Mottle-dyed embossed velvet for Into the Woods

[labricoleuse]

For the second of the Witch's costumes in our production of Into the Woods at Playmakers Repertory Company, designer Bill Brewer had a truly fantastic vision for a sort of wizardy robe made of ornately-dyed and embossed velvet.

Draper Denise Chukhina came up with the process for how this fabric would be created, from which she would then make the costume.

Costume Designer Bill Brewer's rendering of the Witch's second look. Note how unusual that fabric is.


First, Denise spread out the fabric on our steel dyeroom table.
This is one of seven pieces of silk/rayon velvet she worked on.
Notice how scrunchy it is on there--this helps with the varigation in the dye process.


Here she's applied the dyes to the velvet. We used a combination of acid dyes and fiber reactive dyes.
The fabric was steamed and washed after this stage.


Here, Denise uses an industrial iron and several carved wooden embossing stamps
to press patterns into the velvet's pile.


Here's a close-up of the finished fabric.


And here's Denise modeling the robe to show the overall look.
Beautiful fabric for an amazing costume!

Comments

[replyhazy.livejournal.com]

I want to come play at your house. :(