For dressmakers, the main consideration when working on a new creation will be your fabric however any experienced dressmaker will know that they cannot expect to achieve a fantastic quality item of professional appearance without investing in some excellent quality Haberdashery items. Good quality Haberdashery will form the foundation of any handmade piece of clothing resulting in a long lasting, superior quality piece. Whether you are a newcomer to the hobby of sewing or an experienced dressmaker there are a number of Haberdashery items which you will want to keep stocked up in your sewing kit such as rulers, scissors and pins however there are a number of more specialist items available which can make all the difference when you are creating a unique or special occasion piece such as dance costume or a bridal gown. Boning is a particularly popular item of Haberdashery which is used in everything from film costume to wedding dresses. One of the most useful pieces of Haberdashery, boning can often be overlooked in dressmaking as it is most commonly linked to more specialised items such as bustiers and corsets. Boning is an extremely useful item for adding light structure to formal garments or for holding in place embellishment such as ruching. Boning is a popular addition to items such as wedding gowns and evening dresses as it helps garments to maintain their shape and gives the wearer the ideal 'hourglass' shape. Boning eliminates the requirement to wear a bra making this an excellent choice for providing extra support in strapless items. Boning can also be sewn along the hips of a pencil skirt to reduce 'riding up' and is also used in millinery to add structure to hated and fascinators. Our Haberdashery department carry a wide range of boning items including cotton covered boning which is most often used in wedding dresses, steel covered boning can also be used as an alternative. Polyester boning is popular for creating specialised items of corsetry to create the required rigidity and shape. A durable piece of Haberdashery this is the perfect boning for achieving a high quality and professional finish to your garments, in particular evening gowns. [caption id="attachment_8766" align="alignleft" width="97"]Beckham Designers such as Victoria Beckham are responsible for the resurgence of shoulder pads as a popular Haberdashery item.[/caption] Shoulder pads are another item of Haberdashery which has fallen out of favour in recent years. Synonymous with the power dressing trend of the 1980s, shoulder pads are an item of Haberdashery which will repeatedly fall in and out of fashion as trends change and evolve. In recent years, with pop stars and fashion icons such as Lady Gaga once again embracing a more structured style of dress, shoulder pads have rapidly increased in popularity. With modern and progressive designers such as Victoria Beckham incorporating fierce structuring into their designs, we have slowly begun to see shoulder pads creeping their way back onto the red carpet and consequently into our own wardrobe choices. Our Haberdashery department carry a range of shoulder pads in varying sizes all of which are ideal for use within many of your designs to add comfort and structure. [caption id="attachment_8767" align="alignright" width="104"]zipper Recently zips have come into their own as a fashion statement rather than just a functional item of Haberdashery.[/caption] Zips are a pretty standard item of Haberdashery which have been used for many years for practical purposes such as a fastening on a jacket or dress. Any dressmaker will have a number of zips in their tool kit but recently zips have taken on a more central role for designers and dressmakers. Ceasing to be a mere functional item or necessity, zips have become a fashion trend in their own right with designers such as Calvin Klein and Michael Kors utilising the humble zip to create attention grabbing wardrobe pieces such as the fashionable 'zipper dress' made famous by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez. Previously, a subtle dress zip or concealed zip was the only choice when creating an elegant evening gown but for more brave and modern customers the zip has become the main feature of an outfit. We carry a wide selection of Haberdashery items suitable not only for dressmaking but for many other creative projects including crafts and accessories. If you are unsure which item would suit your project best, please do not hesitate to give our helpful and knowledgeable sales staff a call.