Where am I?

Back in Melbourne... that's where!

I have been in Bali for the last 10 days having a very very relaxing holiday. It was my third time back to Bali and I can not wait to go again!

But while in Bali i did miss out on a few thing:

1/ The Leiela Lady Accolade Comp

2/ Fashion week

3/ Daily Labels Launch Party

So...

1/ Although I did not win the Leiela Comp, I am very proud of myself to have been in the top 5.

2/ It may sound so strange, but I don't like Fashion We

ek as a spectator. I find it highly uninspiring as I don't like to copy other fabulous designers garments and I don't like that I cant see the actual garment close up! Strange... I know!

3/ Launch party sounded like a ball! But more importantly alabakov is thrilled to be apart of this awesome website. You MUST check it out here... Daily Labels

The red dress is mine!

much love

xx

Next step

So, I guess you can tell that the colour is red! I did intend to keep this a secret until the end but didn't really think it through....oops!

So based on the alterations to the toile and pattern, I have sewn up the dress in the base fabric.

Poor image quality... but it was a very quick photo op between busily matching side seams and sewing!

much love xx

Toile

Using a cheap fabric, in a similar weight, I cut the pattern and fit it to my mannequin.

To get the best fit, I pin the seams to make the waist tighter. There was some excess fabric at the strap which i pinned out. On the mannequin the fit was great. It was firm and structured and had no gaping!

Next step - first fit using the actual fabric!

much love xx

The LEIELA process

The stage of fashion design are:

Inspiration to sketch to fabric to pattern to toile to amen

dments to pattern to first fit and then garment completion (well this is a very short process!)

Over the next few posts I thought I would show you the process for my "Leiela Lady Accolade" entry.

I wont be showing you the completed garment till the end, so lets skip the inspiration stage and move to the pattern stage...

This is "draping"method and I do quite a lot of my work like this.

I first start with paper and fitting it to the manequin. I then cut the shape of the bodice and transfer this to a flat pattern.

Next stage... toile!

much love xx

Paper patterns + water = disaster

If you follow me on Facebook, then you would be aware that my studio flooded over the weekend.

Seeing the damage made me cry.

Every surface area of my studio had water on it. Nearly all my paper patterns (

close to 100) were ruined.

Scissors are rusted and fabric drenched.

Needless to say, I have since moved out of the studio back into my garage.

It seems like I've taken 10 steps back, but these things should only make me stronger...

it WILL only make me stronger!

some of the damage :(

much love xx

Where did the week go...?

Sorry sorry sorry sorry!

I don't know where the week went, and feel terrible for neglecting my little blog :(

But I am back on track!

So, alabakov has been invited to be apart of a new website called Daily Labels.

Its a new concept where each day has a new garment for sale. The catch.... its only available for those 24 hours! So each day you will get an email letting you know what's available and you have 24 hours to purchase!

I love this idea! Its quick easy and constantly delivering something new. The best thing about it is that alabakov will be designing garments exclusively for Daily Labels! So excited!

So go join up to their database and let the fun begin!