Mannequins & Dress Forms

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Retail Mannequins and Dress Forms

Dress forms and mannequins are widely used in retail stores to display clothes and accessories, but may also be used by seamstresses and clothing designers. Mannequins come in a wide variety of aesthetics, emulating the look of an actual person or merely providing a simple anatomical form.

What is the difference between dress forms and mannequins?

Most mannequins are for display purposes in shops and retail stores. To use them, you simply put clothing or accessories on them as you would a human body. Dress forms are tools used by designers and makers. They are wrapped in wadding and linen so that fabric may be pinned to them. They may also be customizable with dials and expanders so they match human measurements and sizes.

What kind of dress forms are there?

There are many dress forms available, but they largely fall into these categories:

  • Professional form: These usually have a cast iron base with a vertical adjuster. They're covered with cotton wadding and linen so that fabric and patterns may be pinned to them.
  • Adjustable form: Adjustable forms are professional forms with dials on them. This is so the form size may be adjusted. These give clothing makers better guidance when they are designing for specific measurements.
  • Handmade form: These may be made in a variety of ways. they can be either completely improvised or adjusted with the help of pre-manufactured parts.
  • Display form: Display forms resemble professional forms but have simplified figures. They provide a handcrafted aesthetic to store displays alone or with other mannequins.
How do you choose what kind of mannequin to use?

Your mannequin represents who will be buying your apparel, so they should mirror your customer base's average measurement wherever possible. You can find male and female mannequins in adult, child, plus-size, and pregnant forms. Additionally, mannequins are available in different poses. Activewear and sportswear are best displayed poses like running, jumping, or dancing. Fashion garments are best displayed in runway-style poses. Finishes also vary on mannequins. They may have well-articulated expressions, be entirely one color, or be made to look like an actual person. Choose a finish that best represents your brand and look of your store.

What are partial form mannequins?

Partial mannequin forms are usually made of plastic, silicone, or styrofoam. The thickness and finish on the plastic ranges from very thin and clear to sturdy. they can also be painted to resemble actual body parts. You can find a variety of body parts, including hands, feet, heads, and torsos. Leg mannequins have several variations, including legs attached to a lower torso and legs only with feet attached. Other options include hands with forearms and busts that include a full head or just the neck and shoulders. These all serve the purpose of displaying particular kinds of apparel and other fashion items.

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