Task 1
Project Brief
Week 1
Miss Melina briefed us on the differences between princess line and princess armhole, She demonstrates how to drape princess line on the mannequin. I marked the bustline, waistline, hipline, center front, and other guides using draping tape. I began draping the princess line on calico fabric directly on the mannequin.
Week 2
Ms Melina briefed and demonstrated how to drape with princess armhole. I traced the completed princess line and transferred it onto mahjong paper and added markings. Then, I hand sewed the princess line top using running stitches. I also completed the draping of the princess armhole this week. Additionally, I started fabric tester hunting for the upcoming final project (Kebaya design).
Week 3
We were briefed on the final project, which is to design a kebaya. I began sketching ideas and started drafting the kelepet pattern based on my design inspiration. During this process, Ms. Melina taught us how to draw the kebaya kelepet pattern, which was really helpful for understanding the construction flow. She also gave us some useful measurement tips that we could apply to our final project to ensure better fit and proportion.
It felt exciting to finally move from sketching into something technical and hands-on. Starting the pattern made the project feel more real, and I’m looking forward to seeing how my ideas will come to life in fabric.
Week 4
After reviewing my initial work, I realized that both my princess line and princess armhole were not clean and accurate, so I decided to redo the draping from scratch. This time, I focused more on refining the silhouette and ensuring cleaner lines and balance in my pattern.
Final Project
Project Brief
Week 5
This week, I finally started working on my kebaya pattern using the sizing and method that Ms. Melina taught us. It was challenging at first, but having a proper foundation really helped me figure out the structure and shape I want for my design. After I finished my pattern, Ms. Melina helped me to refine it properly, which made a big difference in the fit and accuracy. Her guidance gave me more confidence moving forward.
Just as things were starting to flow, Mr. JR informed us that we have to change our fabrics to match OPPO’s colour palette, and CHAGEE is no longer part of the collaboration. That caught me off guard because I had already bought my materials based on the previous direction… so now I’ll need to rebuy fabrics that align with OPPO’s colors.
It’s a bit frustrating, but I understand that OPPO is the main collaborator, so it makes sense that our designs should reflect their style and colours. So I went out and bought new fabrics within the same week. It was a bit stressful, but I’m glad I managed to find options that suit the direction. Even though there were changes, I’m happy the pattern is done, and things are slowly moving forward again.
Week 6
This week, I worked on the test fit of my kebaya design. After finishing the pattern, I sewed a sample to check the fit and silhouette on the body. A big thank you to my classmate who helped me try it on! Seeing it worn really helped me spot areas that need adjustment, especially the skirt can is a little too tight so I need to refine the slit skirt pattern . Next, I’ll refine the fit and prepare for working with the actual fabric.
Week 7
This week, I finally started cutting the actual fabric, beginning with the skirt first, then moving on to the kebaya top and the manipulation base. At first, everything seemed fine but after testing the kebaya base with the fabric manipulation, I realised the base fabric was too light and couldn’t support the details well. So I had to recut the kebaya twice and ended up sewing it double-layered to give it more structure and stability. It was frustrating to redo it, but I learned a lot about fabric weight and how it affects construction. At least now, the base feels much more solid and works better with the manipulation. Slow progress, but steady!
This week was our garment viewing session with kebaya expert Pn. Zahalina from Bahary Asyek. We were supposed to have 80–90% of the garment completed, but honestly I wasn’t there yet. Not even the skirt was fully done, so I ended up pinning everything together just to have something presentable for the viewing. During the feedback, one of the experts suggested making it sleeveless and adding a longer collar. When she said that, my heart dropped because it basically meant I’d have to recut everything I had already done.
Thankfully, Ms. Melina stepped in and explained that instead of redoing it all, we could attach the pieces while still keeping the design intact. But the expert kept insisting it would look better if it was cut as one continuous piece. After a bit of back and forth, she finally agreed that we could attach it using interfacing. It was a stressful moment, but I’m grateful Ms. Melina had my back and helped me find a middle ground. On top of that, Ms. Maria gave me reminder that my burning fabric manipulation needs to be cleaner. That means I now have to reburn most of my manipulation pieces to make sure the finish is neater and more refined. It was a stressful week full of tough feedback, but I know these adjustments will help improve the final piece. Just have to keep going.
Week 9
This week was pure chaos. I finally managed to attach everything together, including the long collar, which felt like a small win. But I still hadn’t finished reburning my fabric manipulations, and prejudging was on Thursday—the pressure was real.
I’m also very grateful to Ms. Melina, who helped me figure out how to properly attach the kebaya pieces and guided me through fixing my skirt construction. Her advice really helped me hold everything together at the last minute. The night before prejudging, I was completely panicking. The kebaya wasn’t finished. I hadn’t slept properly for a week. I ended up just sew-tacking the first layer of manipulation because there wasn’t enough time to fully secure everything. It felt like I was barely holding on.
On the morning of prejudging, I nearly missed it because I didn’t check the time. Thank God for my friend and Mr. JR, who called and reminded me. I rushed to the studio with my half-done kebaya in hand. At that point, I wasn’t even hoping for compliments. I just told myself, “Please, I just want to pass. I don’t want to fail.” It was one of the hardest weeks so far mentally and physically draining. And sometimes, that’s all you can do.
Week 10
This week was the final push before the fashion show, and everything that could go wrong… did. I found out that I had sewn my skirt lining on the wrong side, so I had to unpick everything and redo it from scratch. That alone was already draining. On top of that, I spent the entire week burning my fabric manipulation non-stop, day and night.
To make things worse, my sewing machine started acting up. I ended up going back to JB just to use my old machine at home. At that point, I was completely on edge physically and mentally exhausted, on the verge of breaking down.
My mom and friends saw how bad I was struggling, and without even asking, they offered to help. Together, we sat and burned the fabric manipulations one by one. I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without them. I’m so grateful for their support. If it weren’t for them, I honestly wouldn’t have been able to finish everything in time. It was one of the hardest weeks but also a reminder that I’m not alone.
Week 11
It’s finally fashion show week the moment everything has been building up to. I spent the last few days doing final touch ups, sewing on the hook and eye, and carefully attaching hot fix diamonds onto my manipulation layers.
On fitting day, I ran into traffic and was late, which stressed me out even more. Luckily, I made it just in time—and to my relief, the kebaya fit the model perfectly. That moment felt like a weight lifted off my chest.
When the fashion show began, everything felt like a mental and physical rollercoaster, but the second I saw my design on stage, something shifted. Even though it was just less than a minute, I felt overwhelmed, emotional, and proud. After everything the late nights, breakdowns, and redoing parts again and again it finally felt like it was all worth it.
This was more than just a project. It was a test of patience, resilience, and passion. And I made it.
Week 12
After the madness of the fashion show, Miss Melina briefed us on our next technical skill corset making. We learned the basics of structure, shaping, and how corsets support and define the body. I began draping the corset using calico and started drafting and shaping my pattern. Compared to the kebaya, it was a different kind of challenge more technical and rigid but also very interesting. Starting this new garment gave me a sense of calm after the rush, and I’m excited to apply everything I’ve learned so far into my corset construction.
Week 13
This week, I continued working on my corset. After finalizing the pattern, I began cutting my actual fabric and assembling the pieces. It required a lot of precision, especially with the curves and boning channels. The process was slower than I expected because corset construction is very detailed, but I found it quite rewarding to see the shape start forming. Compared to draping or burning manipulation, corset making felt more technical and structured. Which is feel nice to learn.
Week 14
This week marked our final presentation for the kebaya project. I would like to sincerely thank Samantha for being my model her support meant a lot to me. During the review, Mr. JR pointed out that I lacked confidence throughout the project, not just in presenting, but in my overall process and decision-making. Both Mr. JR and Ms. Melina also gave me feedback on my time management they noticed I tend to panic under pressure, which affects how I pace my work. It’s something I definitely need to work on moving forward.
Despite all that, I was proud to hear that my mood board and fabric manipulation were strong points in the presentation. They both turned out beautifully, and it reassured me that my creative direction was on track. Now I just need to focus on building better time management and trusting myself more in the process.
I spent the week continuing with the corset construction. I inserted the boning, stitched the panels together more securely, and made sure everything fit properly on the body form. I also began refining the finishing touches like binding the edges and checking the fit. Even though it’s tiring, I enjoy how clean and sculptural the corset looks. It’s helping me understand structure, control, and silhouette in a whole new way, and it complements what I’ve already learned from the kebaya project.
Reflection
Looking back on my Garment Draping journey from Week 1 to Week 14, I’m
honestly overwhelmed with how far I’ve come. This subject was not only about
learning how to drape and construct garments it was a complete test of my
technical abilities, mental strength, and emotional resilience.
In the beginning, I was introduced to the
fundamentals princess line, princess armhole, how to mark the bustline,
waistline, hipline, and transfer the drape onto paper. I didn’t realize then
how important these foundation skills would become later in the semester. Under
Ms. Melina’s guidance, I slowly developed more confidence in my draping and
construction work. Her demonstrations made complicated processes clearer, and
her constant reminders about clean finishing and silhouette helped refine my
eye for detail.
As the final project (kebaya design) kicked
off, everything shifted into high gear. Designing, drafting the kelepet
pattern, testing fit, correcting issues, and selecting suitable fabrics based
on OPPO’s color palette were all learning moments that challenged my
adaptability. Having to rebuy fabric and redo patterns multiple times felt
frustrating, but it taught me to stay focused and flexible even when things
didn’t go as planned. Some weeks, especially around prejudging and the fashion
show, were mentally and physically exhausting. There were moments I barely
slept, redid full components, and panicked over time slipping away. I learned
firsthand the importance of time
management, confidence,
and staying calm under pressure something
Mr. JR pointed out in his final feedback. As difficult as that was to hear, I
know he was right, and I’m thankful for his honesty and support throughout the
semester.
Despite the struggles, there were many moments of pride. Seeing my fabric
manipulation turn out beautifully, having Samantha wear my kebaya on stage, and
watching my design walk the runway were incredibly rewarding. Every stitch,
mistake, and adjustment brought me closer to understanding the real-world
process of garment development. Working on the corset in the final weeks
brought everything full circle. It reinforced structure, shaping, and precision
technical elements that complement the flowy and cultural silhouette of the
kebaya. I appreciated the switch in pace and style, and it gave me a new
appreciation for balance between rigid and fluid construction.
To Ms. Melina and Mr JR thank you for
your consistent guidance, patience, and clear demonstrations you always pushed
me to refine and improve, thank you for reminding me to believe in myself and manage my time wisely, even
when I didn’t want to hear it. Your feedback helped me reflect on my growth,
not just as a student, but as a designer. In the end, Garment Draping wasn’t
just about completing a kebaya or sewing a corset it was about growing through challenge, building
technical skills, and learning to trust my creative instincts. I walk away from
this experience stronger, more aware, and more determined than ever to keep
improving.