NovelEnglish
The competition was a group competition with unique regulations. The organizer called in a few models with
unusual body shapes, and they would be allocated to each team. The teams were supposed to custom design
clothes for their respective model, with the aim of downplaying their shortcomings and showcasing their strengths.
So, that effectively removed all the designers' models, including Sally, from the competition for that round.
Sally went up to Natalie and pouted, “This competition is too tough, Nat!”
Natalie nodded in agreement, saying, “Indeed. They don't set a theme but instead request we design according to
our model's strengths and weaknesses. That means the creations will be so varied in style and difficult to compare.
Also, if the style does not suit that particular model, no matter how brilliant the design is, that creation would end
up losing points and lowering the team's average score.”
Designers prided themselves on their sense of style, and when they conceptualized a design, it was not meant for
people with imperfect body shapes or proportions. In fact, they often did not want such people to wear their clothes
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtso as not to ruin their designs.
More importantly, they felt having imperfect people wear their clothes would degrade their image and brand.
As such, most of the top designers in the world had not designed with imperfection in mind. The unique regulation
was a real test for them, and many were deeply troubled by it.
Natalie was no exception, and even her mentor Mercede had not done any customized designs for such people
before.
Their inexperience in designing for such people was not because of discrimination or snobbishness, but rather due
to lack of exposure. In the fashion world, they had never had models with unusual body shapes, and even the
sketches they studied drew tall and lanky models. Moreover, they were mentored by top designers, and with that
background, the clients they were exposed to were the rich and famous, who were usually very image-conscious.
These people rarely allowed their bodies to get out of shape.
“My goodness! Can you feel it, Nat? The atmosphere is so solemn and gloomy!” Sally rubbed her arms and
declared.
Natalie was tickled by her expression and laughed. “Of course. How can it be otherwise? All of us have never
designed with that requirement in mind, so basically, everyone is panicking inside, not knowing what to do now! A
designer and his or her model complement one another. A great model can inspire the designer, and without one,
some designers may lack inspiration and end up with a mental block.”
“That's true! From what I see now, all of them are in that uninspired state,” Sally concurred.
“It can't be helped! Designers have too high an expectation for aesthetics and cannot tolerate imperfection. If they
cannot overcome that and learn to accept and embrace imperfections, it will be difficult for them to get their
creative juices flowing,” Natalie stated with a sigh.
“What about you, Nat? Do you have any inspirations?” Sally asked.
Natalie shrugged and confessed, “No, not yet. I don't know which model will be working with Team A yet.”
She turned her gaze toward the few models on stage and studied them, taking note of all their special features.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmOne was a dwarf slightly over three feet tall, while another model was a pair of conjoined twins sharing a body.
There was also a model with half of her body wasted due to muscular atrophy.
The organizer was really cruel yet brilliant to have come up with such a special requirement for that round of
competition. It would be an incredibly challenging test for all the designers.
Soon, it was time for the team leader of every team to head onto the stage for a random draw that would
determine the model their team would get.
Under the intense gaze of her teammates, a highly-pressured Eleanor, the team leader of Team A, went up for the
draw.
“Nat, look at her! She looks like she's heading to the gallows!” Sally gleefully jested.
“Poor Eleanor! She's under a lot of pressure, worried she'll be blamed if she gets a difficult model,” Natalie
commented as she watched with her arms folded across her chest.
Sally made a funny face and remarked, “In my opinion, that's such an unnecessary worry. Although the models on
stage have different body imperfections, it's equally challenging to design for any one of them, so it makes no
difference which model she gets.”
“No, the rest are equally difficult, but one is especially so,” Natalie said, her gaze set on the conjoined twins.
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