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.
Print (the textile design) and pattern (the garment sewing pattern) may start out separately in design and development, but they converge in production before they meet in the finished garment. The different ways the two can come together have pros and cons within the final product that need to be accounted for during development.
It’s a situation I see happen far too often to brands. I hate to see it. The brand has developed a design with a full package production factory, but the factory made them and they won’t release them. So, what options does the brand have if they decide to switch factories?
You might not be ready to work with a patternmaker. For the investment in product development to be worth it, the design needs to be more than just a rough concept. It needs direction and you need clarity. Here’s how to know you’ve reached that point and are ready to work with a patternmaker.
The difference between a good idea and a successful product is a team that can make it happen. For apparel brands, a key member of this team is your patternmaker. Here are ten questions to ask that will help you decide if a particular patternmaker is the person you want to work with.
Once you’ve selected your stretch materials and planned the fit of the garment, it is time to start drafting your pattern. The pattern harnesses the stretch properties of your fabric to shape the fit and hug and support the wearer in all the right places. It is at this stage that creative design gets technical.
Drafting a good pattern requires knowledge of the fabric it will be made in. This is especially true when working with stretch materials. The combination of fabric properties and the pattern shape create the finished garment’s fit. Your design depends on getting this combination right.
Fitting is one of the key steps of producing any garment. Armholes and pant rises are two areas that seem to cause the most problems. They are very different areas of the garment, but they actually have a lot in common.
People love stretchy fabric. It is easy to live in stretchy loungewear. But should stretch fabric be the go-to for all fashion? There are plenty of ways stretch fabric can benefit your design, but I think there are times when stretch fabric isn’t the best choice.
Think about your favorite pieces of clothing. They probably are the ones that don’t hold you back from any of the activities throughout your day. This is why drafting patterns and fit testing for movement is so crucial. Here are seven ways that the pattern and resulting garment need to move.