Handbag Design

[Fashiongirl1]

I bought some patterns from Mccalls for handbags just now. I guess I may as well just cancel the order, because you just said that vogue patterns are the best ones. I just got the ones form McCalls, because they are a lot cheaper, and I dont have that type of money right now for the vogue patterns.

I am focusing more on the handbag construction right now, because I feel confident that I will be able to sell it. I know for sure that my cousin and her friends love bags, so I am sure I will be able to sell some bags to them. Plus thats the industry that I am heading for the most as well. Accessories. On the side I may still learn how to make clothing, but I am focused more on shoes and handbags at the moment. I just can't decide, but I think I will stick with shoes and handbags at the moment. I am not sooo sure what to do.

I keep going back and forth. I have a passion for both.

In the future I will like to own my own company, and be a successful shoe and handbag/footwear designer sort of like the other shoe and handbag designers. Steve Madden, Jimmy Choo (whoever designs for Nine West and others) etc...

But I'd l ike to design high fashion shoes, and handbags. I 'd just like to get started, and learn already. I am really interested in doing this, and getting in the industry. Does anyone know of any websites catering to those in accessories business, or those with acccessory lines?

I already bought a book that has to do with crocheting, I will get the digest book when I get more money. Its tough when your on a very, very low budget, but I am taking all of the money that I do get and I am putting most of it towards this.

thanks

 

[Fashiongirl1]

Also, I wanted to add that I am interested in learning how to sketch accessories, do you know of any good books, that have things on sketching accessories. I have a lot of fashion books, so should I just go by those books like Fashion Illustration, Nine Heads, Fashion Sketchbook, and other books on helping to guide me on learning to draw handbags and shoes. I know its practice practice, practice. I feel I do have the potential to sketch different shoes and handbags, because I did once sketch a handbag really, really, really, really well from the nine heads book. I copied it just to see if I could do it. I realized that it takes time, and a good eye for seeing things to be able to do this.


Does anyone know how to find different contractors, manufacturers (i do not know of they are the same thing) for footwear and handbag design. If anyone has any insight at all on the business in footwear and handbag, in general, please let me know. I just need to know how to get into the business, how to get started etc... Just the basics... Or if anyone knows of any websites that would be of help, please post them.

Thanks sooo much for everyones help and input

 

[Diorling]

Maybe becuase Im hard headed but I dont think you need any patterns, just problem solve. That's what I would do. Id be like "how can I get this to do that" you know? Maybe thats me, but that's the way I learn, self taught, Im a mule if someone tries to teach me.

I am puzzled how they do lining though...How the hell are you supposed to stitch things when the seams are hidden? I makes no sense, maybe I have the concept all wrong.

 

[taz]

.........looks better when its on, i'll try to take one of those too.

this is really amazing well done jun3machina, good quality & details & the red background make it part of that hestorical collection...cool & keep the good work.

 

[Luna]

You should see if you can try to get a hole of some bonded leather, stay papers, chip board, etc.... all of those are used in making actual handbags... at least the more constructed ones.

 

[Fashiongirl1]

I hear totes are the easiest to make? Is that true?


Also, I want to thank everyone that has responded in this thread. It has really helped with learning how to construct handbags.

Now, I just need to learn how to sketch them.

Any computer programs that help with sketching handbags and shoes? I saw a previous thread when I was searching that someone was using 3d studio max 6. Does anyone else use this? I want to have as many ways as possible. Using my hands, and the computer. I think photoshop and illustrator will help, but I am not sure. Nor do I have either, nor know anything about them.

Looks like I have a lot of things to do. And a lot of money to spend that I dont have LOL.


thanks

 

[jun3machina]

my best advice for sketching is to sketch everything. DO NOT limit yourself to fashion, because it will be your downfall. so many designers find inspiration in nature, from the figure, etc...i think you should master the basics of proportion, and how to draw things as they really are and then you can branch off and stylize what you know. this will make your design and drawing sense stronger. i did a commision for dooney and bourke, and had to draw the charm bags we did in a photorealistic fashion...i'll scan it later today to show you...but having that knowledge allows me to simplify and exaggerate things for design.
as far as bags go, totes are VERY simple. you almost dont need a pattern for those, because they are square...just find a picture in a book/magazine and try to copy its design from the picture. that way you dont waste money on a pattern for something so basic. as far as selling these bags and going into the manufacturing professionally or as a job, i think you need to focus on creating for a few years if your construction is in the beginner level. otherwise (and i dont want to sound harsh, but its true) there are gonna be a bunch of people out there that have that knowledge and are that much ahead of you because of it. and if you are submitting a resume, the other person's gonna get the job because of that knowledge. thats the reality, especially in fashion. if you dont have a well constructed foundation in all the basics (pattern construction, assembly, marketing, etc) it will be a downfall later along the line.

 

[jun3machina]

here's a commission i did for them. it was supposed to be for an ad, but i dont think they ever used it...

 

[Luna]

My advice is to focus on getting clear and correct black line drawings of bags completed. Color renderings are nice.. but black line drawings are what is used most in the industry.

 

[m4ryb3ar]

wow this is such an interesting thread! i dont know anything about the real fashion industry so i cant help much =/ but ive always wanted to major or do something in the fashion career, all my friends tell me i should since im completely obsessed! (esp. with handbags) but anywho, im planning on majoring in pre-dent since there is no way my parents would let me do something else thats not medical related (asians! lol) but maybe after i get out of college or something?? or maybe itll be too late lol

 

[Fashiongirl1]

jun3machina, I dont plan to start doing anything in focus until after a few years. I know everything takes years of planning, and developing really good skills. I am aware that people need to have the talent, skill, passion, drive etc... to make it in the industry, and the competition is fierce (so I believe). Also, I wanted to mention that your design that you posted earlier, and your sketch are both fabulous. I like them both. How many years have you been doing all of this? Thats good that you advised me to be a well rounded designer. I thought about it at one point, but I did not realize how important it is, so I just overlooked the thought. I only know how to sketch fashion figures with clothing at the moment, but I am not an expert at it. I still have a way to go. I am going to start sketching bags, and shoes, and lots of other things. I did sketch some bags a while back, and I was very happy with the outcome. They came out pretty well for an absolute beginner, but they were just basic and simple bags. I am going to save up and buy some more art supplies. I just need some more pencils and some drawing pens and some sketchbooks, and some fabric so I can start sewing. I have muslin and other fabrics, can I work with them, or should I just buy some new cotton fabrics to work with?

By the way do you use any computer programs?

Luna, what are black line drawings?

thanks

 

[Fashiongirl1]

m4ryb3ar, maybe you can learn the industry on the side. I am majoring in Business Marketing, and I am learning everything about the fashion industry on the side, and I am trying to do SOME things self taught.

 

[Luna]

Black line drawings = technical drawings... simple and clean drawings where you can also include measurements and dimensions if necessary.


here's a quick example ... black line... and then a rendered drawing.
I use photoshop and illustrator as well as hand sketching.

 

[Fashiongirl1]

Ohh, okay I get it now. How did you learn to use photoshop and illustrator? Did you take the courses that FIT has to offer in those fields? By the way those are some nice drawings you did. I wish I could do them. But eventually I will be able to.

 

[Luna]

I took classes at FIT for photoshop... really the class didn't teach me anything.. I'm self-taught.

 

[jun3machina]

im 21...and have been set on art since i was a kid. i love fashion, dont get me wrong, but the trip i took to italy with peter (head of dooney and bourke) and a bunch of vogue editors and PR really showed the dark side to all of the partying, and smoozing and *** kissing that made me realize this was NOT what i wanted a career in. i actually am majoring in fine art and illustration right now, and want to do storyboarding for movies/animation and, this is really going to sound crazy, but comic books! i just this year got into the industry, which i think is actually MORE difficult to get into than fashion! because im a girl and all. i still work at a fabric store, and love clothes and bags, but doing comics really lets me have freedom with my art and i love the environment. i even have interviews and stuff posted for upcoming projects!! ;D

fashiongirl1: i actually get this stuff called economy cloth, which is cheaper and stiffer than muslin (feels like muslin that has been startched) for all my patterns and pre-design work. its great, because you can kinda create a prototype of what you want to do and pin it all together to see how everything fits before you actually cut it out of real fabric. its GREAT!! i also use photoshop, painter, and photosuite programs...painters my personal fav.

 

[Fashiongirl1]

Thats good that you know how to do all of that at the age of 21. I can't even sew, and I am only 20, but I have not been doing any of these things since I was a kid, but the dream has been within me since then. How do you get so many contacts that you have? Thats good that you get soooo many jobs from being self taught. It makes me feel more confident about the fact that I can do this by myself, or/and with the help from my grandmother.

I was thinking about teaching myself how to use photoshop and illustrator. In the past I have taught myself how to do a lot of things, thats how I came up with the entire idea on teaching myself how to sew. I dont really have the money for a class, and I am really anxious to get started. About the economy cloth, can I learn to sew with that type of cloth? Is it a good learning tool?
Is it better than muslin?

Does using photoshop and illustrator require a scanner, because I don't have one, but I just want to know if I would need to try to save up for one in a hurry?


Thats good that your majoring in fine arts. Theres nothing at all wrong with a girl doing comic books, I guess I am saying that because I am a girl too LOL. I think you and luna have a lot of talent, and you both definetly know a lot about the industry.

 

[Luna]

a scanner would definitely help the process with using computer programs... at least it does for me. you can scan materials into the computer.. as well as textures, etc. That's how I got that flower print and the croc onto that one bag.

 

[Fashiongirl1]

You drew those textures then scanned them on, or did you get those textures from a book or something else, then scanned them on? Thats very creative.


I guess I need to save up for a scanner, but in the meantime I can start learning the basics of illustrator and photoshop. Is there anything else I can do on illustrator and photoshop in the meantime in relation to fashion design? My uncle said he was going to look for me to see of a good affordable scanner that I can get. I have to really keep bothering him, because he probably will forget and don't do it. My computer is a windows XP, does anyone know what would be a good affordable scanner to get?

 

[tropicallea]

You drew those textures then scanned them on, or did you get those textures from a book or something else, then scanned them on? Thats very creative.


I guess I need to save up for a scanner, but in the meantime I can start learning the basics of illustrator and photoshop. Is there anything else I can do on illustrator and photoshop in the meantime in relation to fashion design? My uncle said he was going to look for me to see of a good affordable scanner that I can get. I have to really keep bothering him, because he probably will forget and don't do it. My computer is a windows XP, does anyone know what would be a good affordable scanner to get?

That depends on how much a budget you plan for one. For design, you will need one that is capable of high resolutions. Most normal home use start at 1200 x 2400 dpi (dots per square inch). Of course, the more dpi you get the better but always refer to your bottom line. Your best friend in price and feature comparison would be www.bizrate.com. Take note of their customer ratings.