Costume Detectives - Cut and Bias

​Late in April members gathered at the Costessey Centre to take part in an exciting hands-on exploration of drape and flare in fashion, using vintage garments from the C&TA resource collection and dressmaking patterns from the 1930s. 

​The group, led by our knowledgeable archivist Isobel Auker, learnt about how designers such as Madeleine Vionnet pioneered bias construction, and were fortunate enough to be able to examine bias-cut and draped garments from our collection very closely, as well as some items brought in by members. 

There was lots of discussion about the technical detail of the way in which these were made, and then the attendees were able to apply their knowledge to constructing garments of their own, with friendly support and expert advice on hand!