Contrado are a London-based company who offer fabric printing on demand. I talk about my experience designing and printing a fabric with them in my latest vlog, which you can view here:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ153zMpK60&w=560&h=315]
As mentioned in the vlog, my design was inspired by a comic-print, black and white Prada skirt, which I eyeballed in a shop window. My design features some personal favourite comic characters / artists.
The design was printed on Contrado’s Crepe de France fabric. The fabric is light/medium weight, with lots of drape. The image print quality is very high, with even small details printed clearly. The colour didn’t run when I washed the fabric, but I did get some colour/image transfer when I ironed this dress on a high heat (following one wash). The fabric is slightly see-through; I lined the bodice and will wear a slip underneath.
I used my fabric to make a Megan Nielsen Sudley Dress, with the skirt extended to floor length. I thought Sudley would be a good pattern to show off the fabric, due to the lack of fastenings or darts. As in my previous Sudley, I cinched in the waist of the dress by attaching elastic around the waistband.
I’m looking forward to wearing this out – although slightly wary about how dirty the hem may be by the time I get home!
Disclaimer: I was provided with two metres of fabric in exchange for blogging about it, all opinions expressed are my own.