Introduction to Fashion

Now before we begin…

What is fashion, and why does it matter?

Is it because it’s such a crucial component of who we are?

How did fashion begin, and how could knowing that information benefit us?

Fashion is a form of art and self-expression that can be represented via clothing or accessories. Fashion allows people to connect through the use of beautiful fabrics and styles. This semester, QPA students got the opportunity to have hands-on experience with fashion design in the enrichment course instructed by Ms. Robinson.

The Course Objectives

“The course is designed to help students understand the world and business of fashion,” says Ms. Robinson. “They can also learn about potential career paths in the field.” This elective also gives you a better understanding of the history of fashion, and how it shapes culture around the world.

Students also have the opportunity to look into the history of clothing and their significance to the fashion market, with a focus on the work of designers who supply the fire that keeps the fashion industry afloat from season to season. In addition, they actually engage in the process of selecting and sewing fabric to make apparel or other design options.

According to Ms. Robinson, for the first half of the year, students measured, cut and sewed simple scarves for their hands-on project. For the next round, students made their own pocketbooks. Students chose the shape of the bags they wanted to construct with some coaching. They learned to use measuring tape, tailor’s chalk, design patterns, and sewing machines.

Fashion and Self-expression

I believe the study of fashion is important because each individual is impacted by the trends and what we choose to wear. Moreover, what we wear communicates who we are to others. Fashion can reflect a positive or negative image, and learning how to create your own clothing can also improve patience, confidence and build resilience. Students learned a lot and the class also helped them identify their personal style while designing and making their own bags.

Students also conducted research to improve their knowledge of the area. They looked for inspiration and identified their favorite fashion designer. They made presentations that included the designer’s origins, education, motivations, designs and contribution to the world of fashion. They discussed their inspirations on how they make their outfits. They also documented their favorite designs. According to QPA student Ranaa Hassan, this experience taught her a lot about “high fashion companies and how they grew up from an amateur to successful business today.”

Hearing that viewpoint demonstrates how much time and effort these students put into their research, as well as how much they’ve learned. According to Ranaa, she also discovered more about herself and the style of clothes she appreciates. They did this after learning about fashion vocabulary and putting it into practice throughout their presentations.

Getting Down to Business

 The second activity was to decide what kind of apparel or accessory the students would make. Ranaa expressed her excitement at the prospect of learning to sew, as did the other pupils. They had to choose the type of fabric they wanted to work with. A handful of them went with a camouflage pattern, while others went with a pink, velvet fabric. And their chosen project is a bag. The bag could be square or curved, but the square bag was the most beginner-friendly. They used fabric chalk and paper to create a pattern for it. They traced and cut out the pattern on the cloth of their choice.

​Next, they have to pin together the two fabrics they cut but the inside should face out. The kids describe the event as “enlightening and enjoyable.” Finally, they needed to learn to use the sewing machine. Another student, Veshari Majeed claims, “We learned that you needed to guide the cloth for better results, and I also learned that you should not put your hand under the needle. We all learnt how to be safe.”

Knowledge is Power

Over time, her expertise improved as they worked on the bag. “I learned how to sew better,” she added. “And to always measure your stuff and to pin it down neatly.” Because of how persistent but good the regulations are they learned how to measure professionally. Furthermore, they gained a pleasant and useful expertise that they could utilize on a daily basis as a result of this experience.

This elective teaches students how learning about fashion and sewing mechanics can be helpful in everyday life. It also teaches you about the history and effects of trends in the real world. You can make it all work for you and improve your knowledge and as well as your personal style. However, it also provides fun activities– like learning how to sew hands-on with your friends!