Rooted in English heritage and a deep family connection to nature, Virescence combines unique fabrication with classic silhouettes to portray the quiet power of femininity. In collaboration with industry professionals, I printed three different qualities of the textile I designed, using motifs of flowers and dragonflies. The dragonflies shown in the print, beaded embellishment, and scarves, are a nod to my grandmother, honoring her strength, legacy, and dedication to new beginnings.
Each textile: printed silk, sheer organza, and knit jacquard on the Shima Seiki machine, began as hand-drawn florals inspired by the gardens of my childhood and the women who tended them. These flowers carry the symbolic meaning of justice, resilience, devotion and are brought to life through printing manufacturers, pleating houses, embroidery ateliers, and denim washhouses. Virescence reflects a desire to move beyond trends, blending tradition and innovation to create garments that are modest, enduring, and quietly powerful.
IMAGE SOURCES CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT CORNER: Fantin-Latour, Henri Esquisse pour l’Hommage à Delacroix Musée du Louvre, Paris; Bathers, Eugene Delacroix, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, Hartford CT; Lorraine, Auguste Rodin; Diana, Princess of Whales by Bob Thomas; Tabley House by John Carr; Lynne, Unknown Artist (family painting); The Art of Embroidery, Lanto Synge (p. 20); Flora, Auguste Rodin; Susan and Lynwood, Unknown Photographer (family photograph); Unknown Interior, Nikolaus Pevsner and Edward Hubbard; Lady Diana, Paparazzi Photograph. All watercolor flowers are Amelia Stagg's own work.
Mood and theme inspiration.
IMAGE SOURCES CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT CORNER: Nwier on pinterest; Stock Photo, rawpixel; The Spring Meadow, Natalia Browarnik; Picnic, Cozie Lifestyle on pinterest; Unknown Painting, pinterest; Scott Galin, pinterest; Stock Image, unknown photographer, Saigon Vietnam; Unknown Photographer, pinterest; Unknown painting, Pinterest; Spring Floral Wildflower Field, unknown artist, pinterest; Unknown Photographer, pinterest; All watercolor flowers, beads, and bugs are Amelia Stagg's own work.
Selected flower motifs use the language of flowers, a classic English tradition, to tell a story through art.
Edelweiss, Belladonna, Black-eyed Susans, and Chamomile, represent devotion & courage, women's autonomy, justice & resilience, and energy in adversity - a woman in complete uncertainty, and yet facing her fears head on.
Dragonflies to represent rebirth.
While developing this print in late 2024, I felt that we were entering a time where it was important to remember the strength of the women around me. It is one of the reasons I chose these flowers, and the reason I wanted to push this particular print into a realm of contrast. I wanted to create something striking in order to create curiosity and interest amongst observers - to inspire people to ask questions and consider the deeper meaning.
I also designed two different scarf layouts using the same motifs, to enhance the collection.
Initial swatches with color options from my local fabric printer
Selects for the Charmeuse
Selects for the organza
Finally cutting into my custom fabric, and also my complete inability to take a serious photo apparently
In Vogue Studios in NYC assisted with fabric development and printing, guiding me through the choices and techniques that would ultimately inform my final decisions.
The looks were chosen to best showcase the textiles and techniques, and create something expansive.
The final looks were fully actualized using multiple different processes such as printing, pleating, knitting, and US based denim washing.
Final illustrations pulled inspiration from Lady Diana, Duchess Fergie, and classic English heritage aesthetic, visually representing the inspiration of the collection.
Hand drawn techincal flats.
Green Pointelle swatch simulation
Finalized green pointelle swatch layout
All knits and yarns displayed together
12 gauge simulation of the jacquard knit - this is a 5 color simulaiton, where my final jacquard was 3 colors.
The "first draft" 7 gauge sweater which I immediately scrapped. I felt it did no fit in with the rest of my collection, and deceded to pivot back to the 12 gauge vision.
Knitting my initial alpaca version of the jacquard swatch on the 7 gauge Shima Seiki machine
I developed two knit textiles. The first, a green pointelle plated knit, a mohair and rayon blend, worked out easily. The jacquard however, was much more complicated, and was initially swatched in mohair and baby alpaca.
In the end, I re-developed the jacquard for the 12 gauge machine, and switched to bamboo and cotton yarns, carried with a nylon tech thread to help with the slippery nature of it. The black-eyed susans are hand painted with a heat set dye, and purple belladonna flowers are embroidered with duplicate stitch.
"Making Of" the green pointelle sweater - some clips of the process.
Finished version of the short sleeve green pointelle sweater.
Collaborated with a beading expert at Brocade Creations in NYC/India to develop these beautiful embellishments to add to the final sweater. She helped develop the layout from original artwork to add onto the final jacquard sweater, further enhancing the knit.
Original Artwork
Scale reference guide for Tina at Brocade
Tina's artwork and scale discussions
First draft beaded dragonfly
Wing color edits and discussions
Final draft of the wing which she would apply to the approved bodies
I worked with two other significant industry mainstays - Blueprint Denim Washouse, and Tom's Son's International Pleating. Both took a large chunk of time out of their days to teach me about the basics, and helped ensure I was creating something that I could be proud of.
Blueprint Denim Washouse
Blueprint Denim Washouse Sample Room
Denim Washers
Showcasing their lazer technology for eco-friendly denim
Denim skirt I made in the final fitting, directly before sending it out to be washed
Immediately post-wash
First fitting post-wash
Pre wash fitting
Picking up my skirt from Blueprint Denim Washouse
Post-wash back view
Hanging pleats overnight to stretch the bias
working on the waistband
Hemming fitting with waistband
A tour of Tom's Sons pleating room and all of their pleating forms
Visiting the pleating room during my tour with Jordan!
I also worked with industry staple businesses such as Star Snaps and Jonathan Embroidery. They taught me about the denim finishings I would need and applied rivets, bar tacks, keyhole buttonholes, and other professional finishings to my garments when I did not have the machinery.
Awarded the Stephanie Shaich Bricken Award for Excellence in Knitwear in the 2025 Drexel Fashion Show. See the gallery below.
Digital Portfolio
Initial Concept Portfolio
