October 14, 2009
Parsons produces digitally-designed jacket for Christie Vilsack
Tomato-themed apparel unique, timely for Iowa’s former first lady
Iowa’s former First Lady, Christie Vilsack, sports the new tomato jacket designed and constructed by Jean Parsons (right), associate professor in apparel, educational studies, and hospitality management. Vilsack will wear the horticulture-themed jacket at the 2009 World Food Prize Laureate Award ceremony and dinner, Thursday, Oct. 15 at the state capitol. Photo by Bob Elbert. |
By
Laura Dillavou
AMES, Iowa – Tomatoes and beets may not have made a runway appearance this fall, but Iowa’s former First Lady Christie Vilsack thinks they'll be the chic look at the 2009 World Food Prize Laureate Award ceremony and dinner, Thursday, Oct. 15 at the state capitol.
Vilsack will be wearing a formal jacket displaying a pattern of tomatoes, beets, and leaves to the dinner, thanks to Iowa State University faculty members Jean Parsons and Natalie Sanger Gendle. Through the use of a new, state-of-the art, industrial digital printer, Parsons and Gendle have creatively photographed, designed, and constructed the jacket.
“Christie requested a couple of jackets she could wear to farmers’ markets and around D.C., patterned with photos of fruits and vegetables,” said Parsons, an associate professor in apparel, educational studies, and hospitality management (AESHM). “They would be quite the conversation piece and allow her to easily segue into a discussion about the Department of Agriculture’s ‘Know your farmer, know your food’ campaign.”
Parsons said one of the main challenges was creating an artistic, classy garment with a pattern not normally used for formal attire. She said Gendle, a lecturer in AESHM, played a large role in the literal and abstract interpretations of the design, which uses photos taken by Parsons at local farmers' markets and vegetable gardens.
Another challenge was working cross-country with Vilsack, who resides in Washington, D.C. After fitting her in a muslin mock-up when she was in Des Moines for sizing, Parsons said the designers began the careful construction process.
“After getting the muslin back [from Vilsack], we took it apart, made a paper pattern, and scanned each piece into the software system,” said Parsons, who communicates with Vilsack about the design via e-mail. “We worked to place the photos of the tomatoes, beets, and leaves in an attractive design, then printed it on silk fabric.”
The high-tech printing software allowed the designers to purposefully place the horticulture-themed graphics in specific places. This means the pattern of leaves or tomatoes is not interrupted, despite seams, closures, or sleeves. Parsons said that while the pattern creates a strong visual, it also presents a challenge when completing final fittings, because it allows less room for intake or allowance.
A proponent of education, Vilsack also requested that Parsons and Gendle use this project as a learning and teaching example in the classroom.
“I think it’s great to show the students the many things that can be done with the digital printer,” Parsons said. “Each time we’ve made some progress, we’ve shown the students and it gets them excited about this area of textiles and clothing. It’s a very tangible example of creativity, design, and technology.”
In addition to the dressy jacket, Parsons and Gendle will also make Vilsack a more casual vegetable-themed jacket, as well as a tote with vivid veggie photos serving as the print.
Contacts:
Jean Parsons, Apparel, Educational Studies and Hospitality Management; 515 294-4022Laura Dillavou, College of Human Sciences Communications; 515 294-3689Mike Ferlazzo, University News Services; 515 294-8986.
