Notes on the birth of the creative lotus bag

Author: @libby Wanpizhi At the end of 2018, I finally made a bag with a somewhat special side panel structure that I had been imagining for a long time. Here’s how it came to be.

【Prototype】 I can’t remember when this design was first conceived. Around 2015 or 2016, I had the image of lotus petals on the side panels of the bag, but my idea at that time was simple flat splicing. , expressed with color gradients or contrasting colors. Not long ago, when communicating with the customer about the specific color scheme, I drew a sketch of the plan, which is roughly what the plane splicing looked like in the original idea:

Why didn't you try it out? The flat color splicing was just an ordinary idea, lacking the motivation to do it; and at that time, I had not yet mastered the sewing machine skills and did not have the appropriate equipment. Hand sewing? Forget it, there are so many edges, it’s a headache just thinking about it. So I just thought about it and didn't do anything at all. [Evolution] Time flies by, until last year a customer sent me this picture, saying that he wanted to customize a bag with a similar style:

To be honest, I didn’t feel much when I saw the picture, and I wasn’t inspired to create. I almost turned it down. Invitation, but this side panel with contrasting colors and splicing reminded me of the shelved plan, so I decided to give it a try. More importantly, I already had simple 3D modeling skills at this time. It turns out that mastering (more diverse) tools not only serves to realize ideas, but also opens up ideas and promotes the generation of new ideas. I quickly thought about using something like Origamis principle, turning a flat image into a three-dimensional one will produce a very charming effect, and I can make this three-dimensional plan! So, I drew the evolutionary form of the lotus bag.

(The modeling software here is RhinoWIP, a great curve-based 3D modeling tool. I have only mastered a little bit of it so far, and this bit of fur is very helpful for pattern making. ) Later, it went through several rounds of modifications. The shape of the hijab, the removal of the handles, and the connection method of the straps were all adjusted, but the shape of the side panels was basically determined and has not changed again. [Materialization] The next step is one step at a time. The process of materializing the footprints begins. Start with the side panel part, which is the most uncertain. First, unfold the built 3D model to a flat surface to get the initial side panel pattern. This pattern only contains the core structural information and cannot be directly Used to make leather goods. (In fact, I can’t understand this only 3D software was used to draw the flat layout parts, and other parts of the layout were drawn directly based on 2D software. The reason why we made the 3D model of the whole package in the picture above is just to visually display the overall appearance effect, which is convenient Communication and reference for subsequent design, in fact, the details are relatively rough.)

I made a series of models using leather bran paper to verify the feasibility of this structure (the elasticity and toughness of leather bran paper are closer to leather, for dynamic testing The effect is better than ordinary cardboard). Then use the leather and auxiliary materials that will be used in formal production to make partial samples, obtain detailed data about each detail bit by bit, and obtain the dough, lining, and auxiliary material drawings that can be used for actual production. And determine the details such as the splicing method of the leather and the edge treatment method. The specific method is a bit like doing an experiment. In order to obtain accurate dimensional data, make a set of samples, obtain a new set of data, change the drawings again, and make another set of samples... …repeat several times until each component fits perfectly; in order to determine the most suitable combination of main materials and auxiliary materials, it is necessary toSeveral sets of samples were made to test the feel, elasticity, and durability, and different matching plans were accompanied by fine-tuning of the pattern data... In short, the whole process was full of detailed calculations, which was very brain-burning.

When the side panel is officially made, I feel that it is half done. .