draping
Draping is a technique used in fashion design to create garments by arranging fabric on a dress form or model. Designers manipulate the fabric to explore shapes, silhouettes, and styles, allowing them to visualize how the material falls and moves. This hands-on approach helps in understanding the relationship between fabric and body.
The process often involves pinning, tacking, or sewing the fabric directly onto the form, which can lead to unique designs that may not be achievable through flat pattern drafting. Draping is essential for creating custom-fit clothing and is widely used in the fashion industry, especially by designers like Coco Chanel and Alexander McQueen.