A Flip Book: Colour & Emotions

A Flip Book
of Colours &
Emotions
Textiles Fashion Designs
By Evelyn Zhou
1

Introduction
As a textiles artist, I find inspiration in the seemingly mundane or
unremarkable aspects of life. I used those ideas to create
something beautiful, fresh and unique fashionable textiles
designs. Nature is certainly not an unfamiliar topic for artists, but
it is definitely well-trodden ground in the world of art. Fascination
with forest, seas, wildlife and the sky doesn’t seem to ebb among
textiles industry.
The natural beauty fascinates me and I have keen to discover how
patterns and colours on creatures, plants on this beautiful planet
influence humans’ emotions. It is not a mundane subject matter in
the world of art, especially for interior designs, but not textiles.
However, a collection of fashion designs in this flip book aims to
show the influences based on psychological theories. Welcome to
learn about this area through art of textiles!

Black & White
Black is often used in fashion because of its slimming
quality. In ancient Egypt, black represented life and rebirth.
Besides, white represents purity or innocence. It is bright and
can create a sense of space or add highlights. Then white
balances the feeling which black absorbs all light in the
colour spectrum. Some of the positive meanings that white
can convey include cleanliness, freshness, and simplicity. The
colour white often seems like a blank slate, symbolising a
new beginning or a fresh start. This design shows peaceful
beauty by using Black & White natural patterns. The pattern
of zebra used for the jumper at the top (knitting). Thinner
thread free-machine embroidery on two sides of the dress. A
black see-through tight tilts the balance between black skirt
and long whit dress as a transition. An abstract art ear-ring
(silver) on the right side for embellishment. Cow’s pattern on
the boosts are bigger (Leather Appliqué), in order to make
strong contrast between it and exquisite design on the dress.
It also connect with the patterns on jumper and the hair
design. Therefore, these sections link together as a whole.
3

4
Butterfly’s wings
Inspired by two butterflies
This design shows elements took from
butterflies's wings. It shows an ataractic feeling.
Butterflies are the beautiful creatures with the
extremely patterns on their wings, which are
actually a weaving so intricate and looked like
dedicated art of glasses. Therefore blue used as
the major colour in this piece, in order to create
calmness. Also, this image created by small
pieces to show details of the pattern. The basic
colours of the garment is fabric print; Appliqué
and free-machine embroidery on water dissoluble
vilene; Real butterfly’s wing for the silver ear ring;
Gemstone belt; Appliqué and Reverse Appliqué
on the sleeves; Hand-stitching at the bottom of

Colours combinations
A colourful piece of art always let people feel
joyful . This design aims to bring happiness to
people. Kusama Yayoi’s patterns are very
interesting and unique, it shows similar ideas
in this garment.
Still using natural objects like the sun ☀ ,
bacterial , flowers, DNA , zebra , etc.
For some images will be made by Appliqué,
such as the zebra’s pattern, wants to show
flat effect; Hand-stitching applied on belts;
Reverse Appliqué and Appliqué on the
neckline; Free-machine embroidery on
dissoluble vilene to create flower patterns;
Double-dye for the whole piece garment; Tiedye
or double tie-dye for some flowers;
Trapunto quilting for 3D effect; Foil glue with
different colours.
5

Rooster
Red, yellow, orange
Red, yellow and orange as the main colours,
link to warmth, energy, love, excitement,
enthusiasm or attention. Red lets people to
associate love, warmth and comfort.
Rooster’s feathers shows a combination of
these three colours.
Materials/ Techniques: Real rooster’s
feathers for the top; knitting's on shoulder
areas; Beading on sleeves; Feathers, handembroidery
around the neckline; A leather
corset.
6

Peacock Kimono

Combination of
animals’ pattern
This is a combination of butterflies, cheetahs,
and zebra’s pattern. Fabric print for the
cheetah’s pattern; Machine embroidery to
create black stitches on the yellow fabric;
Knitting, Beading and Felting for the jump at
the top; Reverse Appliqué combines with
trapunto for the zebra dress; Free-machine
embroidery for the complicated pattern of
butterfly; Free-machine stitching for detail on
the 8 sleeves.