Size charts, spec charts, and grade rules are all terms that are thrown around a lot during development and pre-production. While they do sound (and sometimes look a bit) similar, their meanings are all distinct and each has a different use and purpose.
During development and even pre-production, there are times that you might get a sample back that isn’t quite how you wanted it. But, when the sample doesn’t fit, how do you determine whether cutting, sewing, shrinkage, markers, or the pattern itself caused the problem and what needs to be done to correct it?
Fashion is such a tactile industry, which makes it hard to imagine how fitting remotely could even work. The good news is it is totally possible. Fashion companies who manufacture overseas were already doing it in many ways, and I’ve been helping independent brands develop and fit their designs remotely since well before the pandemic.
Fit is a big factor in the success of a garment. During the product development process, you can tweak your design to make sure the fit is perfect before it hits the sales floor. How do you know if the sample fits? I think there are three elements of good fit – size, shape, and movement.
Good fit is so important to the success of your designs. To get it right, the fit for each design needs to be tested and tweaked on a fit model during the development process. Your fit model represents your customer and is specific to your brand.
The final section in a tech pack is for sample comments. Each sample gets its own page. When you receive a sample, write down the sample measurements as well as any changes made to the style. Keep track of what decisions were made and what the next steps for the style are.
Fittings are a crucial step in the product development process and can yield a wealth of information about your design. In addition to testing the actual fit of the garment, you have the opportunity to test the design, pattern, and fabric as well. Consider these steps below to make the most of each fitting.
When deadlines are approaching or budgets get tight, it is tempting to skip over some steps to get to the production stage quicker. In the long run, though, skipping steps can really cost you. Here are five steps that are tempting to skip, but are actually critical to the success of your end product.