[...]... a i nstay of every b u si n ess-the customer-the best relationsh i ps a re sym b iotic ones where both sides learn a n d benefit from each other 24 Fashion Design Essentials � I o -; o D i rector Sofia Coppola with designer M a rc Jacobs bac kstage prior to the Marc Jacobs Spring 2009 Fashion Show PHOTO BY MARK WILSON/GETTY IMAGES u.s First Lady Michelle Obama stands with inaugural dress designer Jason... t o i m agine Designers m ight be wary of giving up c o m p l ete contro l , but i n a l l of these exam ples, the p roduct designers h ave the u n iq u e opportun ity to see t h e i r design t h rough the eyes of t h e i r customers The exercise p rovides va l ua b l e i n sight i nto what t h e i r a u d i ­ e n ce wa nts 26 Fashion Design Essentials The N 3 Zipper Dress by artist designer Sebastian... to one s i d e o r t h e other, a designer needs to move the p rocess outside of h e r head T h e re a re seve ra l ways to map out a su ccessfu l c reative strategy t h at a l l ows the designer to see, sort, a n d s h u ffle everyt h i ng i nvolved 30 Fashion Design Essentials Left-brain fashion thinking can be found i n a designer's ability to a na lyze the needs of the ma rket; make reasonably logical... contrib uted to the d e s ign p rocess Des ign ers of m a ny d i fferent types of pro d u cts a re taking a dvantage of both the tools a n d consu mers' i nterest in f i n d i n g this b a l a nce between t h e two C o m p a rtmental ized design a l lows the custo m e r to select how the e l em e nts o f a pro d u ct a re fa b ricated, c reat i ng o n e -of- a-kind c o m b i nations 9ta i l o rs pro d u ces... ices when i t comes to the design and c u stomization of the s hoe, a s we l l a s a wide assortment o f colo rs, res u lt i n g i n infi nite design variat i o n s Based i n the N et h e rl a nds, fa s h i o n designer Berber Soepboer a n d gra p h i c designer M i c h i e l Sch u u rm a n designed the C o l o u r- I n D ress, a s i m p l e s l eeve l ess d ress with a n A - l i n e s k i rt The t... ng to note t h a t some of t h e early vers i o n s of b u l letproof fa bric were m a d e of m a ny l ayers of s i l k due to the strength of the fi bers Alth ough Kev l a r's b a l l istic fa bric is currently the sta n d a rd, experime nts with s p i d e r s i l k a re finding that it has not only compara b l e strength, but a l so e l a sticity Mode rn-day fa s h i o n design can provi de protec­... e c i s i o n - m a k i n g p rocess so that they could put together outfits for the offi ce, trave l , or a social occasion at a m o m e nt's notice In 2 0 09, Donna Ka ra n rei ntrod u ced h e r version of the Easy Pieces w ith an u pd ated l i st of m u st-haves: a t u rtleneck, a s k i rt, the pa nt, a jacket, a coat, and jeans TECHNICAL DRAWINGS BY MARIE-EVE TREMBLAY 20 Fashion Design Essentials... comprehension of i n novations i n science and technology; and be wel l-versed in the va lue of n u m bers in patte rnmaking as well as i n busi ness Talk it out Every designer can use a sound ing Right-brain fashion thinking can be fou n d i n a designer's ability to board H ea ri n g ideas out loud is a great rea l ity c heck, m a d e even better when others p rovide you with feed back consider the process of. .. d n 't be caught dead." Truth is, many t rends a re not m e re l y forecasted, b u t often m a d e b y a n i n d u stry I o -­ o I � THOUGHT 4 Corroborating Couture... ga rme nts, rock- a n d - ro l l , o r p o p u l a r television p rogra m s such as I Love Lucy Paco R a b a n ne's fas h i o n s i n the 1 9 60s were considered "out of t h i s world." At a t i m e when the race to the moon was heating u p, v i s i o n s of a fut u re i n space f u e l ed the i maginations of m a n y designers Raba n n e's foray i nto fi l m l e d h i m to team with designer Jacques