’s nothing wrong with doing that, either!!!)
SEE MY PARSONS SENIOR YEAR FASHION CROQUIS DESIGN SKETCHBOOK
CROQUIS TEMPLATEs as a sketching tool
Using a croquis template is just one technique that you can use. It helps you stay consistent in your proportions– which frees you up to focus on other things– but it’s not the only way I work or teach fashion sketching for design.
Having a variety of techniques in your pocket can spark your creativity and you just might find that a particular technique, like this one, “feels like home” for you. So I hope you’ll at least try them on as they come onto the blog and see what you think.
Also remember: different techniques work better for different situations.
Decide how many looks or garments you need for your collection -and how many fabrics!
I designed four garments in the video below,(and the examples you see on this page) as a collection, and they all work around a single theme and fabric collection.
sketch more than you need
What I did NOT show in today’s examples is that I as a RULE I always sketch more than I need for the group. 2-3 times more at least! So if i’m designing a collection 8 looks, I’ll sketch 16-24 looks.
TRUST ME!
This gives you the freedom to flow into your ideas, create lots of options, FEEL into the collection, and then select your favorites.
There are lots of free demonstrations on the site, subscribe now to stay in the loop!
It’s a total thrill to watch each designer unfurl their design power over the 15 modules/ weeks.
Check it out and SHARE the info!
FINALLY- the VIDEOS:
First in the series: Using a traceable croquis figure
If you try the technique and like it, or if you have questions or WOULD LIKE SOME FEEDBACK, tag me on instagram and share your work! https://instagram.com/lauravolpintesta
I really can’t wait to start a conversation with you.
So let the ideas roll!! I hope you enjoy. Please sketch along and invent your own designs while watching.
Love,
Laura
COLORED CROQUIS SAY SO MUCH MORE!
Adding color to your croquis with gouache takes them to an entirely new level. I always INSIST that my students add color to their fashion croquis books so they can experience the magic that is indescribable, first hand.
