Blossom is a colorful, modular collection that aims to fill a gap within the market. The name Blossom symbolizes the transformative journey of postpartum nursing mothers as they embrace new life. This collection aims to introduce fresh, new silhouettes and colors into the market that empower the individual that wears it. The color palette reflects this through the vibrant berry pink and purple that complements the array of colors in the signature African print fabric of the collection. Blossom is a collection that introduces new styles into a market that has long seen dated, basic silhouettes as its only options.
LOOK 1: LILY
Featuring a dip-dyed silk organza blouse, berry pink wrap bra, and high-waisted culottes shorts.
This collection marks a personal milestone for me as it was my first time experimenting with ombré dip-dyeing. The process challenged my creativity and allowed me to bring something truly unique to life. But beyond the techniques used in this collection, I wanted to highlight small details that truly brought the embodiment of BLOSSOM to life:
- The berry pink wrap bra brings a fresh perspective on an old basic for nursing mothers, introducing a fun pop of color to complement the rest of the collection.
- I opted to make the pants higher-waisted as a stylish fashion option as I paired it with a shorter top. This was consciously chosen in consideration of new mothers and their changing bodies.
- To pair with the higher waistline of the shorts, I created a dip-dyed silk organza blouse as a beautiful overlay to provide more modesty without sacrificing the style of the outfit.
LOOK 2: ROSE
Featuring a deep purple wrap top with flattering balloon sleeves, an adjustable wrap skirt, and a gorgeous heart tote bag
- I chose to do a wrap skirt for this look because feedback I received regarding my collection was to include more adjustability. I immediately received the advice and began to incorporate more adjustable styles throughout the collection to extend the wearing life of the piece!
- The top is a play on the standard wrap bra where I chose to incorporate balloon sleeves into the collection. I opted for this sleeve because to me, it resembles a closed rose and balances out the fullness of the skirt’s ruffle.
- I designed a tote bag with this look because a collection about postpartum nursing mothers has to include a bag! I opted for a heart shape to introduce more personality to the look and to symbolize the love a new mother has for her child.
LOOK 3: TULIP
Featuring a berry pink wrap bra, elastic-waistband barrel leg pants, and a dip-dyed silk organza blouse with tulip sleeves.
I decided to name this look TULIP because of the use of a deeper dye-job on the blouse and tulip sleeves. The richer colors of the blouse perfectly embody the bold colors of tulip flowers and pairing this with tulip sleeves perfected the look. To add a final touch of femininity and flair, I incorporated ties at the ankles of the pants, bringing a subtle yet expressive detail to the overall look.
- This is another look that includes adjustability for a longer wearing life. The elastic in the pants allows for body changes without sacrificing the wearer’s comfort.
- I incorporated a wrap bra for this look to show the versatility of my pieces and the modular design I had in mind for the collection.
LOOK 4: ORCHID
Featuring a deep purple wrap-style top and a gorgeous pegged skirt
For this look, I decided to play on proportions. Although a requirement for the collection was to be ready-to-wear, I wanted a bit of symbolism that could easily translate to the runway.
- During my research into the market, a lot of women spoke negatively about how they felt regarding their changing bodies due to nursing. I wanted to reimagine this concern and create a flattering silhouette with the pegged skirt. The skirt creates the illusion of a smaller waist while creating a larger hip circumference. This forgiving skirt allows for fluctuating bodies to feel comfortable, yet stylish.
- The top is a new spin on the regular wrap tops I saw during my research. I decided to have the wrap top snap at the shoulder and create a beautiful tulip hem at the bottom to balance the skirt.
LOOK 5: LOTUS
Featuring a silk organza tunic, tea-length pleated pants, and a rich purple wrap style bra
Last but not least of the collection: LOTUS. This was a playful, experimental piece that complements the rest of the collection perfectly.
- I challenged myself by incorporating visible facings made from the African print fabric beneath the dip-dyed organza overlay. This created a soft transition from pant to top, making a more cohesive, modular collection. To not interrupt the seamless facings underneath the top, I opted to have the tunic close with two hook and eyes. This creates more versatility of the top, allowing the wearer to style it opened or closed.
- I decided to make the palazzo pants tea length to allow for more styling options, as these pants can be worn with heels or flats. These tea-length palazzo pants also feature similarities to their culotte counterpart. For these pants, I opted for box pleats in the front as a subtle detail that complements the print of the fabric. I also created the same higher waistline here as well. This adds a touch of modesty without overwhelming the silhouette with too much fabric.
- To wear under the tunic, a rich purple wrap bra was chosen as a way to introduce more contrast into the look. Though softened by the organza tunic, I thought this was a great choice in creating more outfit ideas within the collection!
Process
Market Research
Through my research, I identified several recurring concerns among nursing mothers that should be highlighted:
- Concerns about body image and discomfort with drawing attention to themselves when needing to nurse in public
- A lack of stylish options in nursing clothing, with brands having outdated or basic clothing
- Negative feelings about changes in breast appearance, such as "deflated" breasts
- The pressure or motivation to nurse as a method for weight loss
- Viewing their bodies primarily as tools for their children, rather than their own person
- Typically wearing items not meant for nursing such as plunging v-cut tops, flowy dresses, oversized button downs, and slip dresses
Solutions
- Provide modern, up-to-date styles that empowers the wearer as they regain their sense of identity postpartum
- Introduction of more patterns into the market as many pieces are solid colors
- Pieces will be able to be worn after mom is done nursing the baby
How are these solutions seen in the collection?
Because cohesiveness was a priority when designing, I chose multiple design elements I wanted to be seen throughout my collection:
- The silk organza pieces are finished with delicate bias binding.
- Printed fabric elements are enhanced with a sheer organza overlay to complement the print
- Covered buttons are designed from the printed fabric
- Invisible closures such as hook-and-eyes and snaps, for a seamless finish.
- Generous volume is incorporated into the ruffles of the skirt, bag and sleeves for added drama
- Variety in waistlines to allow for either a structured or adjustable fit
Designing a Modular Collection
I then designed my looks into Adobe Illustrator to create the perfect collection! I took a modular approach when designing, allowing the wearer to mix and match pieces while still looking fashionable. This was especially important to me as this is the most sleepless stage for many parents.
Dyeing Techniques
I opted to use a glitter African print fabric as the signature print and ombre dip-dyed silk organza as the complementary fabric. Solid stretch fabrics were used for the bra and a 100% cotton fabric was used for the wrap top in ORCHID's look.
Though I had never dyed anything before, I decided to do an ombre-dye on the silk organza myself. I cut the pieces out of the plain white silk organza first and then dyed it to get the gradient I wanted. This created a perfect gradient from pink to purple across the entire garment.
Check out more content from the collection!
