Concept
This dress was designed for mathematician Loe Feis and is connected to his research paper, The Inhibiscus. The piece will be presented at the 2026 Bridges Conference in Galway, an international conference exploring mathematics, art, and design. It will be shown together with a matching Hawaiian-style blouse.
Pattern
The design is based on a 1980s Hawaiian dress, with a button closure at the back. The pattern went through two iterations. For the first version, I drafted the full pattern myself, including a long dress shape and an inner facing. After fitting the first version, the dress turned out to be too small. For the second iteration, my internship supervisor adjusted the pattern by widening the waist and changing the inner facing into a full lining.
Final product &
Areas for improvement
Through this process, I became more confident in both pattern drafting and garment construction. The second version came together much faster, and I was able to sew it more independently. I also gained experience working with very thin polyester, which was chosen because the fabric needed to be suitable for calender sublimation printing. This material was more delicate than heavier fabrics. This was an important achievement for me, as it showed that I was becoming more capable of making garments with less guidance and adapting my sewing technique to different materials.
