The recent 23'/24' IACDE 3D summit, themed "Back to the 90's," concluded on a high note, celebrating creativity and innovation. The event took attendees on a nostalgic journey through the iconic fashion era. Among the highlights were the winning entries by talented designers Gail Meyer and Astrid Hanenkamp, both users of Browzwear software. Their designs beautifully captured the essence of 90's fashion. Let's explore their inspiration and journey through this year's summit.
For many of us, certain periods of our lives hold a special place in our hearts. First-prize winner Gail Meyer, Senior Fashion Designer at TFG Design Centre, shares, "The 90’s was a part of my teen years, leading into my fashion design collage years – so it’s a period very close to my heart." This personal nostalgia is the inspiration behind the craft of her stunning designs.
When asked about her experience in partaking in this year's IACDE summit, Gail expresses, "In short – I am completely overwhelmed and honored to have been selected as a winner!! I honestly just went into this to learn and stretch myself beyond VStitcher this year – get into Blender and AI, and all things scary – so the validation of my work is greatly appreciated and I am thrilled about my work being showcased in the VR Fashion Museum and cannot wait for the collaboration to begin."
She expresses her gratitude to the IACDE 3D summit for providing her with the invaluable opportunity to connect with a highly talented community of designers and learn from industry leaders. Since joining in 2022, she eagerly anticipates this annual event. She acknowledges that her participation in the competition wouldn't have been feasible without the contributions of the organizers, sponsors, and the insightful workshops held in the months leading up to the main event. Their unwavering support and guidance were pivotal in her journey, and she eagerly anticipates further development as a designer in the future.
Astrid Hanenkamp, 2D/3D Fashion Designer, crafted designs that transport us back to the 90's with a contemporary twist, leading her to second runner-up victory in the IACDE summit. Drawing inspiration from iconic fashion trends of the era, such as Dolce&Gabbana corset dresses and Vivienne Westwood's grunge aesthetic, Astrid's creations blend nostalgia with modern sophistication. From slip dresses to power suits, each piece reflects her meticulous attention to detail, incorporating elements like gold Adobe Substance embroidery and puffy fabrics from Chargeurs.
"I aimed to push my limits by incorporating all the provided DXF patterns for the 90's design challenge and I found myself deeply inspired throughout the process, learning new techniques and incorporating additional details like jewelry." Astrid explains.
Throughout Astrid's design journey, she encountered various challenges that tested her skills and patience. Draping and layering garments posed complexities, as did addressing collision issues when overlaying multiple pieces. The incorporation of interlining and puffy fabrics demanded meticulous attention to detail, especially when working with Daz3D avatars and mastering Blender for accurate fabric representation. Despite the technical hurdles, Astrid found herself occasionally prioritizing mastering the software over the design itself, highlighting a personal challenge.
However, within these obstacles lay invaluable learning opportunities. Seminars from Browzwear, Tronog, and Blender expanded her knowledge base, allowing her to refine skills in Vstitcher, Blender's camera and lighting techniques, and the correct implementation of interlining and puffy fabrics. Additionally, experimenting with Stable Diffusion AI to enhance image realism opened new creative avenues.
Reflecting on her journey, Astrid emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between technical proficiency and creative expression. While mastering software is crucial, the essence of design lies in creating pieces that resonate emotionally. Her growth as a designer hinges on this delicate balance, as she carries forward the lessons learned from this challenge, illustrating the endless opportunities for exploration and innovation within the fashion industry.
This year’s edition of the IACDE 3D Summit had a focus on the fashion of the 90’s. It was packed with content and as always, promoted knowledge sharing.
Hans Olsson, Senior (3D) Pattern Developer & IACDE 3D Summit Lead, adds, "In between the two main events in November 2023 and April 2024 we hosted in total 13 workshops which gave our participants an extensive learning experience and set them up for success with their assignments. Our top two winners from Browzwear created exceptional digital garments/renders and it was a very close tie between them.
The first prize winner, Gail Meyers, did an outstanding job turning her Browzwear renders into real life like images through various AI tools.
The second runner up, Astrid Hanenkamp, brought us an look of complex 90’s outfits on Daz 3D avatars, that she also turned into lifelike models with the use of AI.
We have already started planning for the upcoming edition of the IACDE 3D Summit and we are looking forward to once again welcome participants from the Browzwear community."
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Astrid, Gail, and all the participants of the IACDE for their exceptional dedication and remarkable designs. The level of talent showcased within the Browzwear and 3D fashion design community is truly inspiring.
If you haven't had the opportunity to explore our IACDE workshops or would like to revisit them, you're in luck! From grunge to streetwear, our workshops at the IACDE 23'/24' 3D summit covered various aspects of 90's fashion. You can now delve into them on our tutorials page to fuel the creation of your own unique collection.