The Charm of the Simple, Straight Stitch.

In the fashion industry, we often have the perception that the more busy elements and "craziness" we add to a clothing item, the more unique it becomes. There's a misconception that a garment has to be overly embellished with bulky bows, beads or sparkles or over-pleated, ruffled and over-embellished with complicated trims in order to be labeled as one-of-a-kind. Although these can be a great addition to a garment meant for a specific occasion or be used cleverly on a well balanced outfit, they do not necessarily represent what makes a garment truly unique. After all, clothing is what we wear and need every single day, and it is important to pay attention to its functionality. That being said, design is just as important and should never be put on the back burner. 
The reality is, as it's true for many things, we focus so much on the complicated and forget to notice the obvious right in front of our eyes. We are talking about the simple straight stitch- the one that serves as the only (efficient) means to bind seams and keeps a garment together physically. We often don't give it enough credit in design. It is this simple tool that offers unlimited design options but also one that can make or break a garment. Yes, a simple straight stitch can actually ruin or completely change a style. For example, have you ever wondered why women's business suits (and especially men's) don't have top stitching anywhere on the surface? Well, it's both a design and technical issue. Adding top-stitching on a suit not only changes it's look from business to casual, but it also causes it to loose it's tailored aspect creating a less smooth surface and wrinkly seams. 
After playing with complicated draping and pleating techniques for years, we've come to the conclusion that using the simple straight stitch is actually a more powerful tool for design. It does not jeopardize functionality, it is not bulky or overstated but it makes a big difference both visually and technically. As far as design is concerned, this simple line can take a garment from simple to unique in an infinite amount of ways- Your creativity is the limit.

Our teal ponte knit dress is creatively designed using diagonal straight-stitch lines across the front, creating a clean yet very unique look. 

This asymmetric (already uniquely cut) Xandu navy tunic top is kicked up a notch with the addition of white top-stitching on the front, creating an original plaid-like print. 

3 vertical top-stitch lines bring the white diagonal lines together creating a well balanced composition.

A subtle yet one-of-a-kind addition to a simple white blouse, this thin black stitching creates a beautiful organic print of intersecting lines. 

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Looking for more unique stuff? Check out our 11:11 Jacket, the magical jacket that transforms into a bag! 

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