My freaky world | the polarized Alternate | Loosen up!

"With the changes going on in our world today, it is the culture that demands fashion. Any retailer, any manufacturer, any designer who is unaware of these changes will be, after a while, destroyed by the dated quality of his merchandise. Numerous examples could be cited of progressive manufacturers, designers and retailers who have been successful because they understand the dynamics of change and fashion. This success has occurred not only in the freaky world of alternate culture boutiques, but across the board from business suits to sportswear.

We have seen in the past few years a tremendous cultural change among men: there is a polarization between young and old, establishment and radicalism, conformity and individualism. We have often talked about how this has led, in our view, to the creation of three distinct fashion markets: Dominant, Middle and Alternate.

Thus, to ignore fashion in today's culture or to define it incorrectly are both mistakes. Instead, if you think of fashion as a constant, broad supply of new ideas stimulating the consumer to loosen up, to express pleasure in his clothes, to accept change, you will be in the right position to deal with today's world."

Robert L. Green from Fundamentals of Men's Fashion Design: A Guide to Tailored Clothes

New Drawings

Working from various traditional tailor's drafts (some with a history dating back to the 1700s), I have been generating a steady stream of new drawings. The fact that a garment appears when you cut them out of cloth and sew them together is a mere perk.

Before | After

Before

After

Studio | Showroom | II

At last, I have found the time to take more photos of the interior of my new workspace. We're slowly getting settled in, and I'm happy to say that my delays in posting more updates is a result of a steady stream of commissions for custom work that have already come through my doors. Things are looking up!
My custom work tables are a joy to cut on, and my work space has come to feel comfortable and fun.

Hand-painted monograms on the walls take the place of wall paper. MC throughout. Dress forms currently occupy the space that will soon be the fitting room.

My friends on the wall.
The design board - thinking out loud.
Yardage and patterns within an arm's reach.
My front windows are finally showing signs of life.

Rx

Handwriting of the past was something magical...especially if you were a doctor, it seems.