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C ha p t e r 1 | T he D e s i g n P r o c e s s : W h y C o n s t r u c t i o n S h o u l d M a t t e r t o t he Fa s h i o n D e s i g n e r
F I G U R E 1 . 7 F U N C T I O N A L , S T R U C T U R A L , A N D D E C O R AT I V E D E S I G N : S W I M W E A R
structural design: swimwear elastic is applied to all the edges to help the swimsuit cling to the body
the fabric pattern decorative design
part of the functional design is to choose the correct fabric type to suit the function and purpose of the garment
thread used for stitching. When choosing the stitches and seam finishes, the wear and tear of the garment must be considered. The first and most important area of structural design, which is necessary to pass quality control, is to have quality permanent seam stitching. A certain number of stitches per inch securely hold the seams together. Too few stitches will not hold the seam adequately; too many stitches may pucker the fabric. Refer to the “Stitch Lengths” section in Chapter 2. Garments made from stretch fabrics need to be stitched with stitches that stretch so the seams can stretch during wear. If stretch stitches are not used, the stitches will “pop” open, and eventually the garment will split apart and be returned to the manufacturer. Refer to the “Stretch Seams for Knits” in Chapter 5. Buttons are another example; they need to be stitched for closures using quality thread with enough stitches to hold the buttons permanently to the garment so they don’t fall off. Refer to the “Stitching Buttons” section in Chapter 19. Decorative Design Decorative design refers to the decorative additions to the fabric surface. Decorative design is an important aspect of design because ultimately it may be what attracts a customer to purchase the garment—the special detail that distinguishes one garment from another. Embroidery, lace, ribbon, bows, buckles, and buttons are just a few of the many items that can be used for decorative design. Choos-
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