Addressing the Lack of Availability in Diverse Skin Tone Options for Performance Fabric

The following research addresses the lack of availability in diverse skin tone options for performance fabric. The project will discuss the struggles people of color face when finding fabrics that accurately match their skin tone and the difficulties in sourcing the materials needed to successfully design a garment. The research gathered will be used to produce a collection of 4 looks using nude mesh fabrics that are readily available to the average consumer. The garments within the collection will be designed to match the skin color of 4 models. The collection’s theme will be based around the 4 cardinal witches from Lyman Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz. Each of the 4 witches’ characteristics will be portrayed through the corresponding garments within the collection. The design development process for all 4 looks will be documented through illustrations and visual images such as picture reference and inspiration collages. I will be drafting patterns for 2 out of the 4 garments and displaying the muslin-making process. The purpose of this research is to show the difficulties in sourcing nude mesh fabrics for various skin tones, as well as bring attention to an ongoing problem within the dance and performance industry