About Davina - Design Philosophy

Your costume helps define your public persona. Choosing a costume is one of the most critical things a dancer can do that will affect the way the public views her. Selecting a costume that supports and works with your personal style, dance technique and skill level is one of the most import things to do. Understanding good design will help every dancer, even if the plan is to buy a costume, rather than make one.

Design is as much skill as talent. While not everyone is born with a "designer's eye," the fundamental guiding principles and elements of design can be learned. It make take time to study - but it’s as easy as opening your eyes and thinking about costumes.

There are no rules, only loose guidelines. The old adage, rules are made to be broken is especially true in costume design. The trick is in knowing and understanding the rules and making conscience choices - breaking the rules with intention and fore-thought to create a specific effect. In fact, I believe there are no concrete rules, only guidelines and suggestions designed to inspire and instruct, not follow slavishly.

Sewing is a skill. I've never met anyone who couldn't learn the basics of sewing. It takes patience, practice and time to learn any skill, and sewing is no different. I encourage new seamstresses and costume makers to start with simple projects and invest in a good all-purpose sewing book.

Details Count! It’s as simple as that. An unfinished seam, a glob of glue that shows, a tension fold from in a poorly fitting garment can catch the eye of the viewer. Finishing your costume to the best of your skill and ability is more important than spending tons of money on the most expensive materials.

There is more than ONE way to do it the RIGHT way! As a professional seamstress, I've spent years learning different intellectual tools and developing technical expertise. Being a good seamstress is about learning as much as possible, and knowing when to pull techniques out of the toolbox to use.

Knowledge is power! There are many excellent teachers, books and videos available that help you build your knowledgebase and fill your intellectual toolbox full with sewing and design skills. Never stop learning, looking for new products, new ways of thinking, and new techniques.

You Can Do It! Bottom line - you have the power to acquire the knowledge and skills to select or make the perfect costume for you.