Creative Design: Undergraduate

Bayou Bride: Combining Alligator Leather and Digital Textile Printing in Bridalwear

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Abstract

Alligator leather is attractive to luxury consumers because of its unique texture and beauty. However, due to the shape of alligator hides, differing scale patterns, and the hardness of the leather, it is less appealing for usage in apparel. One strategy to retain the visual appeal of alligator leather while improving comfort and versatility is to create photo-realistic digitally printed “alligator” textiles alongside real leather. Discovering new ways to use alligators is crucial to the alligator industry, which is experiencing a price slump. For this project, I focused on the bridal market; the utilization of sublimation dye printing allowed me to experiment with alligator print on bridal textiles such as satin and chiffon, retaining the drape and movement necessary for a gown to glide down the aisle. Creating an alligator bridal gown serves as a dramatic example of the beauty and versatility of alligator leather when combined with sub-dyed textiles.

Keywords: alligator, digital textile printing, CLO3D, bridal

How to Cite:

Rigney, M. & Stannard, C. R., (2025) “Bayou Bride: Combining Alligator Leather and Digital Textile Printing in Bridalwear”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21770