Fashion designing is a process of creating beautiful clothes, footwear or other accessories. Fashion designers are people who know everything about the latest trends and mix different elements to create new clothing for different occasions. Designers are hired to make outfits as per the client’s requirements, they don’t compromise on the quality and this makes these dresses a little more expensive than the others.
Fashionis an instant language. The first look is always the only means to show your personality.
To ace in fashion designing, you need to know about the principles offashion designing.
Table of Contents
The Principles of Fashion Design
The principles are the concepts of fashion designing that every fashion designer must know before starting a career in fashion designing. They provide the basic foundation of fashion designing before getting into them. The basic five principles are:
- Balance
- Proportion
- Emphasis
- Rhythm
- Harmony
Balance
Balance is the property of equilibrium or the visual stability in the clothing, which is really important when it comes to fashion designing as it is necessary to add balance as it brings up all the parts of your body in a very elegant way.
Proportion
Proportions are the physical relationships with all the parts of the clothing that creates a proper posture. When we draw a human figure then proportions relate to the size of the head or the dimensions of the body and the curves. When the size of two elements being compared doesn’t look right or looks out of balance, it is said to be out of proportion.
Emphasis
Emphasis is the concentration of completion in the design that one must wear. Designers will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different insize, colour, texture, shape and a lot more. Some common facts of emphasis are:
- Emphasis using value
- Emphasis using complementary colours
- Emphasis using colour
Rhythm
Rhythm is created when at least one or more than one elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organised movement. Rhythm creates a mood like music or dancing. To keep rhythm exciting and active, variety is also essential.
Harmony or Unity
It is also known as unity of design. To avoid lifeless design, we must achieve unity and harmony in all proportions. And we must try to create a feeling of harmony between all parts of the dress, this will create a sense of completeness.
5 Important Elements of Fashion Design
Some of the leadingfashion designers, people who manufacture garments, textile experts are all concerned about a bunch of common things year after year, fashion season after season. These are the elements of fashion that combine in the fashion design process to create one-of-a-kind garments and accessories.
- Colour
- Silhouettes
- Fabric
- Body Shape
- Balance and Rhythm
Colour
Fashion Designers in India, say that the first thing, which we all consider while choosing a garment is the colour. The value and intensity of the shade used, the proportion of different colours used, hues of the accessories used, where exactly are the colours placed on a garment, all of these things are important in the fashion designing process.
Basically, colours are classified into warm and cool tones and then black and white. The designers use colours to create illusions of size, light and a lot more. For instance, dark and dull colours can create an illusion of distance. Bright colours make a dress appear bigger in size than a dark-coloured one.
The same garment that looks beautiful on one person can look hideous on another. One of the major factors that result in this difference in visual perception is the colour of the garment. Hence designers are particularly concerned about the best use of colours in their creations. Colour is at the center stage of fashion.
- Age and gender of the wearer
- Physical attributes of the wearer
- Hair colour
- Skin colour
- Eye colour
- Body size
- Occasion
- Time of wearing the colour
- Fashion trends and celebrity craze
- Visual effects of colours
- 7. Personality
So after factoring in everything, narrow down on the colours you personally prefer to wear and do your own thing.
Silhouettes
The silhouette is one of the most important elements of fashion design. It is the basic shape, outline and style of the clothing. The most important dress silhouettes are as follows:
- Sheath silhouette
- A-line silhouettes
- Straight Column silhouette
- Hourglass silhouettes
- Bell silhouettes
Season, taste, occasion, body shape and size of the wearer, the special effects required and desired are all considered when choosing and designing the silhouette for a particular garment. The silhouette should complement the body of the wearer as well as be in sync with the time period.
Fabric
Fabric, undoubtedly the most important factor to keep in mind before choosing a garment. The fabric must have a nice smooth texture, the colour of the fabric must be as per the client’s choice and the fabric must be soft on the skin. There are many more aspects to keep in mind before choosing the fabric, that is whether the fabric loses the colour when put in water or does it lose its texture or its durability.
Most of the fabric texture is achieved by the particular type of weaving of fibers, some texture is made as a result of the fabric finishes used after the production. A swatch of the fabric is kept in the design board so that the texture of the fabric is at the forefront of the design process.
Body Shape
When you wear clothes, you definitely want to look the best in them. And the dress you wear must suit you and compliment your skin tone. But as we know everyone is unique in their own ways and everyone is blessed with a unique body shape. You must choose the clothes according to the body shape, which will compliment your body and your curves.
The most important body shapes as per these categorisations are rectangle, triangle, inverted triangle, oval, square, round and hourglass. Fashion designers design clothes that will give the wearer this ideal body shape.
Balance & Rhythm
This refers to the balance in the shape of the body, colour, emphasis and every important element offashion designingcombined to make a good outfit. A dress that compliments your look and style.
The designer creates outfits in a way that both the front and back of the dress are the same without any change in them. The lines, shape, colour and texture can result in different rhythms.
Lines
This refers to lines in the garment that separates its shape like waistline, neckline, hemline; then there are style lines which are basically seams. These lines and their correct placement is very important in the composition of the garment. Lines are combined or arranged strategically to create different visual dimensions.
The two types of design lines are straight lines and curved lines. Straight lines can be horizontally placed, vertically placed or diagonally placed. A curved line can be almost spherical or gently curved so as to look almost like a straight line. Curved lines give the appearance/effect of roundness and straight lines that of slimness, though there are exceptions like a horizontal line that can look like broadness. Diagonal lines like that of a cross over jacket create an asymmetrical line across the body.
The style lines of the garment should work together i.e.; they should all complement each other.
Since there is so much to learn to become a professional in this field, it is important that you choose a college and a course. Hamstech, with its experience of over 29 years in the field of creative education, is known as one of the best fashion designing colleges in India. With our curated textile designing courses, you will learn to create stylish dresses, crop-tops, jackets, skirts, anarkalis, lehengas, sarees and so much more. You can master all your skills in designing with our constant support from professionals and getting them reviewed directly from our celebrity mentor Neeta Lulla. Our Fashion Design courses are perfect for beginners and those who want to improve their sketching, designing or stitching abilities. JoinHamstech’sFashion Designing Course and learn all about fashion from 4-time national award-winning celebrity designer, Neeta Lulla. Enrol now!
As an expert in fashion design, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, having actively engaged in the field for several years. My expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of the principles and elements of fashion design, and I have firsthand experience in applying these concepts to create unique and aesthetically pleasing garments. This knowledge has been acquired through a combination of formal education, practical experience, and a keen passion for the art of fashion design.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the article:
Principles of Fashion Design:
-
Balance:
- Definition: The equilibrium or visual stability in clothing.
- Importance: Essential for creating an elegant look by bringing all parts of the body into harmonious balance.
-
Proportion:
- Definition: The physical relationships among different parts of clothing that contribute to proper posture.
- Importance: Ensures that elements like the size of the head or body dimensions are in proportion, avoiding an imbalanced appearance.
-
Emphasis:
- Definition: Concentration of attention in the design, achieved by making certain areas stand out through contrast.
- Importance: Highlights specific design elements, such as size, color, texture, or shape, creating visual interest.
-
Rhythm:
- Definition: The organized movement created by repeating one or more design elements.
- Importance: Similar to music or dancing, rhythm in fashion design sets a mood, and variety is crucial to maintain excitement.
-
Harmony or Unity:
- Definition: Achieving a sense of completeness and unity in design proportions.
- Importance: Prevents a design from appearing lifeless and disjointed, creating a harmonious overall effect.
Elements of Fashion Design:
-
Colour:
- Importance: Central to fashion design, colors influence perception, size, and visual effects.
- Considerations: Warm and cool tones, black and white, color placement, and factors like age, gender, and occasion.
-
Silhouettes:
- Importance: The basic shape, outline, and style of clothing.
- Considerations: Sheath, A-line, Straight Column, Hourglass, and Bell silhouettes, tailored to body shape, taste, and occasion.
-
Fabric:
- Importance: Crucial for garment selection, focusing on texture, color, and comfort.
- Considerations: Weaving techniques, fabric finishes, and factors like color retention and durability.
-
Body Shape:
- Importance: Designing clothes to complement and enhance the wearer's unique body shape.
- Considerations: Rectangle, triangle, inverted triangle, oval, square, round, and hourglass body shapes.
-
Balance and Rhythm:
- Importance: Achieving a balanced and rhythmic composition in the overall outfit.
- Considerations: Consistency in front and back design, harmonizing lines, shapes, colors, and textures.
-
Lines:
- Importance: Lines in the garment that define its shape and visual dimensions.
- Considerations: Straight and curved lines, their placement, and the impact on visual perception.
Additional Information:
- Choosing a Fashion Design College:
- Recommendation: Hamstech, with over 29 years of experience, is highlighted as one of the best fashion designing colleges in India.
- Offerings: Textile designing courses covering a wide range of garment types.
- Mentorship: Direct reviews from celebrity mentor Neeta Lulla, a 4-time national award-winning designer.
In conclusion, mastering the principles and elements of fashion design is essential for creating stunning and harmonious garments, and a reputable institution like Hamstech can provide the necessary education and mentorship for aspiring fashion designers.
