Better off Thread Magazine
Project Overview
Better Off Thread is a 60-page self-illustrated magazine that brings Victorian and Edwardian fashion history to life through accessible storytelling, illustrated visuals, and carefully structured editorial design.
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CATEGORIES: Print
TIMEFRAME: 10 weeks
ROLES: Illustrator, Print Designer, Editorial Designer, and Researcher
TOOLS: Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
COLLABORATORS: Solo
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Historical fashion content is often presented in ways that feel inaccessible or overly academic. The challenge was to reimagine how Victorian and Edwardian fashion could be more accessible to modern readers by making it engaging, visually immersive, and educational without losing historical accuracy.
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Better Off Thread is a historical fashion lifestyle magazine. It presents clothing as both cultural documentation and a form of personal identity. Through original illustrations and structured editorial layouts, the magazine operates as a research reference, a creative project, and a model for immersive storytelling.
The installation component extended the brand into physical space. An exhibit and printed collateral allowed visitors to engage directly with the material. This format demonstrates how content design can adapt to museum displays, pop-up activations, and brand environments where physical interaction drives engagement.The final outcome proves that deliberate design systems enhance communication, deepen learning, and remain effective across both print and spatial formats.
Merchandise
Process
Process
The magazine is aimed at readers with an interest in fashion history, costume design, and museum culture. Key research included vintage fashion plates, Edwardian photography, historical sewing patterns, and firsthand museum studies. Insights revealed a demand for tactile and visual storytelling that goes beyond dry academic presentation.
Audience
Patricia
Student Manhattan School of Music
“Personal style is not just fashion, but a celebration of individuality and a powerful form of self-affirmation.”
Gabriella
Professor FIU
“I’m always searching for the human side of history”
Rachel
Student Heritage High School
“My passion for storytelling and the meaningful connections around me shape my world.”
Brand Components
Color Pallette
Typography
Better Off Thread Display at MOHAI
The MOHAI draws visitors interested in history, design, and local culture, making it an ideal setting for Better Off Thread.
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In a crowded museum, it’s hard to capture attention for a niche historical magazine without a strong visual or interactive draw.
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A free walking skirt pattern offers a clear incentive and encourages visitors to engage with the magazine.
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The Better Off Thread pop-up mimics an Edwardian dressmaker’s storefront. It features a mechanical dressmaker sewing the walking skirt, and a magazine stand offering the free pattern with every magazine. All visuals match the magazine’s illustration style, creating a cohesive, on-brand experience that attracts and informs potential readers.
