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5 Design Details That Make Garments More Expensive To Make

Designers, do you know how your design decisions affect the garment production cost? Each detail you choose, fabric you select, or seam type you go with influences how much that garment will cost to make. When you are aware of the cost consequences, you have the power to fit both your vision and your budget.

How To Change Patternmakers (or Graders or Factories) Without Changing Your Fit and Sizing

Fit, Sizing

Switching patternmakers, graders, or factories doesn’t mean starting over on your fit and sizing. You’ve worked hard to achieve your brand’s fit and sizing. There is no need to throw that away. With the right tools, open communication, and quality checks, you can find a better-fit partner without risking a worse fit for your products.

The 4 Things That Affect Garment Cost The Most

Costing, Production

There is no one answer for how much a design will cost to produce. There are many factors in play and the top influences might not be what you think. In my experience, these are the four things that contribute the most to your production cost.

How To Figure Out What Production Pattern Format You Need

Patternmaking, Production

Each style needs to be onboarded to the factory and you want to ensure that the factory will be able to use the patterns that you and your patternmaker have worked so hard to perfect. Here are the different pattern formats that work for production and let’s figure out which one you need.

How To Know If The Problem Is With The Sewing, Cutting, or Pattern

How To, Patternmaking, Production

When something is not right with your garment or sample, how do you know what to fix? There are many steps in the production process that could be the cause. Here are signs to look for to know if you are dealing with a sewing, cutting, or pattern problem.

6 Things To Consider When Choosing Thread For Your Design

Fashion Design

Thread is an often forgotten component of apparel, but one that touches on design, functionality, and production planning. Whether you are the one actually sourcing and supplying your thread, I encourage you to give some thought to thread as you work on your next design. Here are six considerations to keep in mind.

How To Evaluate Sewing Quality On A Garment Sample (with example pictures)

How To, Production

When you receive samples from your factory or samplemaker, it is an exciting time! It is also a time to get critical about the quality. Samples give you the opportunity to test the production quality before committing to your full order. So, grab your sample, turn it inside out, and let’s evaluate the sewing quality.

Fashion Math (Solving For Style)

Costing, Industry Basics, Patternmaking

When people talk about fashion design involving a lot of problem solving, you probably didn’t think they were talking about math problems. It’s true, though. The solution to some of the problems you run into in fashion entrepreneurship do involve math.

Let’s Make 2024 Small Business Saturday Fashionable with These Brands

Fashion Business, Fashion Design

You know what is fashionable? Shopping small and shopping your values. There is a chicness that comes with being able to respond with a personal story about the garment and the people that made it when someone says “I love your outfit”. That is a luxury that I want us all to experience. This Small […]

When To Start Sourcing Fabrics For Your Design

Product Development

I often talk about how fabric sourcing happens at the beginning of development because the pattern and fit depend on the fabric. However, it is possible to start sourcing fabrics too soon. There are a few decisions that need to be made before it makes sense to start sourcing.

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