Today’s fashion designers have different methods they employ when designing clothes. Many make use of sketch pads to draw out their design first while others use a dress form upon which they can drape fabrics and visualize their creations. Once they have completed their design they will employ the services of a professional pattern maker who actually completes the final working version. Their task is a precise and painstaking one that demands the utmost accuracy. When they have it finished on card a sample garment is created and fitted on a model to ensure it is a workable garment.
In the past fashion had not developed into the highly stylized and form it is in today. Clothing studied from the time period before 1858 were not even considered “fashion” but instead are considered “costume” pieces that reflect what was worn in that period of time. Fashion as we’ve come to understand it today didn’t start until the 19th century when Charles Frederick Worth first sewed his own label into one of his own creations. Prior to this bold move clothing design was accomplished by unknown seamstresses who worked according to the whims and desires of those in the royal court who could afford their ornate costume pieces. Charles Frederick who had formerly been a draper created the first fashion house (maison couture) where he determined what would be created, going so far as to instruct his patrons as to what they should wear, instead of taking their direction as had happened in the past.
During this time period we saw the emergence of design houses that hired artists to sketch out new designs that would be made into clothing. These designs could then be shown to potential clients and approved or declined before the expense process of creating the garment had been completed. If their design met with favor the garment would be on order and the maison couture made money. Hence the practice of designing clothes first grew out of an economic necessity.