Laser Cut/Engraved Top and Skirt

For this project, I made a matching top and skirt set out of denim, inspired by the new GAP ad with KATSEYE. I wanted to design something my roommate could wear as a going-out outfit. My goal for the top was to have a triangular bust section with a rectangular lower part, featuring grommets on the back so it could lace up. For the skirt, I aimed for a simple silhouette but accented with a laser-engraved design.

1. Jean Material
2. Sewing Machine and tools (thread, etc.)
3. Grommet Tool
4. Fusion
5. Laser Cutter

I first drafted a skirt design in CLO3D that included ruffles, but realized I didn’t have enough material and that the engraving would not show well on that style. I simplified the skirt into a clean, straight shape. For the top, I sketched it out by hand and then created a pattern in Fusion.

I laser-cut the top pattern onto paper and used those cutouts to cut fabric from an old pair of denim pants. I folded the top pieces and added small stitched darts to give the bust area more dimension.

I sewed all the top pieces together and hemmed the edges to prevent fraying. For the bottom edge, however, I left it raw because I liked the distressed, frayed look.

Back in Fusion, I designed straps with precise measurements and then laser-cut them from denim.

Using a grommet tool, I added eyelets to the back of the top and sewed the straps securely attached them. I also attached neck straps that could be tied at the back of the neck.

For the skirt, I cut the back panel from the back of the jeans, keeping the original pockets intact as well as adjusting it to look more like a skirt. Then, I cut the front panel from one of the pant legs and attached both pieces together to form a rectangular skirt base.

I cropped and adjusted the image I wanted to engrave in Adobe Illustrator. Before engraving, I tested settings on scrap denim material, experimenting with power levels to get the depth and color I wanted.

Once I found the right settings, I laser engraved the final design onto the front of the skirt.

The project came together as a custom denim set.