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Saskia ter Welle – Couture Classes and Broderie d'Art Courses

Haute Couture and Fashion School: off-line and online classes in haute couture pattern- and embroidery techniques

Lookbook, presentatie, couture
05
Mar 2023

By

From Inspiration to Presentation: the Creative Process behind a Couture Collection

The Art of Couture

Designing and creating a couture collection is a complex process that requires a lot of time, effort and skill. Inspiration leads to a presentation. But before you get to that point, there are some important steps you need to take to create couture collection:

Finding Inspiration

Before you start creating a collection, you need inspiration. One way to find inspiration is to delve into current trends; but attending fashion shows or looking at art, architecture and nature can also give you new ideas.

Flowers for Fashion Couture Bloemen Maken Veronica, van inspiratie naar presentatie
Moodboard student online course Flowers for Fashion

Designing

The design process begins with sketches and putting ideas on paper. To do this, develop a strong vision for your collection and know who belongs to your target market. You make sure your design is not only unique, but also commercially viable.

Modeschets COME FLY WITH ME couture collectie Saskia ter Welle 2017
Sketch of white suit with high waist pants and embroidered jacket, Come Fly With Me- Saskia ter Welle Couture

Moulage |Draping

Moulage is a technique in which fabrics are draped directly onto a mannequin to create a pattern. This is an important technique in making couture clothing because it allows for a perfect fit.

Moulage: studenten Dutch Couture Academy
Students of Dutch Couture Academy at work

Making Patterns

Patterns are made based on the moulage. You use the pieces of fabric from the cotton to then cut out the “real” fabric to make the garment.

Choosing Fabric

With the choice of fabric, you make or break a design. Choosing the right fabric is therefore essential when creating a couture collection. Fabric can totally change the shape, feel and look of a garment.

Sewing

Sewing the garments is a very important step in the process. Because couture clothes are sewn by hand, it benefits the perfect finish and durability of the clothes.

Met de hand naaien, handgemaakt, French jacket, Chanel-geïnspireerd jasje
Claire sewing her Chanel-inspired jacket during a course at Dutch Couture Academy

Embroidery

In particular, it is garment embellishment, such as embroidery, that is often used to add extra texture and dimension to couture garments. This can be done by hand or by machine.

Accessories

Accessories such as shoes, bags and jewelry complete a couture collection. Choose the right accessories and use them to create the desired look. By doing so, you will enhance the design.

Presentation

The presentation of the collection is as important as the making of it. You can show a collection in different ways: a fashion show is the most obvious way. But you can also create a lookbook through which you show your work to the world. Important in both ways of presentation is that you emphasize the atmosphere and look of the collection -from your inspiration- in the choice of setting and styling.

Lookbook, presentatie, couture

A fashionshow will vividly show the power of each design! 

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating a couture collection is an intensive process that requires a lot of time, money and skills. But it can also be an extremely fulfilling experience for designers who want to bring their vision to life and express their creativity.

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Ready for Couture

Maybe after reading the above blog post you are thinking: this is my dream! But where do I start? Then come Tuesday evening, March 28, to the presentation Ready for Couture in the studio of Saskia ter Welle Couture | Dutch Couture Academy in Doesburg.

More information and application via this page (in Dutch only)

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