I finally switched from cheap polyester to deadstock cotton for my sample runs

My first five samples, made with a $3/yard poly blend from a local jobber, always felt stiff and looked shiny under studio lights. After switching to a deadstock cotton twill I found in LA for $8/yard, the drape and matte finish improved so much my professor asked if I'd changed my whole design approach. Has anyone else seen a fabric choice completely transform a garment's perceived quality?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_charles1mo ago

Come on, that's just paying more for marketing. A good designer makes cheap fabric look expensive, not the other way around. Your first samples probably just needed better finishing.

-1

betty_price141mo ago

Oh man, you're probably right, @the_charles... my first samples looked like I sewed them in the dark.

paul3461mo ago

Yeah, because my first sample looking like a crumpled napkin was totally a "finishing" issue and not me just being bad at sewing, lol. I'm pretty sure that fabric was fighting me the whole time.