Constructing Balenciaga's 'Tulip' dress

Working with students from the London College of Fashion, we've created digital animations to show how three of Cristóbal Balenciaga's iconic designs were constructed. The 'Tulip' dress is made from stiff silk gazar which stands away from the body and provides the strong architectural shape. The fabric is joined at the centre front and centre back with no side seams – a signature of Balenciaga's designs. A second panel of fabric hangs from the shoulders and is secured with bar tacks under the arms, creating the illusion of a loose, unstructured garment. 'Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion' is on display at the V&A from 27 May 2017 until 18 February 2018 vam.ac.uk/balenciaga