Vamos Vest Vision
Inspiration: A year-long hunt for the perfect vest
Over the last year and a half, I’ve developed a love for vests, collecting over 17 of them from various markets, thrift shops, and consignment stores in Seattle. They quickly became my go-to piece when getting dressed, for their balance of style and practicality. I love how they can elevate any outfit. Whether worn on their own or layered over a sweater or raincoat. There’s something about them that works for any occasion.
But what struck me was how well vests seemed to fit into any style. It’s a joke among my friends now because I’m always telling them that vests just look good on everyone! It was that realization that sparked the creation of this vest—a piece that I could wear every day, but also one that anyone could enjoy.
Design: A mix of my favorite details
I set out to design a vest that incorporated all my favorite elements from my collection of vests. The fit was most important for me—it’s cropped and roomy, with a relaxed feel when left unbuttoned. The fabric is durable and comfortable, making it a perfect layering piece. The vest also features two large front pockets.
I drafted the first pattern by hand, with the help of my three favorite vests. I initially thought about adding a zipper, but when I realized I didn't know how to sew them on, I opted for buttons instead. To my surprise, everyone loved the buttons, so I stuck with them. After that, I attempted to size down the pattern for my roommate, even though I had no prior knowledge of how to go about doing that. After teaching myself the basics over a few hours of YouTube videos and blog posts, I gave it a go.
Testing: Refining the fit
Creating my desired fit across multiple sizes wasn’t easy. It was a process of trial, and error, and a lot of feedback. After making the first few sizes, I knew I needed input from others to get it right.
The first round of feedback was from my friends. They tried the vests on and gave me their honest feedback. I was focused on keeping the fit and style consistent throughout the different sizes. Way easier said than done. I took detailed notes on what worked, what didn’t, and what could be improved.
During this time I also started attending a weekly open studio at Very Good Collective, a community space started by my friend Beija Flor. This was a prefect environment to bring my work and get some insightful feedback. The open studio gave an opportunity to test the fit on an even wider range of people.
It wasn’t until the final round of testing that I felt the vest was truly ready to go. After compiling all of the feedback from two months of work, I created a final set of sizes and transferred the pattern onto a more durable paper.
