Sew, I Have Something to Confess…

Bronte Lim (2T5, WB) has been designing clothing since she was eight, starting with paper doll clothes made of paper and tape and now, with real human clothes made of fabric. When she's not fiddling with sewing, writing, or cooking projects, she may be found studying medicine. 

I have the misfortune of being both a) a lover of clothing design and sewing and b) terribly camera-shy. But here are three photos I feel confident enough to share.

Clothing has always had a special place in my heart. It wasn’t until I was twelve that I got to go shopping and choose my own clothing for the first time; up until then, I had donned hand-me-downs from a kind neighbour. Going shopping with my mom that day, I discovered a new way to bond with her and a new mode of self-expression. We were bargain-hunters, seeking style and affordability. As I began learning about textiles and fashion history, I began to experiment.

1.The blue dress. My mom chose this fabric. The woman at the fabric store who cut my yards for me was so enamoured with it that she bought some herself. I was inspired by tulip and wrap skirts and drafted petal sleeves for the first time. The invisible zipper is done very well, though not visible from this view (or, perhaps it is?)

2. The purple dress. For this dress, the fabric came first, and then the design. This piece required a full lining; the zipper is slipped in between these layers. I made a design error, so the front lining had an emergency incision, but fortunately, it’s not visible because of the pintucks in the fashion fabric. I wore this to my friend’s wedding this summer, who, to my delight, sewed her own wedding dress.

3. This two-piece outfit is actually deep navy with a widely spaced white pinstripe, but the lighting masks it. My cat, Belle, makes this outfit. Second to that are the very loud loafers I bought in undergrad, which I wore to write my MCAT for good luck. They must be pretty lucky, because I’m here with all of you, aren’t I?