Description
Design a handbag collection: Learn how to plan, design and communicate your project. This course will be divided into two sessions; you will only need to select the first day when booking: 21/22 DEC 2024 (10am-5pm) 12/13 apr 2025 (10am-5pm) Max 6 students/class. This fashion design course for beginners and intermediates is a uniquely structured group class aimed to support aspiring designers or designers in need of guidance in realising a viable and realistic collection of bags and/or accessories. This course allows you to develop an understanding of essential skills in accessory design and enables you to convert your ideas into reality by teaching you the steps needed to prototype and manufacture your collection. WHY THIS IS NOT THE USUAL ‘ACCESSORY DESIGN’ COURSE: This course is designed by a team of designers, prototype makers and handbag manufacturers. It is both a theoretical and practical course which will teach you what the industry requires from designers in order to be able to understand and correctly translate their ideas into finished products. This course is not about creating pretty drawings, but is focused on giving you an overview on the complexity and extensiveness of the process that designing a collection of handbags requires. The course will help you in understanding what you need to search, study, look out for, find out and decide before and during designing your styles, enabling you to avoid a long, expensive and sometimes frustrating process when it is time to prototype and manufacture your collection. WHY WE CREATED A FASHION DESIGN COURSE: After years of experience in designing and developing collections for our customers, we realised that there was a substantial lack of clear information available about what designing a collection of handbags and fashion accessories truly requires and how it is achieved. We created this course with the aim of helping the new generation of designers, as well as designers which are still struggling, in developing their ideas and empower them to clearly and correctly communicate them to whoever is going to prototype their collection. We essentially have created this tuition based on the needs and problems of our customers, hoping to promote and facilitate creatives in the realisation of their projects. WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? This course is designed for aspiring designers seeking professional advice from industry experts, designers at the start of their career in need of guidelines to optimise their design process or for those who are simply looking to develop their drawing techniques for their own enjoyment. No previous experience is required. WHAT WILL BE TAUGHT? – Before designing: an overview on what you should look out for, decide and understand. – An overview of what a moodboard is, how to research things like the target audience, the market placement of your products, etc. – Understanding materials and hardware and their impact on the cost price of your collection. – Identifying the right materials for your collection. – Understanding the importance of construction. – Finishing options for your collection. – Overview of the anatomy of a handbag, lining and reinforcements. – Understanding the structure of a collection: the use of a collection plan. – Understanding the prototyping process. – Manufacturing your collection: how does it work and what are the options. – Understanding the differences and purposes of illustrations vs technical drawings. – Planning a balanced collection of fashion accessories. – Sketching a bag and an overview of drawing in perspective. – Sketching technical drawings. – Going through the product development of one design. – Providing technical information about your collection to the prototype maker. The class will take place in person at our London studio and the lesson will alternate between theoretical lessons and practical exercises. Between lessons, some homework will be assigned to the students. PLEASE NOTE: This tuition will require up to 14 hours to complete but depending on the number of attendees, the ability of participants and the group’s pace, the syllabus may be covered in a shorter time frame. WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS? You should be able to use measurements and understand verbal and written English instructions.
What's included in the price?
Materials to exercise with are included. Feel free to bring a notepad, if you would like to take some notes, we will provide the rest. You will also receive access to a collection of handouts providing relevant information, useful resources and support in continuing your designing process independently. The handouts will contain: – A glossary containing essential key words related to the topic of the lesson. – An illustrated glossary containing information about type of bags and bags’ features. – An illustrated guide on common hardware used in bags and accessories. – Documents about leather types, finishings, tanning processes. – Information about perspective and guides to be used as reference to develop your drawings. – A list of recommended suppliers for both leather and fittings (physically in London and online). – A glossary containing information about leather types and characteristics.
Duration
2 days
Cancellation policy
Strict - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 8 weeks before the course starts
Maker
The London Leather Workshopis a design, prototyping and manufacturing studio founded by Italian designers and makers Sara Battiston and Melissa Bruscoli. With 20 years of experience in the fashion and accessory industry Sara and Melissa work with both local and international customers ranging from start-ups to established brands. Their studio is able to offer a range of services from design consultancy to product development and from prototyping to manufacturing of handbags, accessories and soft furnishings. Their practical classes will teach you the fundamental techniques of working with leather or vegan leather, how to sew these materials to a professional standard and how to create customised goods. The theoretical classes will provide you with the foundation for designing bags and accessories as well as insights and essential information about the industry.
