I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World - Chapter 57

"So, what do you want to discuss?"

"While discussing materials, I had a disagreement with Duke Herbert, so I wanted to know what kind of yarn Sir William would use for the clothes."

"What are your thoughts?"

"I prioritized elasticity a bit more; I thought durability could be solved by blending it with other yarns."

"I thought it was more important to balance durability and elasticity; no matter how much you mix other yarns, only certain yarns can be damaged, right?"

"Oh... I see..."

Personally, I was drawn to Lady Fanny's opinion of prioritizing elasticity, but it was difficult to take anyone's side.

Because they were both right.

It wasn't that anyone was wrong or right, just a matter of preference.

In these cases, unless there are other disqualifying factors, it's best to make the fabric and then judge whether the feel or appearance came out as intended.

Because no matter how much you like it, clothes are something you won't wear if you don't like the feeling on your body or the design.

Taking myself as an example, I like the feel of silk on my hands, but I don't like it touching my chest or sides.

I don't really know why.

I just feel discomfort when I wear it.

So, I only wear clothes made of cotton or linen that directly touch my skin.

I may be a bit extreme, but anyway, I wanted to say that texture has a big impact on comfort, just as much as durability or elasticity.

"You're both right, so in this case, it's important to actually make it."

"Excuse me...?"

The two, who were subtly vying for each other, looked at me at the same time with expressions as if to say, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

No, is Duke Herbert even looking at me?

"Cotton and silk are similar in strength and elasticity, but the degree of wrinkling and the feel of the fabric are completely different, right? So, it's good to consider the sturdiness, but you also have to consider factors such as what the fabric looks like, how well it deforms, and what the texture is like."

"“Ah.”"

After listening to my explanation, the two simultaneously opened their mouths slightly and sighed.

"We were missing something important."

"It's not like we're making tents, but we're too obsessed with sturdiness..."

"It's good that you realized it now."

It's important that you realize anything.

And since the two have done a lot of sewing, but are still learning tailoring and design, I didn't expect much.

"However, the problem of which yarn to use to make the fabric still remains."

"Isn't there too much variety to make them all one by one?"

"Then we have to find the yarns that show promise first."

It would take quite a long time if I had them make even the thread, so I pulled the basket towards me and looked inside.

I don't know a lot, but I remember the feel of frequently used synthetic fibers.

"There's quite a bit..."

Counting with my eyes, there were twenty types.

There were quite a few.

But it doesn't matter.

The synthetic fibers used in my past life were also very numerous, but the only three we need to remember are nylon, polyester, and polyurethane.

The reason is that other than those three, they are either materials used in special cases such as flame-retardant clothes, bulletproof vests, or wetsuits, or the texture is not good for everyday use.

It would be really nice if all three were in those twenty types of thread, but right now, I just need one of nylon or polyurethane.

Even if only one of them comes out, it can be replaced to some extent with other materials.

The only problem is how to distinguish them.

There weren't many ways I could use, since I'm ignorant of science or magic.

The only way is to touch them and find the thread with the texture and elasticity I want, just like when we choose clothes.

So, I looked for the desired thread based on the following criteria.

If it stretches well like a rubber band, it's polyurethane.

If it's sturdy, glossy, and easily returns to its shape, it's polyester.

If it stretches ambiguously but seems sturdy, it's nylon.

Scientists would grab the back of their necks, saying, "Is this even analysis?" but 2,000 years ago, scientists explored the world like this, so it's scientific anyway.

The problem is that it's a bit outdated.

I don't want to do this either, but if I'm being wronged, they should have given me scientific knowledge and reincarnated me, or made me a wizard.

While self-hypnotizing that it's scientific, even though it's rule-of-thumb, I touched each thread in the basket one by one.

"This one's not good."

"Um... Is it okay to check like that?"

"Don't you think that's too subjective of a standard..."

The two, who were watching me touching the threads and judging which ones were good and bad, frowned and added words of concern, seemingly quite shocked.

"It looks weird, but it's a bit difficult to express in words what's good about it."

However, regardless of their concerns, I focused all my attention on my fingertips and analyzed the twenty types of thread very scientifically, and as a result...

"These are the only ones that are decent."

I was able to find three threads that met the criteria to some extent.

It would have been nice if all three types I was looking for came out, but unfortunately, one was like nylon, and two felt like polyurethane or rubber.

It would have been nice to have at least one polyester, since it doesn't wrinkle enough to require ironing, but it was a bit disappointing.

I can't force them to bring me something that doesn't exist, so I have to live with the disappointment.

"Hmm..."

"Ugh..."

As I smiled and looked at the selected threads, the two looked at me awkwardly with expressions that seemed to say they had a lot to say.

I understand their concerns enough, but even if I act in a rule-of-thumb way, I didn't intend to use the threads I found out this way right away.

This is just selecting things with high potential; I need to find out more about whether they're really okay to use.

It would be obvious that something terrible would happen if I didn't know that a thread that stretches well and looks sturdy would melt when it touched water or soap, or become gooey like gum at body temperature, and used it recklessly, so would I be crazy to do that?

If that happened, and clothes worth millions of won disappeared or tore after just one wash, just imagine.

A very terrible and painful future awaits, dealing with mad nobles.

"I'm going to entrust the threads I've chosen to the Magic Tower for analysis, so don't worry too much."

"I see."

"That's a relief then."

The expressions of the two rapidly softened at one word added with a smirk.

Even though it was an image I created myself, it scratched my heart a little that they treated me like a madman who acted recklessly.

I'm not that bad, even if I am...

"Tch..."

I smacked my lips and made a sulky expression for a very short time, then took the three selected thread balls aside and looked at the two, saying.

"By the way, are these threads produced in large quantities? Enough to make clothes?"

"Yes, we scraped together as much as we could from what we could secure to some extent."

"Okay, good."

I'll send this to the Magic Tower as soon as I get home, and the threads that weren't chosen can be stored in the warehouse, since they might be used someday.

"Is it okay to continue the discussion about the fabric after the results come out from the Magic Tower?"

"That's fine."

"I'm fine with it too."

"Then let's check the design again next Wednesday, and wrap it up here today."

"“Yes.”"

I picked up the thread and got up from my seat.

_

Thursday, the day after checking the work of Lady Fanny and Duke Herbert, was a day when things went particularly smoothly.

The request for yarn analysis that I entrusted to the Magic Tower through Ms. Heiny received a reply that a magician who happened to have free time could let me know next week.

Adelheid, who was a little late in realizing that all the tailors couldn't keep up with her speed even if they all stuck to her, started to do something called speed control.

The fabric that was slowly showing its bottom arrived just before it was about to run out.

It was so smooth that it fit together perfectly like gears meshing, that I felt a strange pleasure.

If this good flow continues, I'll be able to make and release underwear for the public as soon as the request to the Knights is over, as naturally as water flowing.

"Sir William."

As I was checking the newly arrived fabric inventory with an excited heart, Lady Elizabeth approached quietly with light footsteps.

"What's wrong?"

"I think we should start discussing the schedule from now on."

"Hmm, that's right."

I nodded and put down the ledger.

It was time to tell the middle manager, if not anyone else.

"What's your plan?"

"After delivering the goods to the Knights, I'm thinking of making prototypes first, like the clothes that Fanny and Herbert are designing, or prettier bras."

"I see, then others will be free for a while."

"I've been making them work like commoners for a few weeks, so they should be free for a while."

"That's true too."

What kind of person in the world makes nobles work 9 to 6, 5 days a week?

They work in office jobs or something similar, like people in the Imperial Family or in official positions; no noble does labor like this.

It's because these people are strange that they did it without complaint; if it were another noble, they would have protested from the start about coming out 5 days a week.

"What are you planning to do next?"

"Hmm..."

I had some vague ideas in my head.

Newspaper ads using Catherina, or street promotions, things like that.

But it's no fun to say it now.

"I don't really know yet."

"Hmph~"

Lady Elizabeth's eyes narrowed and the corners of her mouth turned up a little more.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll show me."

"...?"

I frowned at the sudden reaction of the Lady and blinked my eyes.

Where on earth did I make her expect something?

I thought I was starting to understand the Lady, but seeing this, it seemed like I still needed a lot of time to understand her actions.