“Fashion is a part of the world and a part of history. It’s not a meaningless swirl of meaningless clothes. They [clothes] reflect the times.”
Valerie Steele
History
What Can We Learn?
The term Déshabillé is a French term referring to the idea of undress. The 1920s and 1930s saw women adopt this way of dressing, ditching corsets and instead embracing the natural female form through soft lingerie, which arguably had a sustainable underpinning. Before the development of synthetic materials, people relied on using natural materials, components and design features to create their garments.
Fabrics
Natural materials such as cotton silk and linen were used to create garments, as these were fibres readily available. Although natural materials are still used today, these are regularly created with various chemicals making them a not so friendly alternative to synthetic materials.
Components
Minimal componentry was applied to undergarments in order to keep garments simple and comfortable. Fastenings were commonly made with soft materials, as opposed to metal or plastic, which comforted the wearer and reduced the number of materials needed.
Design Features
Design features such as embroidery, applique and fabric manipulations were used to add aesthetic value to the garments. These techniques were arguably far more sustainable than aesthetic features today, which rely on the excessive use of trims and components.
© 2021 by Niamh Payne. Proudly created with Wix.com