Draping Trilogy Workshop

All images courtesy of Christine Mayer.

Christine Mayer is holding a three-part draping workshop over Zoom dedicated to Upcycling, free draping and Japanese draping. The Berlin-based fashion designer has built a fashion career on re-purposing clothing and breathing new life into old garments. She is a pioneer of three-dimensional free draping with fabric, an art form she has adapted and developed from her studies in classical Japanese drapery. When it comes to clothing design, Christine’s style is recognisable for its collage aesthetics, where pattern and fabric constantly interrupt each other’s spaces. “Material that has been marked by life” is one of Christine’s biggest inspirations.

Christine’s technique takes draping in a new direction by using original materials. Especially by dealing with recycled materials and old fabrics, this is an inspiring method to directly influence the given materials, structures and the individual fit. The designer becomes a sculptor who develops their creation directly on the bust – in harmony with the materials and body shape. The first part of the Draping Trilogy is dedicated to Upcyling: “We will work with recycled garments (denim jeans, men shirts, jackets, sweaters etc.) directly on the dress from and create an individual item of clothing, probably a jacket or coat. This liberating way of making clothes brings with it new possibilities that have more in common with sculpting than dressmaking.”

Part two is dedicated to free draping: “we work with textile pieces or fabric on the dress form and create an one-of-a-kind item out of our favorite piece of textile. This could be an old grain sack, a piece of hand woven linen, an old embroidered treasure you found on a journey to Asia, a table cloth or any material which is talking to your heart. To get even more connection to the material you can process it with some pin tucks, seams or drawings before you start with the draping work.” The final part covers Japanese Draping: “In the classical 3-dimensional pattern making or Japanese Draping the pattern is molded on the tailors dress form with calico/muslin. This method is a sensual and intuitive alternative to the two-dimensional intersections of cut pattern making on the table or computer. It offers a direct recognition of the individual development steps of the pattern. In part 3 of this draping workshop we will create a skirt pattern directly on the dress form with muslin.”

Dates:  

Part 1 | Saturday, 20 February, 2021
Part 2 | Saturday, 10 April, 2021
Part 3 | Saturday, 8 May, 2021
Show & Tell | Saturday, 5 June, 2021