STOKES
PORTFOLIO
The art of creating
Welcome to my fashion portfolio. Here, you'll discover my creative process and the outcomes that emerge from it.
Each garment is my own complete creation, from design and pattern making to fabric sourcing, sewing and final finishing.
I invite you to explore my work and see how each piece reflects my passion for design and craftsmanship.
This dress is crafted from hundreds of shattered glass mirror pieces and adorned with 1,808 silk organza petals, creating individually beaded flowers that embellish the bodice. This project took months to complete, from the initial toile to the pattern-making, sewing, and final assembly.
Brisé
The "Brisé" concept is inspired by the emotions tied to a broken heart. Mirrors serve as a metaphor for the fractured internal reflections we encounter, illustrating the distortions that arise from emotional turmoil, akin to shattered glass. The beaded silk flowers represent the juxtaposition of delicate softness and the sharp fragility inherent in glass.
Designing this dress is an intricate process that begins with a first toile, where fabric is arranged on a dress form to create the desired silhouette. Once the design is finalized, it moves into development, where patterns are created and adjustments are made for fit and style. The next step involves sewing, where the pieces come together, followed by adding the shattered glass and silk flowers. This meticulous journey transforms a simple idea into a beautiful, wearable piece of art.
Le
Corset
This silk organza corset draws inspiration from the natural growth patterns found in nature, such as trees. It features a hand-beaded band embellished with glass beads at the top, while the bottom is adorned with silk organza flowers crafted from offcuts. This piece beautifully combines elegance and sustainability.
DESIGN PROCESS
As a fashion designer, my journey is an inspiring blend of creativity and research. It all starts with a spark of inspiration, whether it’s from art, culture, or nature, that drives me to explore various materials, colors, and silhouettes. Each creation becomes a reflection of my vision and the world around me, telling a story that connects with others.
Crafting a corset is a meticulous art that requires a blend of skill, precision, and creativity. Each piece is carefully designed and constructed, involving intricate techniques such as boning, lacing, and hand-sewing. The craftsmanship ensures not only a perfect fit but also a stunning aesthetic that enhances the wearer's silhouette. This dedication to detail transforms a simple garment into a timeless piece of wearable art.
This collar showcases a beaded honeycomb smocking. The beadwork enhances any ensemble, making it a striking accessory for those who appreciate artisanal craftsmanship.
This silk organza bustier is embroidered with thousands of shimmering metallic beads. This piece combines elegance and artistry. The intricate and unique beadwork catches the light, creating a captivating effect that enhances the classic and traditional bustier silhouette.
4168 BEADS
The bustier is adorned with thousands of metallic tube beads, each carefully placed to create a stunning visual effect. These beads catch the light, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the dress. Their arrangement not only enhances the overall design but also showcases the craftsmanship involved in its creation.
This bustier is intricately embroidered with thousands of beads, each one symbolizing the advanced technology of body mapping software, akin to Face ID. The shimmering beads reflect a futuristic vision, merging fashion with innovation. Just as these technologies scan and analyze the human form, the design of the bustier celebrates the beauty of individuality and the potential of technology in fashion. Embrace the future with this unique piece that embodies both artistry and cutting-edge science.
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BEADS
The pursuit of craftsmanship is essential for any young artist looking to hone their skills and express their creativity. By dedicating time to mastering techniques and understanding the materials they work with, artists can elevate their work and develop a unique style. Embracing the journey of craftsmanship not only fosters personal growth but also instills a sense of discipline and commitment. Ultimately, this dedication to artistry lays a strong foundation for a fulfilling and successful creative career.
To achieve the grid pattern for the beading placement on the paper pattern, I meticulously mapped out the design, ensuring each bead would align perfectly. I then transferred this grid by stitching it onto the fabric pattern, which not only locked the grain of the fabric in place but also guaranteed the precise placement of the beading. While working with the darts, I carefully respected the correct refraction angles to maintain a cohesive grid pattern throughout the design. This attention to detail ensured a polished and professional finish.
BIAS CUT
Bias cut dresses are crafted by cutting the fabric at a 45-degree angle to the grain, allowing the material to drape beautifully and hug the body's curves. This technique requires a high level of skill and precision, as it demands an understanding of how the fabric will behave and flow. The process involves careful measuring and sewing to ensure that the dress fits perfectly and enhances the wearer's silhouette. The result is a stunning garment that showcases both the artistry and craftsmanship involved in creating bias cut designs.
This silk satin dress is crafted to accentuate the feminine silhouette with its form-fitting bias cut. The deep cowl back offers a captivating allure, complemented by a high cowl collar at the front that embodies elegance and refinement.
Silk Satin
Simplicity and elegance
The elegance of a simple black silk satin bias cut dress is truly timeless. Its fluid silhouette drapes beautifully, enhancing the natural curves of the body while exuding sophistication. The luxurious fabric catches the light with every movement, creating a stunning visual effect. This dress embodies understated glamour and effortless style.
LONDON RAINCOAT
The London Raincoat,designed to tackle the unpredictable London weather. Crafted from opaque white TPU fabric, it features sleek white bound accent seams that elevate its modern aesthetic. This raincoat offers a futuristic twist on a classic essential, ensuring you stay stylish and dry no matter the forecast. Embrace the elements with confidence in this must-have piece for any wardrobe.
LONDON
RAINCOAT
Oversized, Unisex, Pure
Creating a raincoat from TPU plastic involves a careful balance of design and functionality. The process requires precision in cutting, stitching, and sealing to ensure waterproofing while maintaining comfort and style. As we move towards a more sustainable future, developing recycled plastic is crucial for the circular fashion industry, allowing us to reduce waste and create innovative garments that are both eco-friendly and stylish.
MOUSSELINE
Silk Mousseline. Its delicate nature requires careful handling and specific sewing techniques to ensure a flawless finish. Understanding how to work with Silk Mousseline is essential for designers and seamstresses, as it can easily fray and shift during construction. Mastering this fabric allows for the creation of stunning garments that flow beautifully and enhance the wearer's silhouette.
INSPIRATION
The 1957 photograph is connected to the beginnings of Beksiński's interest in photography. It depicts a female body in a way that is a far cry from the traditional nude.
The picture titled Sadist's Corset from 1957 is connected with the beginnings of his work. It depicts a female body in a way that is a far cry from the traditional nude. The character is turned away from the camera, and is shown in a fragmentary manner, the face and legs are not visible. The body is bound tightly with a rope that creates an irregular net. It is also partially covered by geometrical forms, maybe a piece of a chair, shown in a great foreshortening. All of the frame and staging manipulations make an impression of the character being broken to pieces. The woman in the photo is under oppression, being portioned in the act of looking.
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Inspired by Bekinski's haunting "Sadist's Corset," I sought to uncover beauty in the unexpected. The bondage depicted in his photograph is delicately reimagined in my dress, where soft tulle gracefully intertwines with a luxurious silk mousseline base. This creation embodies the juxtaposition of strength and fragility, inviting a deeper appreciation for the complexities of beauty that often lie beneath the surface.
SILK ORGANDI
This silk organdi dress features 16 panels, all sewn with French seams, ensuring a flattering fit that follows the body's curves. The hem is adorned with simple flowers made from fabric offcuts, each sewn in with a bead for a subtle touch. This dress combines elegance and thoughtful design.
The intricacy of the beaded honeycomb smocking used in this cropped jacket is a testament to the artistry of textile design. With 1.40 meters of fabric dedicated solely to the front, each stitch showcases the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into creating this unique piece. The delicate beading adds a touch of elegance.
VIRTUAL
In today's fast-paced fashion industry, utilizing virtual fashion design and pattern making software is essential for efficiency and creativity. These tools streamline the design process, allowing designers to visualize their ideas quickly and make adjustments in real-time. By reducing the need for physical samples, they save both time and resources, enabling a more sustainable approach to fashion. Embracing this technology not only enhances productivity but also fosters innovation in design.
VIRTUAL &CAD
I'm staying up to date with the advancements in fashion development software. By keeping my skills sharp and knowledge current, I ensure that I can provide the best insights and solutions in the ever-evolving fashion industry.
This virtual dress made from "virtual" silk organza and "virtual" lightweight silk taffeta. It features gentle ruching on one side, a single strap, and a simple bow at the waist. This design was created in Clo3D and helped me streamline the design and pattern making process that usually takes weeks.
MOULAGE
Creating a moulage, or draping a toile, is an essential step in my the fashion design process. It involves using fabric to sculpt and shape a garment directly on a dress form, allowing me to visualize the fit and flow of my ideas. This hands-on technique helps in refining patterns and understanding how the fabric interacts with the body. Ultimately, it serves as a crucial foundation for bringing my vision to life.
The "Robe Tailleur," a sophisticated blend of traditional blazer elements and elegant fashion aesthetics. This design features a draping detail on the wearer's left side, adding a modern twist to a classic silhouette. As this project unfolds, I am eager to explore its full potential and bring this vision to life.
READY-TO-WEAR
I also enjoy designing casual ready-to-wear looks, showcasing my versatility as a designer. While corsets and intricate dresses are my passion, creating comfortable and stylish everyday outfits allows me to express a different side of my creativity. Each piece reflects my commitment to quality and style, making fashion accessible for everyone.
About
I'm Harvey Stokes
As a passionate couturier from a young age, I am driven by the idea of transforming a vision into a tangible creation. Craftsmanship lies at the heart of this process, constantly refined and studied in a balance between tradition and innovation. My dream is to create a unique body of work that combines creativity and artisanal expertise.
Get in Touch
Harvey Stokes
You're welcome to reach out by completing the contact form, and I'll get back to you promptly.
