Strokes of a Garden Gate

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this design was to virtually create a prototype in Optitex 2D/3D and design an engineered garment that incorporate digital printing and laser cutting to explore the effects of depths within a dress. The source of inspiration was a caged garden gate. The patterns of the gate were laser cut and placed on top of the digitally printed floral petal prints. The design and construction process for the dress include: 1) creating the garment pattern pieces on OptiTex, 2) creating and printing textile prints, 3) designing and cutting laser cut prints, and 4) constructing the garment. This design contributes to a new way of integrating emerging technologies into an innovative design process. Documentation of this process can give new insights on the use of 2D and 3D by apparel design students and also provides a new way of applying technologies and creativity into one complex garment.</p>