Patricia Nahorniac (@deadstockbloom) is redefining digital fashion with a blend of craftsmanship and innovation. From her roots in textile design to pushing creative boundaries with CLO, she brings garments to life beyond physical limits. In this interview, she shares the inspirations, tools, and techniques behind her latest project.
Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Hello, I’m Patricia Nahorniac or @deadstockbloom. I’m a Digital Fashion Specialist and CLO Creator from Romania and I’m currently based in Berlin, Germany.
My design journey started when I began studying Textile Design at Design Academy Eindhoven (NL). After my studies, I had my own sustainable clothing business. Through this experience I learned a lot about clothes making.
I started working in CLO because I wanted to try something new. The software is quite intuitive to learn if you’re already familiar with sewing. So far, I’ve collaborated with creators, artists and fashion brands to digitize clothing concepts for use in advertising campaigns or product visualizations.
Could you share the story or inspiration behind this project?
This artwork is part of a series that explores the various visual qualities of “Leather”. The inspiration for the suede look came from vintage Western Clothing, Cowboys and all the beautiful details and patchworks applied to these garments. I thought it would be a nice opportunity to explore working with graphics, floral motifs and gradients.
How do you usually approach planning and preparing for a new project? We'd also love to hear about your typical routine.
Generally, I’ll start with choosing a theme and collecting references. I like finding images in old books, looking through online archives and museum websites such as “The Met”.
Afterwards, I either sketch a garment/outfit or start directly with creating patterns in CLO. I’ll usually make modifications as I go, depending on the style/fit I’m looking for. The next step would be posing the Avatar and preparing for texturing. Once this step is completed, all that’s left is creating a scene in Blender (adding a background and nice lighting) and rendering out the final result.
What was your favorite part of creating these artworks using CLO?
For this artwork, my favorite part of the process was to create floral patchworks that could have detailed topstitching. I’m quite happy with how this effect turned out, but it took a bit of time and patience to put everything together. This is also one of the things I love about CLO - it can be a super fast and powerful tool, but you can also spend hours on intricate details and feel almost like a digital artisan.
Which feature in CLO did you find most useful while working on this project?
I think I used the Trace Graphic feature the most. It’s really amazing to be able to create intricate patterns in just a few seconds. This feature really saves up hours in pattern tracing and definitely makes the process much smoother. I also really like adding details through thickness, topstitching and trims. It was quite fun to use buttons in a more playful way.
Are there any artists, designers, or movements that have influenced your creative approach?
I’m inspired by workwear and utility clothing. I love overalls and garments that have a lot of pockets. Another nice reference for me is Fruits Magazine, I can always find inspiration for outfits by looking at street style looks from Japan.
What tips would you share with aspiring digital fashion designers who wish to follow a path like yours?
As a tip, I would say it’s good to find a balance between creativity and being technical. You should try out different styles until you’re able to create your own. Lastly, always post your work! I think that social media is a great way to get to know other creators and find opportunities.
