Anchor Points
Written and illustrated by Morgan Jones, October '21
INTRODUCTION
In this article we will explore “anchor points” by defining what an anchor point is, how we can design with anchor points in mind, how anchor points change with different body types and how we must consider this as inclusive designers.
WHAT IS AN ANCHOR POINT?
An anchor point is a place on the body from which fabric can be draped or secured.
There are three types of anchor points: vertical, horizontal and loop. Vertical anchor points are positions from which fabric is draped. Horizontal anchor points are positions which draped fabric can pull against. Loop anchor points are positioned around the body.
Fig 1. In the illustration above we can see a vertical anchor point, a horizontal anchor point and a loop anchor point.
DESIGNING WITH ANCHOR POINTS IN MIND
There are numerous ways to approach garment design and one is to build out from anchor points. We don’t have to use this technique exclusively, but it can be another method in our repertoire which could lead to a desirable outcome.
Fig 2. In this illustration we can see how building out from anchor points as a design technique has lead us to a design concept we may not have otherwise thought of.
DIFFERENT BODY SHAPES AND ANCHOR POINTS
Everyone’s body is unique. Not all anchor point arrangements will be able to be worn in the same way by different people.
Fig 3. In the illustrations above we can see how a different hip to waist ratio affects where we can utilise a loop anchor point on an individual.
ANCHOR POINTS AND INCLUSIVE DESIGNERS
Different body shapes require the use of different anchor points in order for the garment to have the desired fit. When we are designing clothing it is therefore imperative that we bear this in mind as we are aiming to create clothing which can be worn by a diverse range of people.
The aim should not necessarily be to create a single garment which can fit everyone perfectly, but rather, to provide a diverse offering of garments which fit in different ways. This will help to ensure we can provide options for as many people as possible.
In order to help achieve this aim, think about the anchor point positioning in your next collection / design / project. Think about how the garments would behave differently if worn by people with different body shapes and think about how the anchor points will affect this.
CONCLUSION
I hope you’ve found this article useful and thank you for giving your time to reading it.
Good luck with your practice!
Morgan