EHC ‘How to sew’ video series

EHC has added a new web page called ‘Couture Sewing Tips and Secrets’ featuring a video series on ‘how to sew’ basics and tidbits of useful information about professional Couture and Tailoring. We’ve had great feedback to date on the ‘how to thread a needle with one, two and three strands of thread’ and ‘how to sew on a button the couture way’, and the ‘basic back stitch’ videos. http://www.ecoleholtcouture.com/sewing-tips-secrets.php

We are working on more demonstration videos showing skills that everyone could benefit by, and how new students to EHC actually begin in the certificate program. Since haute couture is all about high quality standards of hand sewing techniques and high quality materials, this is a great introduction into what EHC expects its students to master, much before they are let loose on expensive materials.

We will also share some secrets along the way. As more people have become acquainted with Ecole Holt Couture’s teaching method and curriculum, more interest has been generated in acquiring these traditional skills and how to apply them in our current day context.

But, a valuable point that came up during in-class discussions worth emphasizing is that Couture Sewing and Tailoring is not in the exclusive realm of female skills and talents. It is true that more women work at this profession than men; but many men have been, and are, in the business of sewing especially in men’s bespoke tailoring. In our once mostly male dominated societies, men rose to the top of fame and fortune in fashion over females as the well-known conceptual designers, but not as commonly known is that some were supremely skilled artisans/craftsmen as well, such as Cristóbal Balenciaga, Roger Vivier and more recently Alexander McQueen.

There is no reason today, why men are not as involved in or engaged as Couturiers as women are other than I suspect, the stigma attached to a perceived ‘weak or over refined profession’ of sewing in fashion – as hair styling or dance once was. EHC welcomes all who have the passion and determination to master this art, and hope that the parents of young men also fully support them in their aspirations just as do the parents of young women in becoming professionals in Couture and Tailoring.

Balenciaga – 1951 – from the Metropolitan Museum collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balenciaga – 1957 – from the Metropolitan Museum collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roger Vivier – for House of Dior – from the Metropolitan Museum collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roger Vivier 1956 – house of Dior – from the Metropolitan Museum collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander McQueen 2007 – from the Metropolitan Museum collection

Alexander McQueen 2000 – from the Metropolitan Museum collection