Red Thread

Coming up with a reason to write anything is always the hardest part. There has to be a "So What?" a reason for the reader to care and follow things through from start to finish. The same pressure is on designers as they come up with the concept for their lines.

The metaphor for this consistency is called a "Red Thread." We see it in the cut of a jacket, a color scheme, or a pattern of fabric in fashion. In writing, we often have difficulties because it's not always stated right out. We have to read between the lines, search for the pieces of red thread that are hidden. Because these things aren't nearly as obvious when we read, as writers we have to guide our writers to the answers we want them to get.

We have multiple tools at our disposal to accomplish this. Repetition is the most effective. Just like with the slim black ties and black silk bowties in the Dolce and Gabbana Men's line, we see different variations of similar themes, but with consistencies. By looking for places where we can restate the theme we're trying to get across, our readers can find the pieces of thread and pick them up to get the total understanding of our texts.