Prada, RST12, Milan.
Among the many carefully chosen details from the Prada Resort 2012 collection, the collars, plackets and yokes were often defined with a piping trim. Piping is an excellent way to add definition to garment edges and seamlines as it forms a subtle 3D edge, perfect for small hints of contrast colours.
Piping is essentially made from a length of cord, usually cotton cord, encased within a bias cut strip of fabric. For the same reasons that bias cut strips are used for bias bound edges, the fabric must be cut on the bias to allow the edge trim to mould smoothly around curves and corners.
Piping can be bought pre made, or you can make your own using bias cut strips of fabric and cord.
The images below show the basic method of making your own piping:
The images below are of pre-made piping. The piping in the image on the left is made from Polyester Satin Binding, the piping in the image on the right is made from Leather:
The images below show two different thicknesses of cotton cord, suitable for making your own piping. The image on the left shows 2mm cord while the image on the right shows cord roughly 6-8mm thick:
Prada images from Vogue.com»
Piping and cord images from MacCulloch & Wallis»
Piping Diagrams by The Cutting Class»
