Draping Dress

Blanket, Model: Mahaa

A blanket is an unusual fabric to use in fashion; plus, its thickness represents a real challenge in terms of draping: the two reasons I wanted to use it. I had to experiment initially with calico—a fabric traditionally used in fashion design—pinning and unpinning it on a mannequin until I found just the right shape. (You have to be very precise when making a pattern, but to do that directly with the thick blanket proved to be impossible.) After removing the calico from the mannequin, I cut it to create the pattern, finally using that pattern to cut the blanket. When I first saw this blanket at the used-merchandise store Emmaus, I instantly knew I had to incorporate its blue finishing in the final dress design!