Today I would like to invite you into my world of fashion design and leather crafting. I will take you with me on a journey of sorts into the creation of a custom leather costume, beginning with the request. I was asked if I would make something like this...four pieces; a shrug, a halter top, a belt/skirt/chaps piece, and boot covers.
With this project, and unlike a lot of other custom projects, there weren't many boundaries set before me. I was given total artistic freedom and free reign over the budget too.
To begin, I used the images sent as my inspiration. I closed my eyes and unleashed the imagination to dream and conjure....until there was standing before me, what felt like a ten foot concrete wall. A wall way too tall for this 5'4" artist to scale.
I needed something else to awaken the creative juices and bring to me, a fresh perspective. Then it came to me! An African Warrior Woman; strong, mighty, powerful, courageous and feminine.
I took to the internet and began to seek out and study some of Africa's most notorious queens and warriors from the continent's past. One was Queen Amina who ruled the Zazzau Kingdom, Zaria in present-day Nigeria, at the end of the sixteenth century.
Image Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47058712
I read the stories of other women whom I would probably have never come to know about. I learned about their time spent walking the earth, and the legacy they left behind. I studied. I documented. I drew.
And this is what I came up with. My Designs...
I submitted my designs to my client for his approval. I awaited his feedback, and anticipated his request for tweaks and changes. I'm happy to say, there won't be many of the latter necessary. I'm also happy to say, we're ready to move to the next phase of this glorious process - choosing our colors and honing in on our choices for fur.
I ordered my samples the other day, and I am anxiously awaiting their arrival. For now, let me give you a glimpse of where we're going. For the dragon scales, we like the Snakeskin embossed lambskin. For the rest, Pearlized Lambskin. And the fur, well, I think I may surprise you with that in a future Blog Post or an update to this one.
Until that moment in time, take a peek at where we are headed for the boot covers. The only change here, they will be inching up the thigh.
If you like what you see, or have an idea to share, please comment below! I do read them.
Thanks for checking in and reading!
♥
Lisa
To Book a Consultation...
I do limit the projects that I take on. Please email me to discuss your needs or, click the gold tab at the bottom of this page to request a consultation.
For more information on custom designing and to view some examples of past projects, please visit Custom Made Leather Clothing & Accessories. To learn more about the design process, please visit this Blog Article.
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