The Dress Form - Can it be Used in Promotion ?

Dress forms can be used as mannequins, garment makers and they are sometimes collector's items. They can even be a part of house furnishing or for hanging clothes in the bedroom. Why are they so handy ?

 

The beauty of a dress form is that it can be used either as a mannequin, garment maker or as an aesthetic collectable. Dress forms can be covered in leather or vinyl, through to a myriad of fashion or upholstery fabrics. They can even be used as part of house furnishing - as an objet de arte, or for hanging clothes in the bedroom. Its uses are numerous.

 

So What are Dressforms & Why Use Them ?

 

Dressmaker forms are normally the stylised version of a human bust typically for the production of garments. They are used extensively in pattern making, garment making and fashion design. Over the years they have transcended the garment houses and have moved to the retail sector where they have been used for visual merchandising as a mannequin.

 

Dress forms have a simple appearance and provide a classical and timeless look. They can really stand out from the usual mannequin displays and may be very appropriate for a promotion or your niche. They can be made with a head when used as a shop mannequin to display accessories such as hats, scarves etc. They can also be made with arms ( fixed or articulated ) to allow flexible poses or display other accessories such as handbags, purses and the like.

 

What are They Made From ?

 

In the beginning dress forms were constructed from papier mache, however current construction materials have evolved which incorporate fibre-reinforced plastic ( fibreglass ) and polyurethane. Fibreglass has the benefit of durability and some forms made in the sixties are still being used today. Polyurethane foam is the other medium and it provides the benefit of allowing pinning directly into the body, which is especially useful in dressmaking or when displaying garments that require pinning.

 

Dressforms traditionally extend from the neck to the bottom of the hip, however as mentioned above they can include a head. For a male dressform a V cut in the middle of the front of the body enables the ability to hold a pair of trousers. Sometimes a traditional dress form isn’t suitable if it doesn’t conform to the cut and styling of particular garments. An example would be for museums where body sizes and shapes have changed dramatically over the decades. So as with any marketing, some initial research is important.

 

Where Do I Get Them and What Sizes are Available ?

 

And as in all marketing, you need to stand out from the competition and custom dress forms do a much better job at this and at highlighting the garments in the best possible manner.

 

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