Giovanna Flores: The Art of Creating Fashion with Scraps
Giovanna Flores has a unique approach to fashion design, one that is deeply rooted in the materials she uses and the process of creating garments. Working primarily with deadstock fabrics, vintage garments, and the scraps leftover from making clothes, Flores has developed a technique she calls “blind fitting.” This method involves creating darts and seams without the representation of the body, and then fitting them to the body afterwards.
Last season, Flores showcased her work at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery as part of “The New Village: Ten Years of New York Fashion” exhibition. Her collection featured garments made from scraps that seemed to burst out of seams, creating a visually striking and textured effect. One standout piece was a sheer long sleeve top adorned with bits of colorful fabric peeking out of the seams, accentuating the body in a unique way.
This season, Flores has returned to the body with a collection that cinches and encircles the form. A pink mini-dress features diamond-shaped darts displayed inside out, while skirts and tops boast overflowing bits of fabric that were originally meant to be hidden on the inside. Flores explains that this unexpected detail adds a touch of charm to her designs, creating clean-finished edges with a twist.
One of the highlights of this season’s collection is a white skirt adorned with pink and patterned fabric pieces that give the illusion of a deconstructed peplum. Paired with a black halter top made from irregular fabric shapes and a fringed jersey patch, the ensemble exudes an undone elegance. The addition of jersey fringe adds movement and texture to other pieces in the collection, such as tank tops, bikini tops, and colorful tights peeking out from underneath dresses.
Flores’s dresses are always enchanting, featuring delicate floral cotton voile pieced together with more robust fabrics, silk slip dresses with jersey insets made from vintage T-shirts, and pink sheaths with unique gathers below the bust. Flores describes her design process as akin to developing film, where the end result is often a pleasant surprise.
Incorporating scraps and unconventional techniques into her designs, Giovanna Flores has carved out a niche in the fashion world with her innovative approach to creating garments. With a keen eye for detail and a willingness to experiment, Flores continues to push boundaries and redefine the art of fashion design.
