Shrike: The Fabric Story

Named after the bird known for impaling its prey, Shrike is a diplomat who carries blades as fluently as she carries words. Her reputation was built on quick, decisive conflict, but these days she'd rather talk a dispute to its end than fight one.

We gave her a formal role on a peace delegation, where she spends her days negotiating, mediating, and building relationships across different groups. This became the starting point for her outfit design.

We wanted her clothes to look polished without looking too formal, reflecting someone who needs to earn respect while making others feel at ease. Every design choice was made with her role in mind, helping her outfit tell the story of who she is.

Our first design decision was fabric instead of the amour. Before defining materials or anatomy, we explored how cloth could shape Shrike's silhouette and performance. Using traditional Japanese garments, historical references, and contemporary Japanese design as our visual foundation, we crafted folds that respond naturally, giving her a distinctive presence from every angle.

The Process

References

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Pattern Drafting & Draping in Marvelous Designer

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Marvelous Designer Final Pass

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Each garment had to fit naturally over the next while still allowing believable movement during animation. We spent a significant amount of time refining the construction, testing how different layers interacted, so the costume would look cohesive. Making sure every part of her design showed off something she can actually do.

WIP Renders

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Final Renders

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The Team

• Senior 3D Character Artist Ali Habibi

The Tools

• Clothing & Fabric Simulation Marvelous Design | • 3D Modeling & Sculpting ZBrush, Maya | • Texturing & Materials Substance Painter | • Real-Time Engine Unreal Engine