This Time’s Fabric

This is the orange fabric I bought at 863 Textile.

I had been wanting to make something in a bright, cheerful color that felt right for Thailand, and I fell in love with this one as soon as I saw it.

It’s vivid, but still has a slightly elegant feel.

Even when I love a color, I usually give up on it if I feel like it doesn’t suit me, so I held it up in front of the mirror to check how it looked against my face.

Luckily, it worked.

The fabric was 145 baht per yard, and I bought 3 yards.

I Wanted to Add Something

This time, I didn’t want to use the fabric on its own.

I wanted to combine it with some kind of extra detail, so I wandered around China World with a small fabric swatch in hand, trying it against different materials.

At first, I looked at similar colors, but then I started thinking that white or a patterned accent might stand out more.

It’s amazing how much the overall impression changes depending on what you pair with the fabric.

Part of me wanted to give the piece a slightly ethnic feel, but I still prefer a clean and polished base.

Then there were practical questions too — if I added something unusual, how would it hold up in the wash?

I went back and forth so much that I couldn’t make up my mind.

Maybe a Belt?

I was almost ready to give up and just use the fabric on its own when I found this belt at a shop in Terminal 21.

It was cute, and then I had an idea:

If I just asked the tailor to add belt loops, I could wear the belt whenever I felt like it — or leave it off completely.

And since the belt would be removable, I wouldn’t have to worry about washing it with the dress.

Perfect.

The belt cost 400 baht.

This shop tends to run a little large in size, but everything has such a fun resort feel that I always end up stopping by whenever I’m there.

Next Journey: From Order to Finished Piece

Now that I had finally decided what to pair with the fabric, it was time to place the tailoring order.

See You on the Next Journey: From Tailoring Order to Finished Piece.