Fashion Design Commons^™

Designing Heritage Using Digital Fashion Tools, Nathan Chapman

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Sarah E. Andersen

This collection explores the strength of American women and the systems that attempt to define, contain, and judge them. Inspired by historical power dressing, feminist theory, and the fashion industry’s constructed ideals, the work confronts the Madonna–Whore complex and the policing of women’s bodies. Through American-grown cotton and heritage garment techniques, each look exposes tension between authority and vulnerability, modesty and desire. The final look contrasts the real woman with the dress form and exaggerated silhouette society demands, revealing the impossibility of meeting such standards. The collection reframes empowerment as visibility, resistance, and refusal.

Lily Brenner | …

From Flat To Form- Mid Armhole & Waist Dart, Ivanna M. Graves Ms

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The purpose of this garment project is to distribute part of the waist dart intake of a basic front bodice block to create the armhole dart. This is achieved using the slashing technique, where the waist dart is cut to the bust point and part of the intake is transferred to the armhole. The vintage-style collar complements the bodice, while the pleats add structure and visual interest to the skirt.

From Flat To Form, Madeline N. Henderson

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This dress design features a halter neckline with both side and neckline darts, creating a structured and well-fitted bodice. The pattern is developed using the Slashing technique, in which the waist dart of the basic bodice is transferred to the side and neckline by closing the original dart. The skirt is further enhanced with safety pins placed along the sides as a design embellishment. This combination of technical construction and bold detailing creates a cohesive garment that balances structure with an edgy aesthetic.

Bemerge Pop Ups: Social Media Meets Sustainable Fashion, Owen Mehring, Kyla Echols, Avery Edelbrock

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Our research into the online clothing shopping industry has revealed an opportunity to mobilize the strengths of online shopping to build an in-person community. One company we researched, Poshmark, a social, peer-to-peer resale app, uses the strengths of social media to create an online community-based secondhand clothing market. However, one of the largest problems facing society today is the ease of replacing human connection with screen time in today’s world. Online shopping provides convenience, variety, and a larger reach than traditional stores do. However, the human element is often lost. Our company seeks to take the goal of Poshmark to …

Bio-Based Textiles: From Waste To Runway, Leah L. Mella Mrs., Laziza S. Shamansurova, Kory Lynn Abramowitz Ms

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Have you ever wondered what it’s like wearing fabric made from orange peels? What about mushrooms? Sustainable bio textiles are defined as “a broad category of fabrics made from renewable, natural biomass—including plants, animals, algae, or bacteria.” The purpose of this study is to explore various bio based textiles such as orange peel fabric, algae fabric, and bacterial cellulose fabric. Given that the world is currently experiencing a severe climate crisis driven by pollution and carbon emissions, we need sustainable solutions now more than ever. To prevent further damage to our planet, we need to adopt more sustainable practices, and …

Circular Textiles: How You Can Bamboo It, Corley Ballard, Sophie Ellyson, Hannah Berg, Brennan Werner

SPARK Symposium Presentations

“Circular Fashion” and “sustainability” are loosely thrown around in today’s culture, both online and in-person, but circular fashion goes far beyond common sustainability practices. It is a completely waste-free, closed-loop system of textile production and manufacturing. This presentation will focus on circular fashion, a system of reusing and recycling textiles to eliminate waste. We will take a look at its place in the fashion industry and how it interacts within the world of textile production, and give clarity on what we can do about it. We are exploring sustainability, manufacturing, and the processes by which fibers are recycled or blended. …

From Flat To Form- Shoulder Cluster Darts, Lauryn White

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This design explores the transformation of a basic bodice by relocating the waist dart to the shoulder to create a clustered effect of three smaller darts. The method used to achieve this is the slashing technique, which allows for controlled redistribution of dart intake. By closing the original waist dart, three evenly distributed darts are opened at the shoulder. This approach enhances both the visual interest and structural design of the garment.

From Flat To Form-Asymmetric Curved Darts, Corley Ballard

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This project explores the creation of symmetrical curved darts through pattern manipulation. Using a basic bodice block, the Slashing method is applied to transform traditional darts into fluid, curved lines that contour the body. The design extends into a flared skirt, where waist darts are closed using the same technique to introduce volume and movement, resulting in a cohesive and balanced silhouette.

From Flat To Form- Cowl Neck, Sophie Ellyson

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This cowl neck design showcases the art of dart manipulation and how it can transform one pattern into another. The project began with a basic bodice block and skirt pattern, which are developed into an asymmetrical drop-waist dress. The bodice darts adjusted using the Slashing method and re-traced at half scale, resulting in a cowl neckline with two pleats and a dart. The bodice is then extended to achieve the desired length and asymmetrical dropped waistline. The skirt was developed through draping and hand-pleated to create the intended effect. The addition of 3D flowers along the waistline and scattered throughout …

Equine Adaptability In Fashion Design Studio Ii And Advanced Fashion Technologies, Shannon M. North, Andie Day, Margo Dobbs, Charlie Turner, Mary Cerroni, Kaylee Chisholm, Trisha Metcalf, Ashlee Elliott, Emily Guerry

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The fashion department of O’More College of Architecture and Design at Belmont University partnered with Saddle Up! to create meaningful connections for the students enrolled in both programs. Saddle Up! provides opportunities for youth with disabilities to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational, and recreational experiences with horses. These equestrian students were paired with O’More fashion students to design and produce a customized riding uniform. The opportunity provided an experience for the fashion student to create adaptive garments for someone with special needs.

The design process merged traditional methods of flat pattern drafting and draping together with advanced digital technologies. …

The Devil Wears Prada Historical Fashion History Project, Gioia Solano, Caroline Hardy

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The Devil Wears Prada (2006), directed by David Frankel, serves as a rich visual case study of early 21st-century fashion. Set in New York City, the film follows recent college graduate Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who lands a job at the prestigious fashion magazine Runway, working under its powerful and demanding editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). The film captures the fast-paced, image-driven fashion industry of the mid-2000s, reflecting broader cultural themes of ambition, conformity, and identity.

The soundtrack—featuring artists like Madonna and U2—complements the vibrant energy of the fashion world during a time of globalization and mass consumption. Stylistically, …

Fashion And Technology: Interconnected Evolution, Impact, And Future Potential, Diana Paulet, Sarah E. Andersen, Keely Enriquez

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This paper explores the historical connection & influence between fashion and technology and its effects on design, production, and consumption. This line of research recognizes the historical aspect and development of technology in the fashion industry. Recognizing the central idea of how technology development can be interlinked with global issues such as pollution. Our review covers themes such as, the negative impacts of technology in fashion as well as the positive outcomes and the development of it. We aim to understand how the development of technology has transformed the fashion industry throughout history and how these issues can be potentially …

Japanese Fashion Legacies, Emily C. Guerry, Patricia B. Metcalf

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Exploration of Japan's contributions to fashion is highlighted in our research presentation. Silhouettes, textiles, and accessories that originated in ancient Japanese culture are analyzed throughout their evolution. From these findings, a 10-piece capsule collection was made to bring these ideas further into the modern day. We displayed them from traditional to modern to highlight this evolution through the culture. Popular garments such as the Kimono were used as inspiration for details such as thick belts, ties, and wrap-style shirts. Additionally, the textile stitching technique, Sashiko, is a main source of inspiration in the collection. Sashiko started as a mending technique …

African American Fashion Legacies, Yasmeen Orozco

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This was an exploration of how African American Designers, former and current have contributed to fashion legacies. Key points that will be presented will be – brief biographies of seven African American designers, that covers their upbringing, education, and their fashion legacies. The seven fashion designers that will be discussed include - Patrick Kelly, Willie Smith, Anna Lowe, Stephine Burrows, Laquan Smith, Dapper Dan, and Zelda Wynn Valdes.

The study further features fashion trends that originated from the African American community. Notably, African Americans have been a pioneering force with creative styles that have been ignored and rebutted. Finally, the …

Romantic And Victorian Era: Fashion Reimagined, Sara E. Pacheco

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This venture was about reimaginations of the Romantic and Victorian era fashion through the person of Audrey Hepburn, a famous 1960’s Movie star. The Romantic and Victorian eras were chosen because of their similarities and the beauty of those eras in expressing femininity for women. The colors served as a main source of inspiration because they conveyed a feminine vintage feel for the garments. Additionally, inspiration was drawn from the patterns and textures of fabric, especially silk textiles whose satin finish complemented the shiny, smooth, and silky feel of the fabrics. The reimagined fashion images on display illustrate how a …

A Modern Twist Based On The 17th Century And Victorian Era, Kenzie Styles

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This project was an exploration of the 17th Century and Victorian styles with a modern twist to suit Cher, who is an iconic famous signer and actress, in her teens and early 20s. Most of the inspiration for the designs was taken from undergarments and silhouettes inspired by both eras. As well as light feminine colors inspired by the eras, combined with dark greens and blues to create a modern effect. Details of the garments include lace and embroidery inspired by the artwork of the 17th century.

The King’S Fashion Reimagined, Callie J. Reeder

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Callie Reeder

The King’s Fashion Reimagined

This was a venture to reimagine the fashion of Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll in the 1970s. Elvis was known for the bold jumpsuits he often wore while performing. His fashion style was reimagined through the lens of upper-class 18th century styles. The 18th century gave us permission to be luxurious. The18th century elements such as the ditto suit and cravat were combined with 1970s jumpsuits and bell bottoms to create a whimsical reimagined collection of stage costumes.