Flats: Technical Drawing for Fashion (Portfolio Skills: Fashion & Textiles) [Paperback]

Basia Szkutnicka (Author)

Book Description

Series: Portfolio Skills: Fashion & Textiles | Publication Date: April 7, 2010

Flats, or technical drawings, are essential for anyone working in the fashion industry. Used to convey design ideas and garment details to pattern cutters and machinists, it is essential that they are drawn accurately to avoid misunderstanding and costly mistakes in sampling and production.

Flats: Technical Drawing for Fashion explains how to create a technical fashion drawing using a simple andstraightforward step-by-step method accompanied by some time-saving tips. This method is explained for those who wish to use Adobe Illustrator as well as for those who prefer to draw by hand.

The second part of the book presents over 400 technical drawings of garment types, styles, and construction details, the basic key shapes of which are shown alongside a specially created and photographed muslin. Accompanying each illustration is a list of all the terms by which that garment is known. This unique presentation illustrates the relationship between the three-dimensional garment and the two-dimensional drawing, allowing readers to really understand how torender technical drawings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Basia Szkutnicka works as a fashion design consultant, fashion course director, and lecturer in fashion design, forecasting, color, and drawing. Since graduating from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, she has also designed and marketed her own fashion label. She currently runs a department at the London College of Fashion, working with international students.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Laurence King Publishers; Pap/Cdr edition (April 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856696189
• ISBN-13: 978-1856696180
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars authors note, May 1, 2010

By 

BASIA SZKUTNICKA "basia szkutnicka" (london uk) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flats: Technical Drawing for Fashion (Portfolio Skills: Fashion & Textiles) (Paperback)

I have tried to demystify the 'art' of technical drawing in this book. It's really not difficult, if you follow my step by step technique. The back section of the book is incredibly useful, as it contains clear drawings of key generic styles - its a visual dictionary of clothes.
The drawings here are not 'fashionable' - they are stripped of all 'fashion' content, therefore serve as an indicator of generic style names.
Once you have mastered the skill of 'drawing' in half and are familiar with a basic fashion vocabulary - you may steam ahead and work in this flat format to design anything you want....
A combination of draping on the stand, pattern cutting and an ability to draw flats is vital to arm you with the key skills you will need to succeed in our competitive industry today.
Good luck!
Basia Szkutnicka

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great resource!, May 3, 2010

By 

Andrea (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Flats: Technical Drawing for Fashion (Portfolio Skills: Fashion & Textiles) (Paperback)

A great tool for students and professionals, this book is complete yet concise. Includes hand-drawing techniques as well as Illustrator instruction. Flats are shown next to finished garments to better understand how your sketch translates to 3d. You have all the basic garment shapes but also a visual dictionary of variations that I find can be inspiring for new designs. There is written instruction, but it is also very visual which is great for creative types like myself!

The CD-Rom is the icing on the cake: It includes body and garment templates that can be manipulated in Illustrator - a priceless, time-saving resource!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book about drawing flats, October 29, 2010

By 

Laurel Hoffmann - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Flats: Technical Drawing for Fashion (Portfolio Skills: Fashion & Textiles) (Paperback)

This is an easy book to use and understand. Good reference for anyone who is designing clothing.