[GEMINI DESIGNS]
Redefining professional dress
Thoughtfully designed work wear for the modern corporate baddie. A combination of exquisite tailoring, fun colors, and comfort.
About Gemini Designs
My Story
During a career change in my mid-twenties, I worked in a law office and was faced with the harrowing realization that women's corporate attire had not changed since the 80's. After deciding it would crush my soul to wear boring black and beige trousers everyday, I started designing with duality in mind. Where did the intersection lie between "professional" and "personality"?
Skills and Specialties
Skills
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Use of industrial sewing machines
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Optitex
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BrowZwear 3D software
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Pattern making
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Technical package creation
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Trained in couture sewing
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Draping
Hand Embroidery
I am particularly interested in needle painting which is sometimes referred to as silk shading or thread painting. This technique marries the art of painting with embroidery techniques to create images that look like painted tableaus but are made 100% from embroidery. I use this technique in my own work to bring color and motif to my designs as well as to upcycle garments I own and make them more whimsical. Check out "My Jacket" below to see examples of this work.
Outerwear and Workwear
As someone born and raised in the PNW, I understand cozy. Just because something needs to be practical, doesn't mean it can't also be stylish and interesting. I love designing outwear and workwear that takes inspiration from early-mid 20th century women's fashion. What I like most about this time period were the experimental shapes, use of color and color blocking, and the attention to hand crafted beauty. My work uses a combination of couture techniques and machine sewing.
Projects
See what's coming out of the Gemini studio
Wool Coats
Blue coat- raglan style long coat made with melton wool from Pendleton. The yellow ceramic buttons were acquired from an estate sale. The inside is lined with a silk lining in the color chartreuse.
Burgundy cloak- a simple cloak made using melton wool from Pendleton and partially lined with a lightweight cotton flannel.
Red Cloak- Ankle-length cloak made from Pendleton melton wool and lined with a medium weight flannel.
The Jacket
I bought this jacket at a vintage market in Brussels in 2017. At the time it was just an ordinary, over-sized denim jacket. One day I tore a hole in the sleeve of the jacket and did a shoddy repair job on it. A few years later I decided to turn this jacket into a living work of art. That original hole became a galaxy and planets. I use needle painting techniques to achieve the larger pieces on this jacket. On the Van Gogh motif I attempted to implement the impressionist style of changing light and visible brush strokes. In the motifs of creatures and characters from Studio Ghibli films such as The Castle and the green heads, I tried to focus on the animated style of art through outlining and shading.
