Hello friends!

Firstly, THANK YOU for all of the love and support that I have received so far. It has been so great to finally be able to share a little of what I’ve been working on so far.

Setting up a new business is SO MUCH WERK you guys. Sometimes those negative vibes creep into my head drive but that’s just a part of being human I guess. Can’t be all rainbows and sunshine all the damn time.

WHAT ARE WE UP TO?

The fashion industry is a tricky business and it’s all about being organised because gurrrl, we work a minimum of 12 months ahead of current fashion. What does that mean exactly? Well, it means that I am currently developing my first collection which will be released in Spring 2019.

To understand where Andrea Lucy Designs is at, let’s learn a little about FASHUN.

FIRST STAGE / DESIGN

It can take years to design the perfect collection but for those of us who don’t have a time turner, I generally dedicate one to two months researching and designing the perfect clothes.

Designing is the very best part of doing what I do. It’s what comes naturally to me. My passion is creating beautiful garments to transform women. Not just physically, but mentally too.

When I’m dressed beautifully, I feel amazing and people treat me differently. It may seem superficial but it is not so. What we wear on the outside can truly alter how we feel on the inside.

SECOND STAGE / PATTERN MAKING & TOILE (pronounced tw-ah-l)

Once the designs have been finalised, they are submitted to a very smart and magical creature called the PATTERN MAKER.

Pattern Makers transform two dimensional designs into three dimensional objects. Sounds confusing? IT ABSOLUTELY IS. Patterns are like puzzle pieces. There are many parts that fit together and there is definitely a fine art to this process.

Once a Pattern has been drafted on paper, it is then cut out and used as a template for cutting on fabric. When all the pieces are ready to be put together, they are sewn up into a toile.

A toile is the basic structure of the designed garment. It will be sewn together simply, without hems or zips. This will give the designer an idea of what the finished garment will look like.

At this stage, a designer can see how well (or how terribly) her designs have translated from 2D to 3D.

THIRD STAGE / SAMPLING

Okay, so once we have our Toile and have made some adjustments, we are ready to make the sample.

At the sampling stage, the designs will be sewn up exactly how they should be. It’s the most rewarding time for a designer because the vision and creativity come to life in a tangible object.

I’m pretty excited to say that we are up to this stage. Our first fitting is next week so I will finally get to see my finished designs up close.

I’m also very proud to share that my cousin Delaney is going to be the fit model for our sample fitting. What is a fit model I hear you say? Each and every design will be fitted on a real person, not a mannequin. It may not seem like such a big deal but it means that Delaney can tell me if the armhole is a bit too tight or if the seams are itchy etc.

Design is incredibly important to me but the fit of a garment is probably my top priority. No expense has been spared in this process.

So that’s where we’re at! When the samples are ready, we can then head into production which is very exciting but also quite daunting (I won’t lie).

It’s time for me to put my mumma hat on and pick up Lily from Kinder so enjoy the rest of your day and see you next week for some more caffeinated rambling.

Much love,
Andrea Lucy xxx