Books for Fashion Designers: Sewing, Draping, Patterns, Developing your Line. Etc.
 

For those that have gone to school, what textbooks did you use? There are no schools where I live and I'm not going to travel somewhere else for school because I already have a career and this is just a hobby so I am doing the self-teach thing instead. I have gone through "Pattern Making by the Flat-Pattern Method" by Norma R. Hollen and Carolyn J. Kundel and I know that is a text that is commonly used. What others have you seen/used?

not exactly 'textbooks' ... however, angelina di bello's books (esp the one on haute couture techniques) are amazing...i've been studying those for a while now... ^_^

ahh. this is a really good thread. i didn't think of making one like this but i'm very interested in fashion textbooks too.

<3 me.

Here's a list of the books I've used so far (I'm a fashion merchandising major). In most of my courses, my professors don't use or require textbooks thank goodness, so the list is pretty short lol.

"Consumer Behavior in Fashion" by Michael Solomon & Nancy Rabolt.
"Survey of Historic Costume: A History of Western Dress" by Phyllis G. Tortora & Keith Eubank

The patternmaking book most instructors at Parsons and FIT use is by Helen Joseph Armstrong -- "Patternmaking for Fashion Design". Covers slopers and manipulations for a gazillion womens designs. Also slopers for children.

Another text I recommend is Draping for Fashion Design by Hilde Jaffe and Nurie Relis. Draping is an important skill for developing patterns.

I've got many other texts. Rather than just listing everything, you can post what topics youre more interested in. :flower:

There a lot you can learn on your own with good texts. A great instructor however is worth many texts. There are a couple of classes you can take on-line.

marrimoda any info on the online classes ? :flower:

sure...just look at the FIT website as well as he Parsons website. For continuing education there have been some classes listed in the past. Within a degree program there are also online classes -- but then you've got to get the permission or whatever to take the class on a non-credit basis.

Of course its impossible to teach patternmaking in an online class..any subject like construction techniques wouldnt work on line. BUT I have taken fashion history on line, a friend actually took color theory on line, what else...the business, marketing, product development side of fashion often is offered online.

Look at the websites for all the accredited fashion schools...you'll see whats offered.

Actually i'm interested in all of it lol If you have the time I'd love to see the list off all your texts. Also I didn't know that courses were offered online, thanks for that info. I'm going to do some hunting around to see what I can find :)

Well really, give me more on what youre interested in because I have so many books I cant actually make up a list...

Maybe it would help if I know where your interests are...
Fashion History
Patternmaking
Draping
Couture sewing techniques
Fashion Illustration
Computer aided design of fashion
Textiles
Design marketing
Design Business
Retail
Jewelry
Couture Museum collections
Costume collections
coffee table books
Menswear
Childrens
Accessories
etcetera


:)

I'm interested in a lot of what you posted but some not so much so I will lessen the list for you :)

-Fashion History
-Patternmaking
-Draping
-Fashion Illustration
-Computer aided design of fashion (I already know CAD from engineering but would be interesting to see a fashion perspective on it)
-Textiles
-Design marketing
-Design Business
-Menswear
-Childrens

thanks!!

^^Go to the website for Fairchild Publications -- Google it -- I dont exactly remember the address.

There is a list with descriptions of any kind of instructional fashion book you could think of.

For Business..look at the The Business of Fashion. Its a Purple book. The students at parsons and fit use it.

There is also a book I read called "Beyond Design" Its a good overview of apparel production process. Fairchild has it.

I've listed Patternmaking and Draping already in my earlier post.
The fairchild website should have illustration books, 9Heads is a good one, also The Fashion Sketchbook by Bina Abling (well any of her books are good), also Steven Stiplemans book.
Those are instructional -- but anyone who likes to look at fashion illustration might enjoy the WWD Fashion Illustration book -- came out last year. I think its called 50 years of Fashion Illustration, or something like that.

Fairchild also has CAD books...any will be fine. Fashion uses primarily photoshop, illustrator, (Adobe)larger companies use Primavision, U4ia, Karat. Gerber for patternmaking.

For Menswear do a search here on tfs...Clay referred me to a patternmaking book for menswear a few months ago, which I bought but havent read yet.

For Marketing -- see the Purple book (the Business of Fashion).


Also you didnt ask for couture techniques -- but Claire Schaeffer's book on Couture Sewing Techniques is good and applicable to any sewing.

Have fun, happy reading. :)

Thanks so much for all this info, it's way more than I was expecting. I have posted this question in so many places and never got more than one or maybe two book suggestions. I'm so happy to find a place with knowledgeable people!!

Brian -- I searched for Angelina on amazon.com but I couldn't peek inside the book. Is it a step-by-step instructional book? I would love to see a few pages of the couture book scanned so I could get a feeling for it but I couldn't find anything online.

I'm looking for books specializing in dresses and skirts - and books that have a lot of information about different pleating and gathering techniques. Any suggestions?

youre welcome. there's lots of informative and interesting topics and people on tfs! Just poke around and you'll find lots.