Outside the Box

In the fashion industry you must stand out in order to succeed. Originality should take a big part in your work.

If you've been reading my blog, you'd know that I'm the kind of person who hates to do things like other people; have to walk my own lane, swim in my own current. Therefore I can't make a design that me or anyone else has seen before. I can't make a bag without some special elements in it, either. It's hard to come up with a new special, never seen before design every time. But I do it every time, and time after time. After years of making bags, sometimes I'm running out of ideas. But then find the right way to go, I come up with something different. So how do I do that?
I have a system in my head, which I also use along with the Puzzle System I came up with (the Puzzle System post, if you haven't read it). I like looking around for ideas. I look at other bags. But not stealing designs of course. I see some detail in a bag and I say to myself: "what if that part was made differently, in other side, longer, bigger, other way around, rounded, shaped differently, this thing come out from here instead, more extreme", and so on and on…
Now that I have a few options, I can play with it. Here comes the Puzzle System. Mix the whole thing up and come up with a new design.

Know some techniques. Once you learn some techniques, you will have the right mind and you will be able to come up with designs that are original enough, much much easier.
Let's take pleats for example. Do you have any idea how many options there are with this technique? There is the regular design where you pleat the bag's body vertically and had a band on the top. Now you have to admit it, you've seen it a hundred times. But think what you could have done with this pleating technique. You can change its direction, its place, its amount, pleat something else that is not the bag's main body… again, the possibilities are endless. You just need to play with it in your head. Train your imagination. And don't be afraid to make something new. People will appreciate your originality, and even learn from you, and "hopefully" will copy you.

Another way to be original is through the fabrics. You see fabrics around, same fabrics you've seen many times. And they're combined together in a combination that is not that original. Popular fabrics tend to be combined in a combination that is too obvious and/or same combination as others. Here you can play with the fabrics. Because even though you're using not so original fabrics, fabrics you see everywhere, you can pull off a wonderful originality.

But how would you know what's original and what's not?
Look around , study your surrounding. Take notes in your head. After a few bags, you'll know yourself if what you're seeing is original.
If you see something that seems original, learn from it and try to think how you would make it differently. Take something original and make another original thing out of it. If some detail is placed somewhere original, place it somewhere even more original. Always find a whole new way to make the design. Don't copy! Make it better, make it yours. Direct yourself toward the best of the best, so people would find it difficult to make a design that's more original than you. Think outside the box. That's very important if you want your work to be different, and by that stand out.

In fashion schools, I must add, they're looking for the most original designs, the most creative, not just the most wearable. Of course in bags, the bags are supposed to be also practical. So watch it, make something creative, but also practical.

It's hard work, but after some time, maybe you'll be in a place where you just must do it the best, and you'll be fresh!

Bag Recommendation #2

Here is another bag recommendation for you. If you've missed things out, what this is all about and why, go to the first recommendation post here:
http://januarbags.blogspot.com/2009/09/bag-recommend-1.html

Bag's description:

Beautifully designed with a new 100 Percent Cotton designer fabric with constrast matching brown quilt fabric and lined with a matching 100 Percent Cotton fabric.

Ruffle accent on the flap closure!

Measurements:17" wide (at bottom)

13" wide (at top)

12" high13"

strap drop

One magnetic FLAP snap closure

Accent Piping on front and back of handbag

Back of handbag is not pleated.

Great to carry into the Fall Season......

This is what I think about this bag:

This bag, just like it's described, is perfect for the new fall. The colors are very seasonal and blend so well together. The combination of white-brown-orange is very much for my linking. None of the colors has too much of it in this bag.
The colors aren't enough to make this bag beautiful. The design, even though we've seen this pattern before, has some kind of uniqueness. For example, I really like the flap over, that although it's something we've seen before (because many bags have flap overs) it has a touch of its own, that is the designer's version. This is something I, myself, like doing. However, the designer made it theirs.
Also, the cord at the top part gives the bag a more professional look, and believe it or not, it makes a whole lot of difference.
The pleats of the bag's body were made perfectly. And you can actually see the thought behind the design. It wasn't just made, the designer has put some work on it – the combination of the fabrics, AND the design.

The bag for sell here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30774442

And shop's url:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5535179

I'm sure you will love this shop. I'm in love it with myself!

The "Classical Romance" Bag Tutorial

The second tutorial is here!
It's not as hard as it might seem, promise! You can try it and if you want I'll show off your work here. If you don't understand something or have any question, please contact me, it's okay!

I made this bag with both vinyl and cotton fabric. You can choose to make it differently, with whichever fabrics you want. If you want it vinyl, prepare a Teflon foot and a thick needle.
I also want to ask you not to use this pattern and design for non personal purpose.

(1) Start with the pattern. There are two pieces for this pattern – the main body and the flap over. Fold in half and make the pattern by these (sample) measurements:

(2) Lay the main pattern piece, the exterior, on the main fabric, mark around and cut out. You will need to do it twice, for both sides of the bag.

(3) Do the same with the flap piece, only this time you will need to cut out only one.

(4) Now the lining pieces. You will need to cut out the same pieces as the exterior, only this time out of the lining fabric.

(5) Again, same as the flap piece (lining).

(optional) Add interfacing.

(6) Attach one half of the magnetic snap to the right side of the flap's lining piece, right in the center, 4.5cm from the lower edge.

(7) Attach the other half of the magnetic snap to the exterior piece, about 10cm from the top, right in the center:

(8) The pleats around the flap. You need to make them and attach them before you sew together the flap pieces.
Cut out a long piece, longer than the length around the flap. It's gonna be about 80-90cm. The width will be about 17cm.
Fold the piece lengthwise, right sides together, and sew it like a strap. Sew this way, leaving a gap in the middle that you will close later (the two ends should be sewn closed. If you don't understand, contact me or leave a message!). Turn it inside out. Close the gap you left with your fingers and place some pins so it won't move. Now sew the strip in both sides, closing the gap as well. Now you got a beautiful piece of strip:

(9) We're not through with this strip yet. Now you will need to make the pleats. Make the pleats so the strip will fit the flap's length: Fold the strip a few times along the length, pin every pleat so it will stay in place. Now sew over the pleats, as close to the edge as possible:

Note: if you choose to make it with vinyl, it might be a little hard to do this, but I promise you, it's possible!

(10) Attach the pleated strip to the flap piece. Take the piece of the exterior fabric of the flap, and pin the pleated strip to it, toward the inside (the side where you've sewn over the pleats should be laid on the flap fabric's edge).
Stitch in place all around, making sure it lines up exactly.
Note: if it's too long, make more pleats, as many as needed, and if too short, make the pleats wider (before you sew it to the flap piece!).

(11) Pin both flap pieces together – exterior and lining pieces – right sides together, sandwiching the pleated strip between them (and also the snap). Sew all around, leaving the top section open. Now turn it inside out through the gap you left.

Note: Make sure you can't see the seams of the pleated strip after turning inside out. If you can, sew that section till you can't see anything, while keeping the shape.

Now the pleated strip is out and happy about it.

Iron the whole piece nicely; you can sew around it to make it sit better, but it's not critical.

Done with the flap:

(12) (optional) Add pockets to the lining and/or the exterior:

(13) Make a long strip that encloses the bag's body out of the pleated strip's fabric.
Note: you don't have to use the same, use whichever fabric you choose. I did it with the same.
The length should be about 100cm long, and the width – you choose. I did it 11cm wide.
Note: if it's too long, you may cut it off a little later (and it will be too long, it's just in case).

(optional) Add interfacing to that strip.

(14) Same for the lining.

These are the two strips in the picture:

(15) Pin the exterior's strip to one of the bag's main body, right sides together. Sew. Slowly with the curves!

Repeat for the other body piece.

(16) Repeat for the lining pieces, only this time leave a gap in one of the sides:

Now you can trim off excesses, very carefully!

(17) Note: I made the strap of this bag with eyelets and O-rings, which I added only after the bag was already made. If you choose to do it the same way I did, wait for the end and skip this step!
You can still make the strap itself now though. If you want a regular strap, make it now (if you don't know how to make a strap, go to" Let's Start from the Very Beginning" post) and attach it now to the bag's exterior body (to its right side), face down. Make sure it's placed correctly and sew.

This is what you have so far:

(18) Sew the flap to the exterior body piece. Find the center. It will help if you close both of the snap halves together. Place the flap on its face - right sides of body and flap facing each other. Now sew the flap in place.
Note: you need to sew it to the side of the body that doesn't have the other half of the snap! Very very important!

(19) Sewing everything together. Turn the lining body inside out, so its right side faces outside.
Place the lining body inside the exterior body, and make sure it all lines up. Also, make sure that the flap is tucked inside (and the strap's ends if you choose to make a regular one). Pin and sew all around the top:

(20) Turn the whole business inside out, through the opening you've left:

(21) Sew closed the gap in the lining:

(22) Tuck the lining into the exterior. Iron a bit neatly and sew around the top to make it look better. This is the bag without the strap:

(23) If you choose my way, make the eyelets on both sides, add the rings and sew the strap to them.

Ready for use!