Have you ever felt like the list of resources available to fashion students is endless, but you’ve never known where to begin? Feel too intimidated to visit the tech rooms for extra help? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In an effort to make things a little less daunting, here’s a list of the many resources we have access to as fashion students.
The library… (Obviously)
Please, please, please spend some time in the library while you’re here. I know how tempting it is to do your concept research strictly via the computer, but there are so many great resources in our campus library. If you’re looking for photoshoot inspiration, there are a million back issues of magazines like Vogue, Dazed, Gentlewoman, and more. And if you haven’t checked out the fashion section, you need to. It’s all the way to the far left of the library and worth the walk. There are so many great books organized by designer that you might never have access to without paying a tremendous amount of money to buy them yourself. And you’re already paying a tremendous amount of money to go to this school, so take advantage of this.
They also have books on patternmaking, illustration, and fashion history, all great for researching a new collection. Plus the computers are right there, so you can copy and scan your little heart out. Have your professor schedule a time for your class to see the special collections too, they have everything from fashion show invites to portfolios. And keep in mind, if there’s a book the Savannah campus has that you want, they’ll ship it here.
The sewing techs
The sewing techs are one of the most valuable resources at this school. These are very qualified people with experience in the industry here to help you achieve your big sewing dreams. Seriously, go meet with them before senior year. I was one of the many silly silly people who waited, and if I could do it over I’d go so much sooner. You can see their schedules and contact info here. And book an appointment before you need it, the techs will demo machines for you, help with patternmaking, and more. They’ve also recorded an extensive library of video tutorials and hold workshops on Fridays for essential sewing techniques, like inserting a zipper and pressing. Trust me you’re gonna want to be besties.
The resource room
Located on the fashion floor, (4th floor in the C building), this is the big glass room to the left when you get off the elevators. If you’ve never been in, or just haven’t heard of it, here’s the breakdown. It’s a magical room full of boxes and boxes of fabric scraps sorted by fiber content. Trust me this will be useful for the intro textiles class, or any class where you need to research fabrics for a collection. There’s also a huge closet full of vintage garments that’s perfect for construction research and inspiration. As a fashion student, you need to be curious about garments and how they’re made. Really examine them, try them on, and be interested. Expanding your knowledge of construction is essential and will really make a difference in your work. Anyways, check the room out one day and bring a pair of fabric scissors for swatches.
The basic Juki machines
If you’ve taken Sewing Tech, you’ve likely run into these machines. The sewing machines and sergers will be the machines you use most during your time at SCAD, so get to know them early. The Juki industrial sewing machines are your basic straight stitch machine, easy to use, and thread. You’ll need to buy all the needles, presser feet, and screws yourself though. But don’t worry, the bookstore sells a starter kit with everything you need. The overlock machines, or sergers, are best for knit and stretch fabrics. These on the other hand are always threaded and thank god. They’re not quite as quick and easy to thread as the straight stitch machines. The classrooms/tech rooms will have all your basic thread colors, but if you need a specific color you’re welcome to rethread (as long as you know what you’re doing.)
The knitting machines
If you’re interested in knitwear, these machines will be your best friend. There are two in each tech room, one for thin yarn and one for thick. It’s recommended that you bring your own yarn when using the machines, but if it’s your first time they do have some backup yarn available. I’ve not personally used these machines, but there are several people in my senior class making super cool things with them. But if you want to do a little more research on your own, they’re the Silver Reed SK280 machines. There’s also a pdf download of the instruction manual in Tech Room Google Doc. But keep in mind, machines located in the tech rooms are only available during tech room hours, so big projects will take some coordinating.
Embroidery
If you’ve ever wanted to add a fun design detail to a garment, check out the embroidery machine in 416C. You’ll need to book a thirty minute appointment with Tolu or Mrs. Alina to prep your design so block out some time before or after class. Printing happens on Tuesdays and Thursdays and costs $3.50 per 5000 stitches. And remember to bring a credit or debit card with you when you pick up. The maximum file size is 10” x 16” and must be to scale for your final embroidery. Your graphic must also be a vector image saved as a PNG. Bring your laptop or iPad along with you just in case anything needs to be edited. And a word of advice, it’s best to embroider pattern pieces not finished garments. If something goes wrong, you don’t want a final piece to be ruined.
The fabric printers
Have you ever come up with a super cool sketch or pattern you’d want to see on a garment in real life? This can be made possible by the two fabric printers in the tech rooms. The sublimation fabric printer is located in 437C. This is the printer you want if you’re transferring something small, like a graphic onto a t-shirt. You’ll have to book a sixty minute appointment with Ms. Grimes or Ms. Persaud to use it so plan ahead and check their schedules. But don’t stress about the timeline, you’ll be able to pick up your print the same or next day. Just remember to bring a credit or debit card to 416C to pay; the price will be calculated based on ink usage. There are also a couple of file requirements to consider. Your design must be saved as a (300 dpi) png, to scale. The maximum file size is 10” x 16” with a minimum of 2000 px wide. Follow these instructions and you’re golden.
The large fabric printer is located in 416C and you’ll have to book a thirty minute appointment for this one with either Tolu or Mrs. Alina. Prints are done on Mondays and Wednesdays and pickup is the same or next day. This is also the same room you’ll pay in. Fabric is $17 per yard and they’ve got everything from canvas to silk gauze. But pick your fabric ahead of time because the dimensions of your graphic depend on the width of your chosen fabric. The file requirements for this printer are a little different from the other. Your design must be saved as a (300 dpi) pdf with flattened images in RGB format.
A little additional advice, these fabric printers are best used for samples and muslins. Occasionally they can act up, so for a final garment it’s recommended that you outsource to somewhere like Contrado. They’re a UK-based company though so allow for enough shipping time.
The lingerie machine
If you’re interested in making lingerie, the lingerie machine in 437C will be your best friend. (I should know, lingerie is my whole senior collection.) This machine has the ability to zig-zag stitch in all different sizes, which is essential for elastic, and it’s the best machine to sew lace or lace appliqués. There’s even a little knife on the machine that can cut your lower layer of fabric while sewing on the upper. Although sometimes it has issues, so talk to Ms. Grimes or Ms. Persaud ahead of time to make sure it’s working when needed.
Printmaking
If you haven’t squeezed that elective into your schedule yet, try the printmaking for fashion class (PRMK 203.) If you’d like to use screen printing in your senior collection or just in general, this class is a must. The printmaking studio and equipment are off limits unless you’ve taken a class, so be on the lookout during registration. Or if you’d just like to pick up a new hobby, the Printmaking for Non-majors (PRMK 200) is also an option. You’ll print more on paper than fabric but it’d still be a fun elective. And if you do decide to take it, be sure to ask about the puffy paint.
These are by no means every resource available to you, but it’s a good list to get you started. Reach out to your professors and talk to the techs if you have a specific idea or machine need. Oftentimes if enough people request a machine the school will buy it!
Questions? Thoughts? Requests? Let us know at style@scadconnector.com.
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