SHIRRING. If you're not familiar with that word, don't feel bad. It wasn't that long ago that I didn’t know what it was either. Fast forward a couple of years, and now I think about shirring almost every day.
Shirring is a gathering technique, but very different from pleating. It's a key design component for both the the 24/7 Pants and the shorts with three main functions:
- It draws the eye and gives a design element/definition to the front of the garment (to avoid being plain),
- It eliminates the need for an annoying drawstring (which is commonly used as a design focal point), and
- It adds more space to the belly and leg circumference so the fabric drapes the body rather than compresses or sits againt it.
As a design element, shirring works better with this fabric than pleating does. (Pleating is better for stiffer fabrics.) I love that I've learned about this little component of clothing design and couldn't resist sharing it with you so you really get to know about the geeky reasons behind why these products are designed the way they are.