Wedding Reception 2-Piece Project

The goal of this project was to create a 2-piece wedding reception outfit inspired by Japanese design elements and motifs to reflect on the bride's ethnic background. I started out by measuring my client to get a basic understanding on how to draft the initial paper pattern. I then created a sample and fit my client. Based on how the sample fitted, I made pattern corrections and then sewed the finished garment in final fabric.

The final outfit is a kimono inspired loose fitting top and bottom. The fabric is a shibori died cotton made in Japan. Shibori is a traditional Japanese resist dyeing technique, similar to tie-dye, where fabric is manipulated and bound to create patterns during dyeing. The word "shibori" itself means "to wring, squeeze, and press," reflecting the methods used to create the designs.