Covid Anoucement
Le Fashion Lab values the health and well-being of our students and staff. To honor this, and in keeping with the recommendations of health and government officials, we’re currently conducting a mixture of in-person, online, and hybrid classes. For online classes, students and instructors are provided with equipment needed to facilitate instructor demos and instructor-to-student feedback. For in-person classes, fortunately, our small class sizes make it easy to bear social distancing and group/gathering guidelines (max. 10) as a top priority. Hybrid classes offer a mixture of the in-person and online experience, empowering students to make the decision that’s best for them…whether that is to stay home or venture out. We’ll continue to stay abreast of news and updates.
Le Fashion Lab offers three Fashion Design and Garment Construction Programs. Our 1-yr Daytime Program; 2-yr Evening or Weekend Program*; and our 13-week PREP Program.
First Semester
An introduction to numerous sewing techniques specific to various fabric types – including learning to use an industrial sewing machine and serger, learning bias binding, turned stitch, flat felled, French seam, bias binding, blind stitch, flat catch stitch, and numerous other techniques that are commonly used in sewing. This class is recommended for all students at the beginner level. Student will have sample book for reference even after class has ended. The ideal starting place for future garment construction classes .
4 sessions
Prerequisites: None
A continuation of techniques learned in Introduction to Sewing I, this class continues to teach students more about fine sewing techniques including – sewing darts, facings for neckline, the intricate welt pocket, sewing various types of zippers including regular, invisible and fly-front zippers, sewing buttons, snaps, hooks, etc. Student will have sample book for reference, even after class has ended.
4 sessions
Prerequisites: Intro to Sewing I
A continuation of sewing principles learned in Introduction to Sewing. Here previous techniques learned will be applied to creating numerous garments in miniature size (shirts, skirts, dresses, collars, sleeves, etc) as students work towards a thorough understanding of making various garments.
4 sessions
Prerequisites: Intro to Sewing I & II
This class introduces students to the process of fashion and creating your own cohesive collections. It is a great overview of the fashion process, including concepting/ideation, using your concept to create a color palette, and choosing the best fabrics for your collection. It is a great class to help prevent blocks to creativity and keep those design ideas flowing. Much of class time is spent sketching, as students creating numerous designs for their collection. Students create a mood board, illustration and flats board for a cohesive collection. This is a great starting point for building a portfolio. Skills learned in this class are relevant even after class is finished, as this process of designing collections is used over-and-over by the top industry Fashion Designers.
This class introduces students to various types of fabrics. This is a very hands-on class, where time is spent with various fabric swatches, learning about the fabrics and their best end uses.
4 sessions
You don’t have to rely on pre-bought store patterns anymore! In this class, you will come to a thorough understanding of patternmaking and how to read patterns by learning to create a variety of flat patterns “from scratch” including the basic bodice (used for various shirts and blouses), basic torso (used for dresses), and the basic skirt (used for various skirt designs). Students also learn all about dart manipulations, and how to change the location of darts depending on your design needs. This class is ideal for students who can sew well, and are ready to move on to creating garments to fit specific clients.
8 sessions
A continuation of patternmaking techniques learned in Beginning Patternmaking I, this class continues building on your patternmaking skills by teaching you how to make patterns for: the basic pants (used for all pant designs), the basic sleeve (for all sleeve designs), and the basic shirt collar. This class is focused on continued practice to enable you to create patterns on your own outside of class, without the step-by-step guidance of the instructor.
8 sessions
Now that you’ve gotten adequate training in the basic patterns, it’s time to add some fun. While this class is a continuation of patternmaking techniques learned in Beginning Patternmaking I and II, we mix it up by adding variations to the basic patterns you’ve already created. This class continues to focus on making you a self-sufficient patternmaker beyond the basic patterns.
8 sessions
Second Semester
8 Sessions
This class introduces students to the business of fashion from the perspective of an entrepreneur. Here you will be introduced to the process of starting your fashion design business, and some of the issues and hurdles you will encounter as a fashion entrepreneur starting a fashion collection or brand. Each session goes into detail about a specific area of developing your fashion business, and some of the likely challenges you will face in that area. This class is intended to expose and introduce new fashion designers to production issues in the process of launching your business as a means to helping you avoid these issues in the future.
4 sessions
In this class you will learn to draw the female figure by creating your own croquis and learning to make “fashion appropriate” adjustments such as the fashion industry’s “9 heads” standard. You will learn to beautifully illustrate the female body – including face, hair, hands and feet – in addition to learning to draw the body in various views. In this class you will design and illustrate a complete mini-collection.
This is where it gets even more exciting! We invite a model to class and, not only do you learn to take measurements, but you also use her measurements to create a long sleeve classic princess line dress to fit her. This class teaches how to take measurements, how to make patterns using these measurements, and how to alter/adjust patterns to ensure your garment fits perfectly.
8 sessions
Using the same techniques developed in Intermediate Patternmaking I, we invite a model to your class and you learn to make her a perfectly fitting pair of pants! This class continues to teach you about taking measurements and adjusting patterns to create perfectly fitting designs.
8 sessions
This class gets your creative juices flowing by introducing students to methods/techniques for manipulating fabric to turn an idea from drab to fab. It encourages students to explore and experiment with pre-existing fabric manipulation techniques in addition to creating innovative methods of their own.
Let’s learn to sketch beautiful models in beautiful clothes! Building on lessons learned in Beginning Fashion Illustration I, students learn to add personally designed garments to the female figure. This class focuses on adding garment details to the female form, including learning to shade/render various types of fabrics – chiffon, fur, leather, plaid, stripes, sequins, denim, etc. – using markers, colored pencils and/or water color paints.
8 sessions
Don’t worry – this has nothing to do with making drapes! This is another method of making patterns – using dress forms/mannequins. Using this method, this class focuses on creating a basic dress, to teach students the ins-and-outs of proper draping to use for future garment construction.
8 sessions
You just learned to use draping to make a perfectly fitting dress – this class teaches you how to make the perfect fitting pants – also using draping!
4 sessions
More fun again! We invite you to bring a sketch of your own sleeveless dress to class – building on skills learned in Beginning Draping I and II, students drape this design into reality.
8 sessions
Third Semester
Now you’re really a designer! Building on lessons learned in Beginning Patternmaking through Intermediate Patternmaking II, students create a one-piece outfit of their own design to fit to a live model.
By Advanced Fashion Illustration, students have a good understanding of fashion illustration. Advanced Fashion Illustration focuses on exploring other mixed media approaches to illustration — including collages, mid-toned paper and alternative approaches – while cementing the fashion illustration practice for students by developing a complete collection.
In this class, students are introduced to the technical side of fashion, learning all the Adobe Illustrator tools needed to create flats. Flats are how garments are sketched in the fashion industry, and are vital for communicating with manufacturers and vendors. They are also used for presentation to potential buyers and clothing companies. Through a step-by-step, hands-on approach, students learn to master the Adobe Illustrator tools. Class includes creation of a mini collection using Adobe Illustrator.
Students learn to input and manipulate various images in Adobe Photoshop. Class includes creation of Mood/Concept Board and photographic/image manipulation in Adobe Photoshop. Students also learn to use Photoshop tools to improve the appearance of fashion models
8 sessions
Building on skills learned throughout the Sewing, Draping and Patternmaking series, students use their skills to create 3 outfits (max. 5 pieces) of their own design.
Email us at
info@lefashionlab.com
Follow us
@le_fashion_lab