COLLECTION 2 The Prophetess of Babylonia

collection development fashion design Alice Hoffman ancient babylonia ancient magic

Embellished Neck Piece: Includes piping filled with lavender and lilac, braided jute twine, mini pom poms, metal coins, and grids of organza filled with herbs to create a quilting technique.

Embellished Neck Piece: Sewn with extra long tea-dyed fringe and strands of honey quartz in copper filigree caps

Kimono: Worn with embellished belt

Kimono: Featured with embellished belt. The belt strap is embellished with the ancient rune text, "Bless us, Ashtoreth". Since many prophetesses had a specific goddess that she felt a deep kinship with, I chose Ashtoreth, the warrior goddess, as my goddess muse.

Kimono: Ultra low, plunging neckline. Made of a light chiffon with flowing trains in the back and sleeves.

Kimono

Palazzo Pants: Embroidery detail

Palazzo Pants: XXX embroidery detail on pant cuffs

Herb Dress: Mini dress made of organza, stuffed completely with herbs and other dried leaves and plants with hand quilting technique on top. Embellished with assorted trims. Ombre ruana with extra long fringe is featured on top.

Herb Dress featuring a pocket along the neckline filled with an assortment of raw cut honey quartz. Also features bronze coin embellishment inspired by ancient artifact amulets.

Herb Dress: XXX embroidery detail on raw edge trim made from organically dyed linen

Herb Dress

My caftan and mini dress with the ruana were hand selected by the Philadelphia University Fashion Design Department to be displayed in The Verizon Gala of Innovation.

Textures Study: Helps to define the general texture and coloring of my collection.

Surface Design Study: Explores the range of compelling surface designs that correspond with my collection.

Organic Fabric Dying Process: Collected organic materials including blueberries, fresh oregano, clovers, many more.

Organic Fabric Dying Process: Layed out my fabric, and sprinkled the organic materials on top.

Organic Fabric Dying Process: Next, I rolled up the fabric around a metal rod, and placed it in a boiling pot of water.

Organic Fabric Dying Process: Organic dye samples done in collaboration with Textile Designer, Emily Pappa.

Organic Fabric Dying Process: Organic dye samples done in collaboration with Textile Designer, Emily Pappa. Colors were derived from coffee, red cabbage, and onion skins.

Herb Pocket Detail: In order to create a textile that was made of real dried herbs and flowers, I had to first obtain the herbs that best represented the mood of collection. I chose several, such as lilac and lavender, that have soothing, wistful effects, and sage, which is said to ward off evil spirits, and entice positive spirits.

Herb Pocket Detail: I, then, sewed organza into different shapes, but left a small hole in the stitching. I stuffed the shape with herbs, then hand-stitched the shape shut, creating a "pouch" effect.

Herb Pocket Detail: In order to apply the herb pocket to a garment, I hand embroidered the corners down with a thick, crude stitch, reminiscent of ancient textile artifacts.

Embellished Cuff: The fabric was a hand-painted sand texture fabric reminiscent of sand paper. I, then, embellished the cuff with different trims and hand embroidery.

Embellished Cuff: This trim is a taupe and navy thread fringe with hints of hologram lurex. This trim is the trimmed off bias from a jacquard weaving machine.

Embellished Cuff: The hand embroidery is a white and gold thread embellishment, done in a crude, basting-style stitch reminiscent of the textiles in ancient artifacts.