Materials in Fashion World

Robe a l'anglaise
Fabric designer: Anna Maria Garthwaite
Material - Red silk damask
(Circa 1775, England)

This dress was made of gorgeous fabric, which was designed by Anna Maria Garthwaite. She is only one female textile designer, who worked in Spitalfields, a silk-weaving center of London. And her signature floral damasks and brocades truly represented Spitalfields style.




Stay
Designer – Unknown
Material - Multicolor silk brocade
(Circa 1750, France)

The stays, later known as corsets were a sign of feminine beauty, aristocratic display, and self-discipline. The corsetry was very popular among ladies from 16th century until the middle of the 20th century and it became a representation of an upper-class lady. This piece's materials is silk brocade, which is luxurious material, comply well with the piece's meaning: a status symbol.




Designer: André Courréges (born 1923)
Material - Light grey wool
(Circa 1968, France)

This cute dress was designed by an advanced French designer, André Courrèges, who was claimed to have invented the mini skirt. André's significant style is Space Age and futuristic designs, with crisp textiles.




Designer: Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895 – 1972)
House: Balenciaga (founded 1937)
Material - silk gazar
(1968, France)

This outstanding simple evening dress was created from the most challenging fabric: gazar, which is known as stiff textile. Balenciaga made this dress just before his retirement due to clients and materials shortage. So, he ended his career with the masterpiece.




Designer: Yves Saint Laurent
House: Yves Saint Laurent (founded 1962)
Material – wool jersey
(1965, France)

Yves Saint Laurent mixed fashion and art together in this dress that obviously inspired by Piet Mondrian’s color block artworks. The dress was made flat in simple silhouette to imply the two-dimensional canvas.




Designer: Jean-Paul Gaultier (1952)
Material – Shirred velvet
(Fall 1984, France)

The sexy dress that Jean-Paul Gaultier got a sexy design and faded color inspiration from his grandmother’s corset, become one of his most iconic pieces.
His cone-like bust designs, which later was adopted by Madonna into her famous costumes.




House: Rodarte (founded 2005)
Material – White organza, silk tulle, and feathers
(Spring 2007, USA)

Rodarte is famous for their couture-liked RTW. An extravacant, delicate design, with large selection of various materials, combined with their hand-crafted techniques make Rodarte works become a new WOW of American fashion industry.

Source: fashionmuseum.fitnyc.edu
Photo credits: fashionmuseum.fitnyc.edu