Texture in Fashion Design

Texture is an important element that a designer must consider when designing a new look. Texture, is the feel of the surface of an object. There are two kinds; visual texture and tactile texture. With visual texture, it appears to the eye like it has a certain feel, like a pattern on a fabric but if you touched it, it doesn't actually feel the way it looks.
​Tactile texture is more truthful, it looks like how it actually feels if you were to touch it. 

In fashion design, texture is used in two ways:

1. It can increase or decrease the visual size of the body.
2. It can draw added attention to a certain element in a design.

Words that describe texture, (words you will use to describe your design...)

• loopy, fuzzy, furry, shiny, dull, bulky, smooth, sheer, rough...

How texture is achieved:

• through the fiber type (cotton, rayon, etc)
• through how the fabric is woven or knitting process
• through fabric finishes (patterns applied etc)

Showing Increase in proportion and scale using texture:

• using shiny or glossy fabrics
• using fabrics that are bulky, shaggy, wrinkled, fuzzy, furry, thick etc.

Showing Decrease in proportion and scale using texture:

• using smooth fabrics
• using thin/ lightweight fabrics
• using dull/ matte finishes

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​This outfit has a heavy faux fur coat,  shiny leather leggings and patent leather chunky buckled boots. These all give a visual texture of heaviness, furriness, and thickness. The buckles on the boots, as well as the leggings, give a sharp, edgy look. The coat draws attention to the model's upper body and making her torso increase in size. The leggings make her legs appear very slim which decreases her in size on the bottom. The textures give a casual but very edgy look.

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The outfit has a very shiny visual texture with the light reflecting off the red fabric of the dress. The tactile texture of the dress is very silky and flowing looking. The dress bellows out at her hips making her lower half increase in size.  The top of the dress is more form fitting decreasing the size of the models upper body. This makes the attention be drawn to the bottom of the design. The textures give this design a formal look. 

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Assignment # 1

Copy and paste the following worksheet into a new Photoshop file. Just like the pattern worksheets, you need to find an example of each texture and paste it into the boxes. Place the finished example worksheet into a slide in your google portfolios for grading. 
Tutorial Below if you need a refresher on how to do this:

examplesheet.pdf
File Size:	2357 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Assignment # 2
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You are to create one complete outfit with elements of texture.

1. It must have obvious visual and tactile texture. (fur, shiny, etc)
2. The outfit must be complete with hair and footwear. 
3. The outfit must have a distinct harmonious color palette.
4. The outfit but be inked in and fully colored.
5. The final work must be presented in a presentation board format (example to the left) with a paragraph describing the outfit (see questions below)
6. The finished illustration must show good work ethic and EFFORT. 

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Paragraph Assignment:

You will write a 5 sentence paragraph, describing the outfit that you have designed. Include it in your texture design layout on Adobe Photoshop.

You must answer the following questions:
EACH QUESTION IS WORTH 10 POINTS. 50 POINTS TOTAL.

1. Describe the specific textures in your outfit (shiny, fuzzy etc) and what your outfit looks like. (dress, jacket etc)
2. Tell what type of texture it is: tactile or visual
3. What does the texture do to the body and the design? (increase or decrease)
4. If the texture draws attention to a specific area in a design and if so where.
5. What message does the texture send? (formal, casual)

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Example Paragraph for Example Design:

My design has a cropped black pant that billows out at the calf to add volume to the lower half of the body to balance out the upper half. The cropped fur short sleeve coat with matching fur gloves adds soft, bulky tactile texture and increases the size of the models shoulders. Underneath the coat a tight black tube top draws the attention back to the coat on top. The bright red ankle bootie adds interest and a distinct bold edge to the overall design. The fur texture gives the look a level of drama, costume and edge. 

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