Watkins, Penelope (2006) Custom Fit, is it Fit for the Customer? In: Fashion in the Digital Age, 8th Annual IFFTI Conference, by International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes, 20 June 2006, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. (Unpublished)
Type of Research: | Conference, Symposium or Workshop Item |
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Creators: | Watkins, Penelope |
Description: | A global organisation of fashion schools hold this annual conference dedicated to the advancement of education, research and development in fashion design, technology, business and related industries. The research hypothesis argued that adapting traditional garment pattern coordinates for stretch fabric is not an appropriate starting point for developing a custom-fit stretch pattern. I posit that when a traditional pattern is adapted the profile becomes increasingly distorted as the fabric is incrementally stretched around the body contours. It is the inconsistent garment-to-body fit, relationship within the conventional pattern profile geometry, combined with arbitrary fabric stretch factors, that ultimately undermines the fit potential of custom-fit stretch garments. To contextualise and develop the theory. First garment fit was defined using the anatomical terms 'distal' and 'proximal', which I have adopted to describe the proximity of the garment to the body. The aetiology of traditional methods of pattern design was outlined then how patterns are adapted for stretch fabric. It was highlighted how little objective information on stretch fabrics parameters for pattern construction is available, and how current garment-sizing systems do not accommodate variations in bodyshapes. The development of virtual technology to date, and whether the garment offering was a true custom fit or just a coincidental fit, was questioned. I then illustrated my research method to objectively analyse and evaluate the stretch garment-to-body fit relationship by applying a 25mm grid on a bodysuit. A video clip of a dancer demonstrated the bodysuit fit and how the stretch fabric did not become displaced during movement. |
Additional Information (Publicly available): | Penelope Watkins 3D pattern design; Fit and comfort; New technology CAD PDS; Pressure garment; Stretch fabric analysis; Mass customisation. My background is 3D design and technical fashion. My enduring passion is in merging technical and aesthetic considerations providing comfort - physiological and psychological - and ease of movement, through appropriate garment fit. I am interested in integrating craft based techniques and emerging new technologies from body scanning to virtual CAD. |
Your affiliations with UAL: | Colleges > London College of Fashion |
Date: | 2006 |
Event Location: | Raleigh, North Carolina, USA |
Date Deposited: | 07 Dec 2009 09:28 |
Last Modified: | 17 Dec 2019 11:26 |
Item ID: | 1032 |
URI: | https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/1032 |
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