03 04 2015

commissioned lingerie set for a mermaid

Here is another commissioned piece I’ve been working on for my hula dancer friend. Basically, she wants to be a mermaid and my mission was to make a set of embroidered lingerie with a mermaid theme. I hope you can see my effort in the design. She also wanted it to be okay to be seen outside so she can show off my creation! I chose a light orange cotton as the main fabric and strong pink for the front bra hook and the waistband loop at the back of the knickers.

The bra is replicating shells by having no undercup section and using a front hook. I also played with the bra cup pattern to have radial lines. I used an elastic band in a matching colour for the straps and gold metal parts to go with the warm tone. The top sections of the bra cups have sea themed embroidery using threads and ribbons. The knickers are elasticated at the back waist and the legs. The front waist section is embroidered with a mermaid motif and my label.

miholo (25)

miholo (21)

miholo (22)

miholo (27)

miholo (28)

miholo (29)

miholo (24)

miholo (23)

miholo (26)

miholo (20)

These are the calico samples I’d made first which are also lovely.

miholo (19)

miholo (16)

miholo (17)

miholo (18)

miholo (14)

miholo (15)

Share
23 02 2015

Minus Sun dress

I made this piece to have my PR staff wear it when visiting potential stockists. You might see me or a helper wearing it at events as well. I have used the template of the Cultured Girl’s dress as it is simple and easy to wear. The front has the girl figure and the brand logo embroidered on the left chest. There are two patch pockets below the waist. The left pocket has symbolic words “innocent” “sensuous” and “melancholic” embroidered. The right pocket has a gimmick hiding the sentence “I will be fine.” under the pocket flap embroidered “Are you okay?”

minussundress (6)

minussundress (2)

minussundress (3)

minussundress (4)

minussundress (7)

minussundress (9)

minussundress (8)

minussundress (1)

minussundress (10)

minussundress (11)

minussundress (12)

minussundress (5)

Share
18 01 2015

commissioned long white linen dress

Hello, I am still alive. I am currently back in Japan but my friend had commissioned me to make a long white dress in linen with lace and gather detailing at the chest. And here is the result. My friend is a hula dancer and would like to be ready to dance anytime, how lovely!

The main fabric is linen. The lining, bought lace, and the tie ribbon at the back are cotton, all in white.

miholo (4)

miholo (1)

miholo (2)

miholo (3)

miholo (11)

miholo (7)

miholo (6)

This is the sample I’ve made with calico. It has a vintage look and the colour combination of white and cream is sweet. It is shorter than the final dress but the details are the same.

miholo (8)

miholo (9)

miholo (10)

miholo (5)

miholo (12)

miholo (13)

Share
29 11 2014

commissioned dress in dark green

This is a commissioned version of the Self-Conscious Girl’s dress from “minus the sun, night all day.” collection featuring the customer’s pet budgie embroidered onto the left chest! I’ve enjoyed combining different embroidery stitches to make it realistic. It is made of light weight corduroy fabric in dark green and black velvet ribbons for the shoulder straps and hem trimmings. The hem is around 15cm longer than the original design covering the knees.

budgie (1)

budgie (2)

budgie (3)

budgie (4)

budgie (6)

budgie (5)

budgie (7)

Share
19 11 2014

the Suicidal Girl’s dress final ver.

This is the final version of the Suicidal Girl’s dress from my 3rd collection “It rained into her room.” made with dull baby blue cotton and navy cotton fabric. The inspiration for this design was a girl walking into water. Therefore, a darker colour fabric is used for the bottom half of the dress including the sleeve cuffs. The collar, which is pointy at the back has hand crocheted lace trimmings to represent a handkerchief. The small breast pocket forms a teardrop shape with embroidered dots. The front opening has button loops and cream colour fabric covered buttons.

no1rain (9)

no1rain (10)

no1rain (11)

no1rain (12)

no1rain (13)

no1rain (15)

no1rain (14)

no1rain (16)

no1rain (17)

Share
09 11 2014

commissioned pleated skirt in red

The order was the Smart Girl’s skirt for Autumn/Winter in red with small floral pattern and the concept was “forest”. The choice of fabric was up to me so I chose this dark red cotton corduroy fabric with blue flowers. It reminded me of Snow White somehow. I think the result is really cute. There isn’t much handicraft involved but the original handmade buttons with red embroidery match very well and make this a special piece.

sakumasisters (13)

sakumasisters (17)

sakumasisters (14)

sakumasisters (16)

sakumasisters (15)

Share
16 10 2014

the Smart Girl’s shirt and skirt final ver.

Hello, I’m still alive. I’m currently preparing for Selvedge Winter Fair (31 Oct & 1 Nov). It is my favourite textiles fair with lovely exhibitors and customers and you are very welcome to visit my stall. I try my best to show you my work here but seeing and feeling the actual thing is recommended!

This is my latest creation, the Smart Girl’s final look of “It rained into her room.” collection consisting of a semi-transparent shirt and a pleated skirt. Her clothing is mainly school girl style.

The white cotton shirt has a mini shawl collar and cuffs in light grey blue. The main fabric is textured with lines of irregular width which reminds me of rain. Resin buttons with light blue sequins and beads are placed unevenly to represent a falling raindrop from the pointed angle of the collar. The breast pocket with a grey blue fabric inside and embroidered graduation lines represent a rain gauge.

The pleated skirt is made with cotton drill fabric in grey blue. It opens at the left side with four resin buttons with blue sequins and glitter. Silver dots are embroidered along the hem edge like it’s wet with spray.

I think it looks great with or without the shirt tucked in and can’t decide which should be used for the illustration… (I do fashion illustrations after I make the garments, haha.)

no3rain (16)

no3rain (15)

no3rain (14)

no3rain (11)

no3rain (12)

no3rain (13)

no3rain (17)

no3rain (20)

no3rain (19)

no3rain (18)

no3rain (23)

no3rain (24)

no3rain (22)

no3rain (21)

Share
13 05 2014

the Amusing Girl’s top and skirt calico ver.

This is the Amusing Girl’s look of “It rained into her room.” collection in calico. The raglan sleeve V-neck top has an attached section around the neckline, which I plan to do it in crochet in the final version. The gathered mini skirt is made by patchwork using calico in two different textures. You can see that the skirt is actually striped in the close up images. I’m planning to make it in rainbow colours in the final version but having a hard time finding the right shade of green…

no7rain (1)

no7rain (2)

no7rain (3)

no7rain (10)

no7rain (4)

no7rain (9)

no7rain (6)

no7rain (7)

I decided to go with 40 stripes in the end but this one was made first, with 20 stripes which are wider.
no7rain (5)

no7rain (8)

Share
02 05 2014

the Smart Girl’s shirt and skirt calico ver.

This is the Smart Girl’s look of “It rained into her room.” collection in calico. Her style is school uniform inspired. The breast pocket has graduations drawn by fabric pen to represent a rain gauge. The tiny shawl collar and the button placement of the shirt are representing a falling raindrop. The pleated skirt has dots drawn along the hem like a splash. The resin buttons have beads and sequins in light blue trapped inside except for the large one used for the skirt waist which has fabric embroidered in red inside.

no3rain (1)

no3rain (3)

no3rain (2)

no3rain (4)

no3rain (5)

no3rain (6)

no3rain (10)

no3rain (7)

no3rain (8)

no3rain (9)

Share
22 04 2014

commissioned sisters’ dresses in blue

These blue dresses were made for my junior high school classmate and her younger sister. My friend ordered the Self-Conscious Girl’s dress from “minus the sun, night all day.” collection (left) and her sister ordered the Suicidal Girl’s dress from the current “It rained into her room.” collection (right). I couldn’t wait to see the two dresses worn together so I called my double for the photoshoot, thank you Photoshop.
sakumasisters (9)

My friend liked the style of this dress but also wanted the moon embroidery from the Controlling Girl’s shirt dress from the same collection so I combined the two. I suggested making the dress in light blue as she likes pale colours and it will make the moon motif obvious. I used different cotton fabrics in a similar colour for each section. The hem and the shoulder straps are done with cotton ribbon.
sakumasisters (6)

sakumasisters (7)

sakumasisters (8)

sakumasisters (1)

sakumasisters (11)

I have a different plan of using a few colours for the final version of this style but decided to make it in one colour for my friend’s sister, just to be safe. I’ve chosen blue cotton again to go with my friend’s dress but in a dark enough colour so that the skirt won’t be see-through. The collar has cotton ribbon trimmings and the small breast pocket is hand stitched in a teardrop shape. The fabric covered buttons are made in a slightly lighter colour.
sakumasisters (4)

sakumasisters (3)

sakumasisters (5)

sakumasisters (2)

sakumasisters (10)

sakumasisters (12)

Share