Taming Textiles Textiles a re a very tangible source of inspiration. Much like the marble that informs the sculptor what it wants to become, fabric will suggest what shapes and types of manipu lation will transform it i nto a work of a rt. The same pattern for a garment will assume u n iquely d ifferent characteristics, depending on whether it is made of silk ch iffon, ribbed knit, ripstop nylon, Lycra, taffeta, or wool felt. The designer can design with fabrics based on h ow they coordinate and contrast with each other. Weight, body, and weave will provide further direction. Color, pattern, and texture a lso del iver a whole set of additional choices. A designer can take ideas for a collection i nto new territory by switching fabrics. Su bstituting fa brics like denim for taffeta, ch iffon for oxford cloth, leather for linen, and lace for tweed is one way to trigger u npredictable innovations. Blocking with color, pattern, and texture is another way to shake thi ngs up. Combine these methods with techn iques usually reserved for d ifferent fa brics, and the design choices multiply. Apply a top-stitched flat-felled seam, commonly found on denim, to silk organdy and it bri ngs together two seemingly unrelated a reas of fashion, creating something fresh and unexpected.