The Aline pants
The inspiration
These pants took a long time to design. I walked around with the idea of pants that move with you throughout the day for more than a year but I had no idea how to go about it. And one day I decided to just start with a drawing. And from there came a sample with a closure that came close to what I wanted. The design moved from there.
These pants got put on hold for some time for another brain wave, The Nora dress. In the Nora dress I worked with rounded corners and soft, feminine lines. I liked it so much that I decided to add that to the Aline pants. The pants really took off after adding those details.
Now with the soft lines, the volume and the feminine look the pants give it is a piece that I am very proud of. I just finished the last sample and made some minor changes. I will be starting on the final piece soon!
Adding the details
The most prominent details in these pants are the piping on the side and the split in the hem.
The piping accentuates the round corners in the pants and gives the pants a soft look. It follows all the key parts of the pants. It also follows the pockets and the front waistband. This gives a tapered look in the waist.
The split is tilted slightly forward. This means that it falls open on the front of your foot when you walk. It moves back to your side when you are not moving. This detail gives you a a very feminine look while walking.
In the back I have added two pleats. This decision was made because I wanted more movement in the pants and more comfortable room around the hips.
The closure
The closure took a long time to figure out. I came up with it while watching someone play an accordion. The folds created room for the instrument, without it, a musician would not be able to make their music. In my mind that was the solution to a blind closure with enough room to get into the pants.
I started with a small sample which seemed to work and decided that the only way to really tell was to try it in actual pants. The first sample was made and it did work but it was hard to get into the pants because there was not enough room. My accordion solution worked for 50%.
I gave it the closure more room and fabric in the second sample and still it was hard to get into the pants. I had to come up with something else.
I let go of the accordion idea and that was the solution. Now the front folds open. You can pul it tight in the waist with an elastic. There are button holes in the elastic which gives you the freedom to tighten or loosen the pants thought the day. The closer gives the pants freedom to move with your body.
Studio photo’s made by Koen van Assema
