Shopping at Mood Fabric in NYC for VCU Fashion Design Project
Categories: Craft, Inspiration, Things We Love, Trend Watch
Tags: Fashion Design, Mood Designer Fabric, Perspectives, Project Runway, Textiles, Trend Forecasting, VCU Fashion Design and Merchandising
Move over “Project Runway” … here we come! The second week of our partnership with VCU’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Evening Dress Class (read our previous blog to learn more) led us to Mood Designer Fabrics in NYC. Yes, the now infamous fabric store featured on Project Runway. Courtney Simons (our Multi-Media Specialist), Professor Henry Swartz and I (no, not Heidi Klum, but indeed another Heidi!) ventured into this candy land of fabrics to find the perfect materials for the evening dresses the students will be designing based off the Tranquil trend forecasted by Charles Luck in our upcoming Perspectives 2012/2013.
At first, Mood was completely overwhelming. A montage of colors, textures, patterns and textile offerings assaulted our senses. But as we got comfortable with the seeming chaos, and under the encouraging tutelage of Professor Swartz, we were able to hone in on just the right colors and textures – soft, floaty ethereal fabrics and those offering more structure and comfort. With the helpful assistance of Ann (a hat maker and employee of Mood) we selected 12 beautiful fabrics to send back to Richmond and into the hands of the eager students.
Join us next week to see the mood boards created by the students…their first step in concepting their dresses.

















In Fashion, the Tranquility story is all about lightness and freedom as well as bundling and protection. Floaty, fluid, transparent textiles create a feeling of dreamy movement and appear hardly there. These are very simple designs, but not basic; an architectural lightness provides structure and intelligence to the aesthetic. There is less of everything – draping and layering is delicate and purposeful, embellishments are minimized, and pale, calming colors prevail. We also yearn to bundle ourselves up in oversize garments just like we would in our bedcovers. These silhouettes, similar to cozy cocoons, are made of fluffy natural fibers, worsted wool, fur and felt in neutral tones that soothe us and bring peace to our way of life.



