Research Article Open Access

The Significance of Flat Pattern Making In Fashion Designing: A Case Study of Dressmakers in the Ho Municipality Of Ghana

Abstract

The development of a garment comprises of different processes and its appearance and fit is highly dependent on each of these process. Patternmaking is the foundation in garment manufacturing and plays an important role in deciding how the final appearance of a garment will look like.This study investigated reasons why dressmakers in the Ho Municipality do not use pattern for cutting out garment designs. It assessed the importance and challenges associated with the use of flat pattern making and developed strategies to assist dressmakers to overcome the challenges of using flat pattern in constructing garments. The research design adopted was descriptive survey. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews as well as observation were employed to gather data.In all, 140 dressmakers out of the 180 in the Ho Municipality were sampled.In analysing the results, it was noted that dressmakers in the Municipality mostly used „free-hand? cutting in arriving at garment sections, limiting their ability tocut out intricate designs. The findings of this study provides insight and implications for the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Tailors and dressmakers and management of higher institutions to take a second look at what goes into agreements and training of dressmaking apprentices.Basic pattern drafting should be made part of apprenticeship programs.

Elizabeth Obinnim, NinetteAfiPongo

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