This men’s leather vest is meant to do double duty – stage and real life.  For a rock n’ roll icon, ‘natch!

The original concept went thru minor changes – originally the client thought they wanted a subtler look so the original sketch was swatched with a grainy and smooth combo in black, the clients favorite color.  I wanted him to stand out more – he is a drummer and always behind a big kit –  solid black is just deadly there!

So I handed him swatches of the leathers that ended up being used.  A rich, reddish cognac brown and a golden tan lambskin.  Keeping the body in black (and well within the clients comfort zone!) the flames changed only in color & just slightly dimensionally – from the original pencil sketch.

I love designing these graphic and fluid appliqués and  I am often inspired by iconic hot rod art and Celtic tattoo forms when I want to design an element that works with the shape of the garment.  These elements usually wind up wrapping around the body like a tattoo, but in leather.  Here the flames wrap over  & hug the wearer’s shoulders.

I don’t create sketches for every single garment, but when I do they are our working sketches.  At whatever iteration and no matter how rough the sketch is.  Things may change some during the course of fittings but your map is there…