Week 4: Technical Flats

Technical Flats?

A technical flat/specs is a flat drawing of both sides of a garment (side view can also be included if needed), without a figure, drawn to scale, with all the seams, darts, and construction details.

Why are flats important?

Technical flats are crucial in constructing a garment as they help you plan the proportion and details on the garment that do not show on the initial illustration., which can also be classified into three visualization process: proportion/silhouette, style lines that shapes the garment and detail lines that do not affect the fit of the garment.

More importantly, it is a great visual communication tool and are used extensively within the industry to explain designs in detail, especially to a pattern maker/ seamstress.

Illustration VS Technical Flats

Illustration is the initial step in designing and showing your vision and ideas, especially to the people who are buying your clothes, whereas flats are important in the actual construction of the garment. So both actually carry equal weight and are needed in communicating ideas to different groups of people.

Types of Lengths

Full Figure with varied lengths of neckline, sleeves and body with the different types of armhole

Technical Flats Practice

These week we were tasked with drawing a blouse, skirt, pants and dress for basic practice:

Loose Blouse

Though it does not always suit me, I really like this sort of loose blouse, because it can look both professional yet relaxed if put on correctly. It also look very comfortable to wear in the day, especially under the hot sun. I also really like the wrapped neckline.


Mermaid Skirt

Tight skirts as such accentuate the womanly figure and give us the hourglass that we all desire. I also especially like the slanted hemline of the tight skirt and the big flare at the bottom adds more shape and life to the garment.

Palazzo Pants

I really like this pair of pants because it combines both a palazzo and the design of a track pants-the signature stripe at the sides and an exaggerated elastic waistband.

Long Sleeve Maxi Dress

My favourite part of this dress is the standing lace collar and the flared cuff at the elbow, which gives it a very oriental feel.

Drawing from Observation of Actual Garment

Off-Shoulder Peasant Blouse w Floral prints

(Source:http://g03.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1V_.BKVXXXXauaXXXq6xXFXXXQ/202832928/HTB1V_.BKVXXXXauaXXXq6xXFXXXQ.jpg)

Off- Shoulder Blouse Technical Flats

I really like this sort of blouse because it adds volume and flavor to a casual day look.

Denim Midi skirt

(Source:https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB133KmOVXXXXXmapXXq6xXFXXXU/2016-European-Style-Women-Vintage-Blue-Long-font-b-Denim-b-font-font-b-Skirt-b.jpg)

Midi Skirt Technical Flats

I really like the mix of different denim on the midi skirt and the buttons that go all the way down on center front.

Velvet Wrapover Dress with plunging neckline

Extracted from Lookbook-'Velvet rules' by Miu P.

*PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE IF IT DOES NOT APPEAR

I really like the way the dress drapes over the shoulder and also how a dress with such a plunging neckline can be worn in a non-seductive way, depending on the person wearing it and how she styles herself.

Weekly Observations

2 tone/double-sided sequins

 Before                                       After

Left: Before I 'wiped' the cover with hands; It looks like an ordinary sequin handbag.

Right: After I 'wiped' it; It created a new and interesting surface effect and now it looks as if the bag got BURNT!

Video of the sequins effect

(S-T-W) I initially scorned at it because it looked so 'auntie', but I was shell-shocked when I touched it and it completely changed my perspective. I thought to myself how beautiful it would look on garments instead, especially in a performance where people would interact and touch each other to give off an unprecedented effect. However, I do wonder how long lasting this will be, because it is not something I will be impressed twice by.