Dawn Foxall, April 2018
On a trip to Greece to discover the methodology of Anastasia Vouyouka at her company Telestia, she showed me how to use her amazing tool she developed to create perfect fit patterns and whilst chatting (Anastasia can talk!), the issue of unsustainable fast fashion that we have become used to, came up.
Fit is the most important factor when developing a garment but this has disappeared from our high street with the emergence of mass produced ready-to-wear fast fashion flooding stores and boutiques since the 1980’s.
Why are we no longer concerned that a garment does not fit correctly and happy to buy ill fitting and badly made clothing at low cost? This is of course a political question with economic reasoning, but maybe we should be looking at changing the trends to fit the times.
Growing awareness of the unsustainability of mass consumerism of disposable products is starting to emerge, with the trend for fast fashion beginning to fade. Through unviable environmental and economic practices we are seeing resurgence in the need for craftsmanship, British Made, eco and ethical manufacture.
In the world of fash
on we discuss ‘Zero Waste’ as the industry continues to over produce cheaply made disposable products of which 60% ends up in landfill.
We mourn the loss of skilled labour as our workforces diminish to a situation where we no longer make things but merely consume.
Politically we cannot stop the cycle of importing and consuming as this is how our world now continues to evolve, but the slow fashion movement is starting to rise as a new generation search for products that last, are ethically produced and environmentally sound.
Coming through this is the need to return to better manufactured and better fitting garments that are less wasteful, carefully considered and ethically produced. There is a need for skilled workers to once again take pride in their work and be rewarded accordingly. We yearn for garments that will fit beautifully, feel comfortable and look wonderful. And this isn’t just for the elite few – this can be made possible for all if we stop making fast fashion fashionable and educate ourselves and future generations to understand that a garment can last a life time if made well with passion!
We have brought Anastasia’s fantastic tool back to the UK and use it to teach basic block making in the Perfect Patterns Levels 1 and 2 courses at FTA, with amazing results. We are also launching courses teaching the method using the Creator CAD system developed by her and the Telestia team, which are perfect for individual designers, pattern cutters and freelancers wanting to design, draft patterns and grade on computer. A huge time saving application with great fitting results!!
The next Technical Design & Pattern Cutting CAD Course takes place with 5 class meetings at the FTA on 11th, 12th, 25th, 26th May and 27th July alongside 16 weeks online study. To enquire please email education@fashion-enter.com