2015 Fashion Show designer spotlight: Fox Du Nuit by Karley Scovell

If you’re one of Vancouver’s 160 burlesque performers (or secretly wish you could be), designer Karley Scovell has a collection of clothes just for you.

Inspired by ancient Egypt—the artwork, the luxury, the opulence—Scovell’s Fox Du Nuit line blends silk fabrics, intricate gold beading, and a sensual gold and black colour palette to create elegant costumes for the city’s burlesque dancers.

Scovell is a final-year fashion design and technology student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her line, Fox Du Nuit, will be unveiled at the 2015 Fashion Show, presented by Tamoda Apparel, on April 9 at the River Rock Casino. Thirty-eight other lines by KPU fashion design and technology students will also be showcased. See kpu.ca/2015fashionshow or follow @kpu_theshow on Twitter for details.

Lindsay Dober: Describe your collection.

Karley Scovell: Fox Du Nuit is a high-end burlesque costume line for female performers. My line consists of bras, underwear, corsets, garter belts and gowns. The theme evokes ancient Egypt’s rich history of exquisite artwork and attention to detail. I’ve selected black and gold as the only two colours to really make a bold statement onstage. Gold beading, metal boning, and silk fabrics are some of the key materials I’ve used to maintain luxury. This line takes fantasy lavishness to another level.

LD: What’s the inspiration behind your collection?

KS: I was inspired to create burlesque costumes because of my passion for costume design. Designing burlesque costumes involves attention to detail, and choosing the right combination of design, textiles, and colours can really showcase my abilities as a costume designer. With burlesque there is no limit and there should always be a "wow" factor in every costume. I want industry to say wow when they see my line, not only because of how it makes the performer look onstage, but also because of how I constructed each piece. 

LD: Describe your design and creative process.

KS: Strangely enough I started my creative journey with Pinterest. I started pinning pictures of burlesque, which eventually inspired me to centre my line around an Egyptian theme. Construction plays a big part in my design process. When I start drawing I’m always thinking about how I’m going to be able to put the garment together. Fabrics inspire me and when I find my fabric choice I’ll hold it in one hand while I draw. I find draping my garments rather than manipulating a flat pattern makes a difference when envisioning the final look. I have to be able to visualize my design on a dress form to be able to achieve the look I want.

LD: What have you learned at KPU?

KS: I’ve learned so much valuable information from KPU, only a fraction of which is directly related to fashion. Not only have I learned to draft, drape, and sew, but I’ve also taken courses on fashion history, fabric science, and textile design. I’m also a strong believer in having a background in business and marketing, so for this reason I’ve taken non-fashion courses such as consumer behaviour, organizational behaviour, human resources, and psychology. It’s equally important to not only know how to design for your customer, but to know who your customer is and what she wants.

LD: What are your plans after graduation?

KS: After I graduate I plan on entering the film industry as a costume designer. My dream job would be working as a costume designer on a TV or film set which features historically inspired costumes. I will not hold myself back—I would love to work across the globe to gain as much experience as possible.