Lucy Parnell

Can Our Clothing Grow with Us?

This project aimed to establish innovative approaches to creating garments that expand and contract with the wearer to address the complexities when designing clothing that accommodate the fluctuations in body composition of women aged 30-70.

Research was conducted for the design and development of the collection to contextualise the marketplace and to analyse how female bodies change during the ageing process. The designs and patterns were developed in CLO (3D fashion design software), which enabled the simulation of fit on a variety of body shapes.

Fabric assemblies and manipulations were explored through extensive experimentation and testing, to develop laser-cut pattern designs that expand and contract. The study successfully identified the need for transformative clothing and provides a basis for future research and further industry development.

The project has successfully produced a collection which effectively adapts to body composition changes and size fluctuations.