DST64304 Fashion Project 1
Week 1 (Task 01 - Research & Design Construction):
LESSON OF THE WEEK
Mr. Jasmi, our lecturer and tutor, began the first week of the module by conducting a small icebreaker by asking each student's name. Next, he began to brief all of the assignments for this module so that we would be aware of what we needed to do in the coming weeks. He then explained the main theme of our project in this module, which is about traditional Malay women's kebaya, so that we could better understand which type of kebaya we wanted to create for our project. After explaining everything to us, he allowed us to begin our research and initial drawings. Due to the fashion shows, the timeline is a little rushed compared to a normal semester, so we need to get started as soon as possible to avoid rushing at the last minute. He then had a one-on-one consultation during class, and we showed him the subject matter we had chosen. Once he approved, we could begin designing and drawing right away.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
This week's task is to draw ten preliminary drawings, conduct research on the main theme and traditional Malay women's kebaya, and create a rough moodboard for our project. Surprisingly, I have a lot of ideas for my drawings, despite the fact that I don't know much about kebaya, but the more I draw, the more ideas come to mind, which makes it more interesting and exciting to me.
Overall, I began to feel stressed during the briefing session because I believe everything will be rushed in comparison to the previous semester, as well as the fact that we are working on a very large and serious project, which is my first major project. Hopefully, I'll do well with my project in the coming weeks.
Week 2 (Task 01 - Research & Design Construction):
LESSON OF THE WEEK
To start the day, we have OPPO's employee briefing us about the procedure and activities of the upcoming fashion show. Moreover, he also briefly introduce about OPPO, their product, as well as the new product philosophy to us, so that we can have more ideas on what to design for our fashion looks.
The lesson of the week was that our tutor, instructed all of us to continue working on completing all 10 initial designs for our fashion looks. For those who have already finished, there will be a one-to-one consultation session to present our designs and ideas. If there is anything that needs improvement, we will make adjustments and create additional designs immediately, so that we can finalize them as quickly as possible, due to the tight assignment timeline.
During the whole class, I worked on creating more initial designs, as my current set of 10 designs did not fully satisfy my tutor. Additionally, the patterns I had created were too complicated, which might cause me to take more time than others to complete them. Furthermore, the color schemes I used did not match well with each other. Therefore, I made improvements on texture manipulation, such as refining how I create the 3D effect for the wavy lines in a cleaner and more appealing way. I also explored using more white in my initial designs.
In the end, my tutor chose the first design I drew, as it is plain, not overly complicated, and resembles a gown in a kebaya style. Moreover, the new version of the wavy line pattern is likely to attract more attention from the audience.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
The task of the week is to complete our moodboards and presentation slides for our research, as well as to finalize our proposals. Since I have already completed my initial designs, it is less stressful for me to work on the research slides. I no longer need to worry about what designs to create, what colors to use, or whether my designs are good enough. For the slides, I simply need to conduct online research and summarize the important points into the slides, which is relatively easy, as we have been doing different types of research presentation slides every semester.
This is my final presentation slides and moodboard:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hNUREHlGa9zZnZPckKJNhH7xdNTMBAIF/view?usp=sharing
Moreover, we also need to carry out fabric sourcing, as we must find the most suitable fabrics as soon as possible to present them to our tutor. If the tutor does not approve our fabric selection, we will have to purchase new ones, which could consume even more time. Fabric sourcing can be a challenging stage as well, because there are so many options to choose from. Therefore, we need to visit different shops to find the perfect fabric.
Overall, the experience of the week made me feel both excited and worried. I believe this is the week for us to finalize our designs, presentation slides, and moodboards, which also means we are getting closer to starting the pattern-making and sewing stages. The reason I feel worried is because fabric sourcing is a challenging process. The fabric shops are quite far from where I live, so if I choose the wrong fabric sample, I would have to spend hours traveling there again on another day to source fabric, which would be quite complicated and time-consuming for me.
Week 3 (Task 02 - Fabric Manipulation & Sampling):
LESSON OF THE WEEK
To start the class, our tutor showed us a texture sample from a friend in another class to help us understand what we need to do.
I hadn’t bought the cotton piping until yesterday, as the shop was closed. Sir gave me a really efficient suggestion—to call Evergreen and ask Grab to deliver it to Taylor’s, which was surprisingly fast as it only took about 15 minutes to arrive.
After I received all my materials, I showed them to Sir. As I bought 3 different kinds of fabrics: crepe, denim and chiffon, he choose the denim fabric for my fashion looks, as denim is more on modern vibes and suitable for my design. He asked me to topstitch the piping first. So, I began by ironing the piping and then topstitching it, which took quite a bit of time. After I completed it, Sir asked me to refer to my texture inspiration image to figure out how to play with the wavy lines and turn them into my first sample.
For the second sample, Sir suggested combining mesh and denim fabric, which I found interesting since I hadn’t included that idea in my original design. However, I think adding this concept to my final look could make it much more compelling, as the contrast between different textures would create a stronger visual impact.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
This week, we are required to complete at least two samples and show them to Sir next week. This will help us determine which manipulations are the most effective for our fashion looks, making them more outstanding. I feel that this process gives me a chance to explore texture manipulation more deeply. My current design might look too plain, so including one standout sample could elevate the entire look and give it a stronger vibe.
Moreover, we also need to complete a technical drawing, in order to show Ms. Melina for the pattern making. Hence, I had a consultation session with sir, so that I can know how to draw for the back of the technical drawing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this week, as I love working with texture manipulation. It gives me space to imagine how my final outcome might look if I incorporate one of the samples into my design. However, the most challenging part was definitely topstitching the piping. It really tested my patience, if I rushed or lost focus, the topstitch wouldn’t be straight, which could look messy in the final garment, especially when others closely observe the piping details.
Week 4 (Task 02 - Fabric Manipulation & Sampling):
LESSON OF THE WEEK
There will be no lesson this week due to Wesak Day, which is also a public holiday. Instead, we will have a consultation during Tuesday's Fashion Illustration module class. Additionally, Sir asked us to put all of our samples on the table and demonstrate them to our classmates, so they can gain inspiration, especially since some of them are stuck in their design development.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
We all need to complete all three samples, as next week will be fully dedicated to our kebaya progress. Therefore, we need to finish these as soon as possible.
During the consultation, Sir suggested that I could add more blue-colored ropes or strings to make the design more interesting. Afterward, I went to Sunway Pyramid to purchase different color tones of strings and ropes to match and determine which would be most suitable.
LESSON OF THE WEEK
This week, our tutor started the class by explaining the timeline for the kebaya submission deadline and checking our progress. In conclusion, we need to complete the calico version of our look this week. Ideally, we should also begin working on the version with the actual fabric. Therefore, we can put texture sampling aside for now, as it can be completed after Week 6. From this point on, we need to fully focus on the kebaya look, as there are only three weeks left.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
This week, both the Fashion Project 1 and Draping modules are focused on helping us complete the calico version of our look. To keep my progress on track, I completed the pattern making and drafting on my own on Monday, as Ms. Melina was not around. Fortunately, Mr. Farid and Mr. Brian were available, so I was able to ask for help and learn how to start pattern making for the top. I spent the entire day working on the pattern drafting stage.
Then, on Tuesday, with Ms. Melina present, I showed her the results of my pattern making and drafting so she could suggest any necessary adjustments before I cut the calico. This step helped me avoid making mistakes when cutting and sewing the fabric.
Overall, I felt quite stressed this week. We’re expected to complete a full look within a week, which is something I’ve never done before. Back in Semester 1, we only had to make a top for our final assignment, so this feels much more rushed by comparison. However, since I’ve completed the calico version, I hope to move faster with the actual fabric version, as I already know the steps. This should give me more time to focus on texture manipulation for the final garment.
Week 6 (Task 04 - Final Project: Kebaya Reinvented):
LESSON OF THE WEEK
Mr. Jasmi started the class by briefing us on the kebaya project, as there were some changes to the timeline. The deadline has been extended, so we now have until next Friday to complete our final look. This was good news for all of us, as it gives us more time to work on texture manipulations and adjustments to improve the overall appearance. After the briefing, we all began working on the actual version of our look and continued working throughout the class.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
This week, we had to begin sewing and cutting our actual version to stay on track with progress.
Everything is going well for me so far, but I did face a few challenges. One of them was with texture manipulation which the outcome looks slightly different from the original drawing. Luckily, my tutor helped me explore how elements like net, rope, and bias tape can be applied to make the look more interesting.
Additionally, during the test fitting, I used a basic sleeve to check the fit. But for the final version, I planned to create a pin tuck sleeve which something I’ve never tried before. It’s more complex than a regular sleeve, and I was initially very confused when Ms. Melina explained the process. To overcome this, I turned to YouTube tutorials and followed them step by step, which helped me a lot even when the tutors weren’t around.
This week was quite stressful, especially with the deadline approaching. I’ve had to wake up early and stay at the studio late into the night to complete my final look. I felt frustrated whenever I spent too much time on certain parts of the garment , hence repeated failures really affected my mood and caused me to redo things over and over again. Despite all the ups and downs, I still hope to produce a great outcome. I believe that practice makes perfect. The more I redo, the better the results will be.
LESSON OF THE WEEK
This Monday was a public holiday, so there were no classes for the week.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
We are required to complete our top to about 80%–90% progress, which will be shown to Mr. Jasmi and Ms. Melina next Monday during the garment viewing session.This week, there were some changes in my design. The first change was to the skirt. When I combined the actual top and skirt, the overall look appeared too plain. So, I decided to change the skirt pattern and design. I kept a fitted skirt as the base and added a layer of gathered net fabric as the outer part. During this process, I had to redo it twice. The first time, I accidentally overcut the fabric, which made it impossible to continue. Additionally, the gathers were too few, resulting in a less appealing look. That’s why I chose to redo it for a better outcome.
Next, I needed help with my textile manipulation. I had to consult Mr. Jasmi because the way I applied the bias tape to the design was messy. During class, I asked for guidance, and with his help, I ended up with a much neater and simpler design. For me, the most challenging part was the hand stitching, as it takes a very long time. I have to finish the textile manipulation before I can attach the lining and sleeves, which may further delay the completion of the top.
Before:
This week was very stressful. I experienced some moments of breakdown due to tight deadlines and last-minute design changes. Changing the design halfway through meant I had to either redo parts of it or find ways to recreate them, which added to the pressure. Even though I still feel stressed and a bit frustrated with the new design because it increased my workload which I’m also grateful. The changes led to a better outcome and helped strengthen my emotional resilience. I do feel like I’m progressing more slowly than my classmates, but I’m doing my best. I hope I can complete this look as soon as possible because I’m really tired and overwhelmed.
Week 8 (Task 04 - Final Project: Kebaya Reinvented):
LESSON OF THE WEEK
This week is guided learning week; however, we still had classes. On Monday, we had our garment viewing session with the judges, allowing them to check our progress and provide feedback on how to improve our work to make the final outcome more attractive. I was scheduled in slot 2, so some of my friends from slot 1 told me that the judges were quite strict and gave harsh comments on their designs, with some even being asked to redo their garments. This made me very anxious, as I didn’t want to go through the redo process again, as I already experienced that last week.
Fortunately, after my garment viewing, I was only asked to improve my skirt, which was a relief. My top was hand-stitched entirely, and if I had been asked to redo the manipulation, I might have had a breakdown. The judges advised me to add another layer of net fabric to my skirt to make it look more flowy, and also to apply the same textile manipulation from my top onto the skirt.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
We are required to continue working on, adjust, and complete our final look.
This week, I managed to complete my top, including the insert lining process. Mine was a bit more complicated than others because it’s a sleeveless facing version, so I had to rely on online video tutorials for some guidance. Unfortunately, during the lining process, I accidentally cut a small hole in the fabric. Ms. Melina gave me some paper interfacing to cover the hole, which helped make it disappear. I had never learned this method before, so I was surprised by it as well.
Finally, we need to update and complete our final presentation slides so that we can show Mr. Jasmi on Monday to see if anything else needs to be added to the slides, as we will be presenting on Thursday.
Final version of presentation slides:
Overall, I felt nervous and scared this week, as the submission date is getting closer. I need to work quickly while still maintaining good workmanship. Additionally, I’m starting to feel bored and tired of doing the textile manipulation. Since it’s hand-stitched onto the fabric, it takes a lot of time to complete. Unexpectedly, I didn’t cry or have a breakdown this week, even after being told to do more textile manipulation and add another layer to my skirt. I guess I already released most of my stress last week, and now I believe in myself that I can get through this week. After I finish this assignment, I’ll finally be able to relax. So, I really hope the submission date comes quickly because I don’t want to be stuck in this assignment any longer.
Week 9 (Task 04 - Final Project: Kebaya Reinvented):
LESSON OF THE WEEK
To start the class this week, Mr. Jasmi briefed us on what to do. We are required to complete the full look of our kebaya project and show him the progress of our presentation slides, which will be used on Thursday. If there are any changes or additions needed, we should make them as soon as possible to avoid presenting incorrect information to the judges. After the briefing session, we continued working on both our presentation slides and garments.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
Our mission is to complete the full kebaya project and the presentation slides before Thursday.
For my presentation slides, all the information is already detailed and complete. However, I still need to add more drawings for the initial idea development section. The requirement is to have 20 drawings, but currently, I only have 15. I plan to work on the remaining 5 as soon as possible to meet the requirement and ensure everything is ready for Thursday’s presentation.
This week, I continued working on my lining and skirt. For the lining, I asked Mr. Farid for help, as Ms. Melina was not around on Monday. Some parts of my lining hem did not align with the cotton hem, so I needed guidance from the tutors. Mr. Farid taught me how to fix it by unpicking a section of the lining and then pulling both fabrics together to align them. If there was any excess fabric, we could simply cut it off. It’s always better to have extra fabric than too little, as mistakes can happen at any time.
Final top after adding lining:
On Tuesday, I worked on the skirt with help from Ms. Melina. Unfortunately, I had to unpick everything, as I needed to add another layer of net fabric to the middle layer of the skirt. I sat beside Ms. Melina for step-by-step guidance after completing each stage. She taught me a method to measure and cut fabric neatly by folding it twice to create four layers. This way, it’s easier to cut off any extra or uneven edges.
For the top part of the net fabric, I initially used a gathering foot to create gathers, but it didn’t produce the desired effect. Ms. Melina then showed me a pleating method, which turned out to look much nicer and neater. I preferred this pleated version. After that, I attached the net fabric to the pencil skirt up to the zip length. The rest of the net fabric was left unattached, creating a flowy effect. The remaining steps like adding the waistband and connecting the net fabric were similar to the earlier stages.
This is my final outcome:
This week has been a mix of happiness and stress. As Thursday approaches, I feel nervous about the judges' feedback. I'm worried they might not find my project attractive or impressive enough. At the same time, I’m happy that this project is finally coming to an end. We’ve been working on it for nine weeks, and it has been a challenging journey.
The most difficult part for me was the textile manipulation, especially because much of it required hand-sewing. Even though I used a sewing machine for parts of the skirt, I still needed a lot of patience. If I rushed or wasn’t careful, it would show clearly, especially on the bias tape. Without completing the textile manipulation, I couldn't proceed with the lining, which added to my stress. I was worried this stage would delay my entire progress.
Despite everything, I’m proud to have reached the end of the project. I hope Thursday’s presentation goes smoothly and reflects all the hard work I’ve put in over the past nine weeks. I’ve experienced many breakdowns and tough times, so I truly hope everything turns out well. Wishing all the best to everyone!
Week 10:
LESSON OF THE WEEK
This week, Mr. Jasmi started the class by briefing us on what needed to be done. He told us that we should complete any final touch-ups on our kebaya projects this week, especially since the fashion show is coming up soon. For those who have already completed everything for the kebaya project, we were advised to continue working on the paperwork for the Fashion Illustration module, as our progress on that has been delayed due to the kebaya project. Therefore, we are allowed to work on both tasks during class hours.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
For this module, we are required to complete 100% of our kebaya look. Since I already finished mine last week, I don’t have anything left to do for now. In addition, we need to update our e-blog weekly. However, I made a mistake earlier by posting one entry per week. Mr. Jasmi clarified that it should actually be one post per module, so now I need to combine all the posts into one and update it accordingly.
Overall, I felt relaxed this week because I didn’t have any tasks left for this module. I’m also feeling really excited about the upcoming fashion show, especially since I just realized that my kebaya look will be featured in the show! I had thought only the winners' designs would be presented, so this came as a happy surprise. I can’t wait!
Week 11:
LESSON OF THE WEEK
This week’s class hours were dedicated to the final touch-ups for our kebaya, as well as continuing progress on Fashion Illustration Assignment 3. For those who had already completed everything, they were free to work on their own tasks since there were no more assignments due.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
There was no new task assigned this week. However, we had a fashion show on Tuesday, which was related to this module. It was our very first fashion show and it belonged to us. I think the most nerve-wracking part for me was the model test fitting session. While waiting for my turn, I noticed some of my classmates at the sewing section, redoing certain parts to make their garments fit better, as some were slightly too big for their models. I really hoped that wouldn’t happen to me, especially since my fitting slot was at almost 4:15 PM and all models had to be fully dressed and ready by 5:00 PM. Thankfully, my kebaya fit my model perfectly, so I didn’t need to do any final adjustments.
The most exciting part for me was definitely the start of the fashion show. Throughout the event, I couldn’t wait for my model to walk the runway. This was the first time I had the chance to showcase my project to the public, and it made me feel incredibly proud to see nine weeks of hard work presented on stage. I never expected this moment to come so soon, as I always thought my first public showcase would only happen during the graduation fashion show.
Even though I spent a long time waiting on the day of the show, everything was absolutely worth it. We wanted to make sure that all procedures ran smoothly and on time during the event. Although I didn’t win any prizes for this assignment, I wasn’t sad or disappointed at all, as I feel proud knowing I did my best, delivered good workmanship, and achieved a well-finished final outcome.
I’m truly thankful to Taylor’s Design School for giving our semester this opportunity. It was an amazing experience for us to learn and grow by going through every step of the process.
Week 12:
LESSON OF THE WEEK
This week was similar to the last. Since we have already completed all assignments for the Fashion Project 1 module, we continued working on the Fashion Illustration module’s assignment during class. Additionally, Mr. Jasmi reminded us to complete the final compilation for Assignment 1 as soon as possible, as only half of the students have submitted it. On Tuesday, we also had a lucky draw session to determine the sequence for presentation day.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
As all assignments for this module have been completed, there are no new tasks for us this week.I felt relaxed this week, as there were no remaining tasks for the Fashion Project 1 module. I was able to use the time to work on assignments for other modules, such as Fashion Illustration, especially since it is also taught by Mr. Jasmi.
Week 13:
LESSON OF THE WEEK
This week, as usual, since we have already completed all the assignments for this module, we were allowed to work on assignments from other modules during class.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
Although all the assignments have been completed, we still need to prepare for our final presentation next week. I invited Anouskha to be my model, so I need to bring my fashion look on Friday to let her try it on and see if it suits her. Besides that, I also need to discuss with her the hairstyle and footwear she will wear on the presentation day.
Once I finalize everything with the model, I will focus on preparing and practicing my presentation to avoid making mistakes on the day itself.
This week, I feel happy because the semester is coming to an end and the holiday is just around the corner. However, at the same time, I’m also nervous about the upcoming presentation. I will be presenting alone with my model in front of Mr. Jasmi and Ms. Melina, so I really hope I can stay calm and not be too anxious. Of course, I wish everything will go smoothly on presentation day. Wish me the best of luck!
Week 14 (Task 04 - Final Project: Kebaya Reinvented):
LESSON OF THE WEEK
This week, there were no lecture or tutorial classes because we had our presentation days on Monday and Tuesday. I presented mine on Monday. Overall, the presentation process was quite chill which is better than I expected, as I had been nervous the entire time. When I entered the studio, I still felt nervous. However, there was a small icebreaker when I accidentally said “Good morning” instead of “Good afternoon,” which made everyone laugh. Thankfully, the rest of my presentation went well because I had practiced a lot on my own and came well-prepared. I’m not disappointed in myself at all. The feedback I received from the tutors was all positive, especially regarding the texture patterns on the skirt, which gave a shadow-like effect to the audience. Below are the clips and photos from presentation day.
In addition, my kebaya was selected by UNESCO on Tuesday to be showcased at the upcoming UNESCO Fashion Show. Only 19 of us were chosen to present our kebayas at the show, so I was really happy when I received the news from Mr. Jasmi in our group chat. I never thought I would have the chance to showcase my kebaya again in another fashion show.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
Since I already presented on Monday, I don’t have any more assignments to complete. For the rest of the week, I’ll just focus on completing my e-blog and ensuring everything is detailed and finished properly.
I feel really happy and relaxed this week because I can finally enjoy my semester break after enduring 14 intense weeks. I didn’t get a chance to go back to my hometown during the semester, and I miss home and my bed a lot. This is the perfect opportunity for me to rest, recharge, and prepare for the next semester.
I’ve learned so much in this module. Despite the breakdowns, especially during the kebaya sewing stage and fabric manipulation process, I gained valuable experience that further prepared me for the fashion industry. These challenges didn’t kill my passion for fashion; instead, they made it stronger. I’m very grateful for the Fashion Project 1 module because it allowed me to be part of a major project that involved sponsorships, which was incredibly meaningful. This was my first time showcasing a project to the public, and I had not one but two opportunities to present it at the OPPO Fashion Show and now at the UNESCO Fashion Show. I deeply appreciate these opportunities, as they have helped bring more publicity to my project and boosted my confidence as a designer.
That's all. This is the end of my blogpost.
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