Hello all !
This first blog post isn't daunting at all. AHEM.
I'm Danielle Pierce- fashion designer always, sewing instructor sometimes, and model every blue moon. As an emerging fashion designer, selecting fabrics for a new collection is easily one of the most exciting parts of the design process. But it can sometimes be one of the most frustrating, especially when you have your mind set on a specific thing that continues to elude you. I specialize in swimwear and resortwear and have been inspired on a number of occasions by the traditional fabrics of Africa. The key word here is traditional. Traditional textiles- whether African, Asian, Indian, Native America or other- all have one thing in common. They are woven. Weaving is the oldest way to create textiles and of course, is utilized to this day. Herein lies the problem for me. My design focus is in swimwear. Though our foremothers bore woven swimsuits fashioned of nylon, and cotton, modern swimsuits are made almost exclusively of 4 way stretch knit fabrics with a healthy bit of spandex blended into the fibers.
After searching the internet up and down, I came to my conclusion. Stretch fabrics in traditional African print just does not exist. I put off my “African Inspired” Swim collection for years because of it. When searching” African Print nylon spandex fabric ” online, I would find what the fabric industry calls “tribal prints”. Tribal prints have been popular on the fashion scene for several years, and are always a staple in swim fabrics. However, these generic “ tribal” designs are an attempted conglomeration of Aztec, Native American, Persian and African elements. They are not traditional…well, anything!
In the last 5 years, I have seen a big shift in fashion. Established design houses and brands use both woven fabrics and knits in their collections. However, newer designers and sewing enthusiasts are moving somewhere else- stretch fabrics. Formalwear has evolved from woven silks, satins, and chiffons to uber-stretchy mesh, spandex, and stretch sequins. Right now, stretch fabrics are more popular than ever ! So, 2016 was the first year I found a couple of ACTUAL African Print stretch fabrics. However, because they are so needed and wanted, the fabrics sell-out quickly and , in many cases, are not reordered for some reason. As a designer, this was frustrating for myself and customers alike. I had to discontinue several styles because the original fabrics were no longer available.
So, I finally decided to try to make this thriving textile industry work for me. I could not only create beautiful custom African prints for my own collections, I could offer it to other sewing pros and small businesses. Working with an amazing graphic designer, I am happy to present the first capsule collection of AFRICAN STRETCH FABRICS. But not quite yet! We are putting the final touches on designs, but will be starting our Pre-Sale on NOVEMBER 1, 2017.
I really look forward to continuing this journey to African Stretch fabric bliss and can’t wait to share it with all of you! Don’t forget to sign up for our emails so you can be updated and reminded about the Pre-sale :)
Happy Sewing!
-Danielle