Facebook Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok Icon YouTube Icon Headphones Icon Favorite Navigation Search Icon Forum Search Icon Main Search Icon Close Icon Video Play Icon Indicator Arrow Icon Close Icon Hamburger/Search Icon Plus Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon
How-to

Play with Fashion Design

The Designed by You Fashion Studio kit includes all the tools and materials needed to design, drape, and sew everyday fashions (for a 12-inch-tall mannequin).

During a recent browse through my local fabric and craft store (JoAnn’s), I wandered past the children’s toy section and was surprised and excited to see two educational toy kits dedicated to fashion design. They were the Designed by You Fashion Studio and Designed by You Special Occasion Fashions kits by Faber-Castell’s Creativity for Kids division.

Each kit includes a 12-inch-tall dress form/mannequin, lengths of fabric, trims and embellishments, scissors, a tape measure, pins, sewing needles, a thimble, thread, a sketch book and pencils, a fashion design manual–in short, everything you (or a kid) would need to play fashion designer. Each set is priced under $40 on the Faber-Castell website, but you can find them on Amazon.com for much less, and you may be able to find them in your local toy store or fabric and craft store for less, as well.

What fun you–ahem, I mean, the fashion-savvy kid in your life–could have with one of these kits, sketching and draping miniature designs! The forms included are not professional-grade half-scale dress forms by a long shot, but for simple play and experimentation, they would be ideal. I just may have to get one for myself and keep it at my desk.

Has anyone among our readers purchased either of these kits? If so, how did you like them? And what toys or gifts do you give to the kids in your life interested in sewing their own fashions?

Discuss

Threads Insider

Get instant access to hundreds of videos, tutorials, projects, and more.

Start Your Free Trial

Already an Insider? Log in

Discuss

  1. User avater
    hvnlyhost | | #1

    How awesome is that!! To bad I don't sew Barbie clothes.

  2. lorettoDOLL | | #2

    I'm teaching my 11 year old niece to sew by making Barbie Doll clothes. We've started with flat patterns, but this inspires me to go further to draping. With dolls, you can use the naked doll as your dress form. Just stick her feet in a lump of clay on an ordinary kitchen cabinet turntable.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

More From Threads

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |

Threads Insider Exclusives

View All
View All

Highlights

Shop the Store

View All
View More