From the Beginning
Dayton Sewing Collaborative is a micro-manufacturer providing job retraining and community sewing space. I went on a tour of the facility and discovered they also rescued textile waste from businesses and individuals who no longer had use for fabrics passed on by loved ones. The images below show a small sample of their donations. There was a mix of everything from notions to rolls of materials, even an extensive palette full of suede.
Setting Goals
Their rescued fabrics ranged from solid colors to various beautiful vintage prints. I wanted to find a way to curate them to sell as maker wardrobe boxes and use the heavier winter textiles to produce simple products.
High schools in the US no longer offer sewing classes, and there is a lack of youth participation at the Sewing Facility. The idea is to inspire the younger generation to create beautiful garments they can love. Packaging curated fabrics with trendy fashion inspirations can appeal to the younger market.
Figuring out How to Organize
The donated fabrics included a mix of various styles and colors, reminiscent of those found in fabric stores and online marketplaces like Etsy (see picture below). The large volume of fabrics can be overwhelming, making it time-consuming to find matching colors or prints.
While some prints were beautiful on their own, collectively, they appeared dated and drab. As a curator and designer, I constantly seek inspiration, like piecing together a puzzle. The process of finding coordinating materials should be more uplifting.
When working with rescued or upcycled materials, resources can be limited. They often feature a variety of colors and styles from different decades, making it labor-intensive to find coordinating fabrics, unlike working with new materials. In contrast, textile mills typically produce abundant materials that align with the seasonal range of colors and print styles. Designers can easily select from their swatch samples to create various outfits.
Finding Inspirations
Beautiful vintage print fabrics were selected and organized by season into coordinated groupings. The image below shows a small sample of vintage prints, from electric to 70s floral and geometric prints.
Fashion trends, including colors and prints, are constantly evolving. Companies develop fashion forecasts that predict these trends for each season, often up to two years in advance. If you're interested in exploring these trends, you can find numerous online resources by searching for "fashion color or print trends."
While trends may change, many of them tend to cycle back, particularly vintage styles. This phenomenon occurs because we often romanticize past decades, viewing them more favorably than the current trends that may be considered less appealing.
Connecting the Inspirations
Inspiration is all around us; sometimes, it comes not from visuals but from significant global or cultural events. These events can shape ideas and influence designs. By looking beyond your usual sources, you can discover new perspectives that spark creativity.
Pinterest is an excellent resource for finding street-style inspiration, often preferred over traditional runway images. Those who experiment more with their style tend to embrace it with confidence.
The following showcases how coordinated pieces can effectively utilize bold prints while adhering to a common color palette, incorporating a mix of geometrics, florals, and solid colors. Vintage prints can appear modern when combined with updated silhouettes.
Learning Design and Color Theories
Using a color palette as a guide for coordination can be very helpful, especially if you’re following trends. Finding your inspirations helps bring everything together, forming the basis of a mood board or storyboard. It's essential to consider color and design theories before finalizing your designs.
Learning color theory can assist you in quickly identifying complementary colors, leading to better design decisions. Once you become familiar with the rules of color theory, you can experiment and even create your own guidelines.
Product Ideas from Textile Waste
Inspiration for using winter wool fabrics to create products that only require simple patterns.
Inspiring a Community
DSC participates in market events and fundraisers. Some of the inspirational ideas came from the materials available. Time was a factor in determining what type of DIY activity would be suitable for a market. Finding events that attract a younger audience was vital as it helped increase membership.
