From mood boards to muslin, sketches to the stage—this page documents the full creative journey behind off-grain by chloé, my capstone collection.
Created in collaboration with Annabelle Brager, Ashley Johanson, Josie Buckalew, Mallee Nichols, and myself, this semester-long project captures the evolution of our ideas, inspirations, and design development from concept to final showcase.
Starting Sketches
Next, we moved into pattern making, drafting custom slopers tailored to our models’ measurements. Then came the fun part—fabric shopping! Our team took a group trip to Fine Fabrics in Atlanta, GA, armed with a clear plan: source five key fabric types—suede, chiffon, leather, wool, and one of our choice. We also kept in mind all the value-added details outlined in our line presentation to ensure each material aligned with our vision.
With our final fabrics selected, we began constructing mockups to better understand the fit, drape, and overall feel of each garment. This stage allowed us to work through multiple rounds of fittings, fine-tuning silhouettes and construction techniques. Through this hands-on process, we perfected each piece, ensuring our final garments reflected both our creative vision and technical precision.
Hands-on with the design process: exploring shape, flow, and structure through fabric draping.
More pictured moments of the process and progress of our collection.
Our video shoot left us with countless laughter-filled moments, behind-the-scenes bloopers, and memories that will last a lifetime. It was a mix of hard work and lightheartedness, making every challenge feel a little more fun.
Pages featured in the Behind the Seams Look Book.
Endless late nights in Spidle, countless hours of designing, sewing, and problem-solving—this collection is not only the result of hard work, but a testament to the incredible group behind it. What started as a collaboration turned into lasting friendships, and I’m endlessly grateful for the memories we created along the way.
A huge thank you to my model—the one who stood by me through every “trust the process” moment. From endless fittings to photoshoots, videoshoots, and late-night prep, she showed up for me time and time again, and I truly couldn’t have done this without her. To all the incredible models in our group, your constant presence, encouragement, and friendship brought so much life and light into this collection. You were more than just models—you were our fresh air and foundation every step of the way.
simply.sv 