Integration Of Traditional Drapes into Contemporary Pattern Making

  • Unique Paper ID: 191714
  • PageNo: 7618-7622
  • Abstract:
  • Traditional draped garments represent some of the earliest and most culturally significant forms of clothing construction, particularly within the Indian context. Garments such as the sari, dhoti, and dupatta-based ensembles rely on fabric manipulation rather than tailored cutting, allowing adaptability, reuse, and symbolic expression. Contemporary fashion, however, is largely dominated by structured pattern making methods that prioritize standardization, fit, and mass production. This practice-based research examines the integration of traditional draping principles into contemporary pattern making as a design strategy. Using literature review, craft and drape analysis, design experimentation, pattern development, and garment construction, the study demonstrates how traditional drapes can be translated into structured yet fluid contemporary silhouettes. The findings reveal that such integration preserves cultural identity while enhancing innovation, functionality, and design pedagogy. The study emphasizes the relevance of traditional drapes in contemporary apparel design and design education, contributing to culturally sustainable fashion practices.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{191714,
        author = {Ms. Archana Prasad and Ms. D. Jothipriya and Ms. Rincy Pulikkottil},
        title = {Integration Of Traditional Drapes into Contemporary Pattern Making},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {7618-7622},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=191714},
        abstract = {Traditional draped garments represent some of the earliest and most culturally significant forms of clothing construction, particularly within the Indian context. Garments such as the sari, dhoti, and dupatta-based ensembles rely on fabric manipulation rather than tailored cutting, allowing adaptability, reuse, and symbolic expression. Contemporary fashion, however, is largely dominated by structured pattern making methods that prioritize standardization, fit, and mass production. This practice-based research examines the integration of traditional draping principles into contemporary pattern making as a design strategy. Using literature review, craft and drape analysis, design experimentation, pattern development, and garment construction, the study demonstrates how traditional drapes can be translated into structured yet fluid contemporary silhouettes. The findings reveal that such integration preserves cultural identity while enhancing innovation, functionality, and design pedagogy. The study emphasizes the relevance of traditional drapes in contemporary apparel design and design education, contributing to culturally sustainable fashion practices.},
        keywords = {Traditional draping, Contemporary pattern making, Indian fashion, Cultural sustainability, Design integration},
        month = {January},
        }

Cite This Article

Prasad, M. A., & Jothipriya, M. D., & Pulikkottil, M. R. (2026). Integration Of Traditional Drapes into Contemporary Pattern Making. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(8), 7618–7622.

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