3rd Year

Third year is all about your concept leading to your final range. We begin our year by presenting two concepts to the class, and then choosing the one we will work with for the rest of the year. The collection consists of an avant-garde outfit, two evening wear gowns, two tailored garments and three commercial outfits. Even though we are restricted to these garments (which isn't a bad thing since we get to learn about a bit of everything) we still have creative freedom, more so than the previous years. Here we implement our personal aesthetic and choose which fabrics we wish to work with.

• Your concept is important so make sure you choose something that you can maintain throughout the year (from colour scheme to fabric choice and general look and style).
• Be confident and passionate about your concept.
• Research your concept as much as possible, using visual and literal reference.
• Before designing make sure to select your fabrics and have the correct fabric swatches. 
• Test your fusing on swatches before buying your final fabric. 
• Block fusing is the way to go!! (sandwich your fabric and fusing in clean brown paper to avoid damaging your fabric)
• Explore alternative pattern making techniques such as Pattern Magic and the draping method.
• Use the Berg fashion database on the CPUT library online page.
• Be inventive with your fabric. Create your own fabrication, to give your range a unique look.
• You have to learn on your own when it comes to design on the computer.
• Explore different Photoshop techniques and find what works for you.
• Show as much detail on your drawings as possible. 
• Work on technical drawings and make them as accurate as possible.
• Don't be afraid to ask lecturers for advice and criticism, and when given, DON'T take it personally.  
• Stay up to date, be prepared to work harder and start working on projects as soon as you get them.
• A lot can be done in a week.
• When working in group projects, always bring your side otherwise people won't want to work with you again and you'll have a bad name in the class.
• In third year be prepared to spend more money on fabric.
• Attend all your classes and always be on time.
• Do as much work at tech as possible. The lecturers notice when you're not present and this indirectly affects your marks.
• Press as much as you sew.
• Pay attention to detail and neatness when sewing your garments.
• Don't be lazy to unpick, it will only make your garment better.
• When you feel yourself stressed in classes, take a moment to breathe and calm down.
• It's OKAY to cry.
• Buy coke from the vending machine, not the cafeteria.
• Be at the cafeteria before 12h00 to get the good stuff.
• Work hard from the beginning.

Remember to have fun in your third year.