The must-have resource for students and fashion designersLook no further: this is the fabric and textile reference that dressmakers, fashion designers, and fashion enthusiasts should never be without. It's like having your own personal textiles expert on hand to help choose the best fabric for your artistic purposes. With this how-to guide, you'll discover how different fabrics perform and you'll learn the many ways to use them in your design.This directory is organized by function. Do you want a fabric for its structure, fluidity, added volume, definition, or decoration? Do you want a garment that clings to the figure, or one that allows you to contract a whole new silhouette? What is the overall effect you are aiming to achieve--pretty and elegant or lustrous and magnificent?Each fabric described in this fashion book comes with color photos of samples that illustrate its properties, helping you understand how a particular fabric's qualities make it suitable for specific pieces of apparel.At the back of the book you will find essential guides to fiber properties, weaves, knits, weights, characteristics, and care advice. Written by a fashion expert, this book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in fashion: students, hobbyists, instructors, and professionals.