DESIGNING Fashion PrintED PATTERNS

How can you create original art for fashion fabrics, exploring printed patterns for fabric in simple repeat?

What is the theory involved in designing a tile that can be multiplied infinitely in every direction, creating a printed fashion fabric to wear?

Scroll down to watch a full instructional video.

MATERIALS FOR the PRINTED PATTERNS METHOD

scissors or metal ruler and x-acto knife or mat knife and cutting mat
paper
color media, line media (paints, collage, colored pencils/ oil pastels, pastels, ink pens, markers)
tape
ruler

printed pattern for fashion fabric repeat tile for overall print, African inspired print fashion illustration by Laura Volpintesta, complementary colors

MOOD BOARD/ INSPIRATION

(OPTIONAL)

To begin designing your printed patterns, you may want to create a mood board and/ or get inspiration for a color palette.

You can bring together fabric swatches to create a color palette ( I love this method because it helps me see the colors “in fabric” already), or you can bring together colors from other sources or even “pull”colors from an existing painting, photo, or print.

By its very nature, a printed pattern will have at last two colors. However, If you are more interested in creating a pattern that is only textural, you can still use today’s technique.

Once you’ve created your own fashion print, you’ll never see printed fabrics quite the same way again!

PRINTED PATTERNS NEED A COLOR PALETTE

(still, optional)

Having colors in mind may help you sink into the “mood” of the season or concept you are designing a printed fabric for.

Or perhaps you are working for a client who has already chosen colors or themes for you to work with.

Look around at printed patterns you use, admire or own and start to notice how many colors are in the prints you see.
3? 5? 7?

On the other hand, you can freestyle the whole thing to create your print, and then use the computer or paints to visualize it in new color combinations later.

THE VALUE OF ANALOG DESIGN SKILLS and experiences

This technique I’m sharing today was originally a Periscope livestream, a platform that has since been discontinued. At that time it wasn’t necessary to speak up on the value of analog creative skills, but now it is.

In the digital era, I need to raise my voice to EXPLAIN the VALUE of this method/exercise:

The PHYSICAL PROCESS of print design and discovery on PAPER:
cutting, drawing, cutting, rearranging, taping, is a continual organic process of renewal and discovery . Inside this physical process, the journey carries soothing, grounding, tactile quality that is in itself meditative and pleasurable.

A necessary, welcome and delicious escape from the computer screen and all of the clicking boxes

How can you create mood and individual personality for your fashion design ideas by creating original printed patterns ?

IT COMES OUT OF YOU NATURALLY THROUGH DOING.

HELPFUL RESOURCES OR FASHION FABRIC PRINT DESIGN

I recommend a book called “ A Field Guide to Fabric Design“.

I that book, a few years back, I learned this awesome technique for designing fashion fabrics that I’ll be walking you through today.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRINT IN A DESIGNER’S COLLECTION

I can’t help but remember in writing my book “the Language of Fashion Design”, that in researching the biographies, a quote from fashion designer Tracy Reese. She was quoting a buyer who once told her that “ a print created the basis for a fashion collection”.

Truly, it is an amazing communicator of style. Look at how some designers like DVF Diane Von Furstenberg use printed patterns to express their design sense through fabric alone!

Or check out “the Art of Zandra Rhodes“, a great book about a textile printed fabric designer- turned fashion CLOTHING designer icon (her sotry is also featured in my FASHION DESIGN INFUSION course).

PRINT AS A PERSONAL FASHION FINGERPRINT

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A post shared by TANYA TAYLOR (@tanyataylor)

I was just looking at the collections of my former Parsons portfolio student Tanya Taylor. Her colors and original printed patterns (and approaches) TOTALLY set her apart from other designers.

And I love when she shares her process on instagram REELS. She’s been doing this for years.

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A post shared by TANYA TAYLOR (@tanyataylor)

It’s awesome.

FASHION PRINT INSPIRATION COllections

I have one board entirely devoted to prints, patterns, and patterned fabrics.

Another pinterest board I have dedicated to MAXI prints (extra big printed patterns)

Also check out the prints on my African Fashion Pinterest Board too! It’s print-heavy, to say the least!

Those are some of mine, now you can create yours! Or, work right out of your imagination and see what comes through.

PRINTED PATTERNs on FABRIC IS ART TO WEAR

This “sombrinha” umbrella piece of artwork (below), I sketched with the idea that I was developing an all-over pattern that I would later evolve into a fashion print.
So I explored a few shapes and colors without using the repeating tile technique yet.

I playfully explored the motif and let my curiosity lead the way.

WORK IS PLAY

As you watch today’s video, you will see how just absolutely pleasurable and fun it is to “meet the muse” and follow your creative experience through the process to end result.