What is draping in fashion design?

Draping in fashion design refers to the technique of arranging and pinning fabric on a dress form to create the structure and silhouette of a garment. This process allows designers to visualize how the fabric falls and interacts with the body, providing a three-dimensional perspective that is crucial for creating well-fitting and aesthetically pleasing garments.

By using a dress form, designers can experiment with various fabrics, textures, and styles, adjusting the fit and features of the design in real-time. This practical approach helps reveal how the fabric will behave when worn, including aspects such as drape, movement, and flow. Draping is a fundamental skill in fashion design, as it enables designers to translate their ideas from concept to physical prototype before moving on to the detailed construction process.

In contrast, the other choices relate to different methods used in garment creation, such as sewing, sketching, or fabric manipulation, which do not capture the essence of draping specifically.