The very first day I began my apprenticeship as a fashion designer, my boss enlightened me on the need to pay attention to details; in her words, "It could make or break your fashion career; you better look closely before you cut!"
I watched her closely, always trying to get the details of every design before she began to work, and she did this by asking her clients a series of questions to be sure it was what they wanted.
After three years of apprenticeship, I became my boss and started to make clothes for my clients, but one day something happened.
Miss Annabel walked into my shop with a very beautiful lace fabric that was quite expensive. "I want to make this style," she said, bringing out her phone and showing me a particular style from her gallery.
"Oh, okay," I zoomed in and out about twice, and somehow the style got stored in my memory. "Do I need to send the picture to you via Xender or WhatsApp?" She asked again, "No, don't worry, I've seen the style," I replied casually while I collected the fabrics from her.
"Oh, okay, so tell me how much my bill is; send it on WhatsApp. I'm quite in haste now," she hurriedly hopped into her car and zoomed off.
Since she was one of my regular clients, I had her measurements already, so I went straight to my cutting table and began to cut what I thought I saw.
I saw a fitted knee-length dress with pleats around the knee length and a bell sleeve. Little did I pay attention to the dart on the upper bodice, so I just went ahead and did a princess bustier.
As soon as Miss Annabel came in for fittings three days after, she was keen about the dart, I watched her pay close attention to my seam line and the kind of dart I used, comparing it to that of the lady on the phone: "Amie, the dart seems different, oh no!!! This wasn't what I wanted!" She exclaimed in disappointment, and then, when I asked her to show me the style again, I realized truly that the devil is in the details.
The lady rocking the style on the phone was wearing a shoulder dart, a kiss pleat bell sleeve, and a regular pleat around the knee.
"Ha!" I exclaimed as I placed my hands on my head. I realized that every detail means a lot and must not be overlooked.
Miss Annabel got furious, and I began to pacify her. She almost rejected the dress, but thankfully she had a change of mind after so many pleas.
After that incident, I stopped being a nonchalant designer when it came to paying attention to little details on fabric—either the pattern, the style, the colors, the kind of button, or any kind of embroidery—as they mattered and could either make or break my fashion career.