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.
As much design goes into the inside of a garment as the outside. The biggest decision about the inside is lining. Does your garment need a lining? Perhaps. Let’s take a look at the inside surface of your garment and talk about the reasons to consider adding a lining and reasons to leave it unlined.
There is a whole spectrum of customized clothing production options between one-off custom and mass-produced bulk. Each option requires a different amount of upfront development work and production time and offers a personalized, but slightly different experience to the customer.
If you don’t know how to measure your fit, then you’ll end up confusing yourself, your factory and your customers. Precise measurements keep your fit and communication consistent and it all starts with being clear on what exactly you are measuring and why.Let’s look at when to use garment measurements versus body measurements.
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.
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.
If you use deadstock fabrics, you’re going to need to take a different approach to designing and developing new styles. Knowing your fabric is important for development, but when using deadstock, the process looks a bit different. Let’s break it down.
Labels create a first impression of your product and brand. Don’t leave labels as an afterthought, but instead take care designing your labels as you do with your garment. Choose the best type of labels for your apparel product based on the look, feel, and function of the overall design.
The garments you sell need labels. Labels are how you brand your product, provide important information to the customer, and meet legal requirements. They are a small detail, but have a big impact. Let’s talk about when and what labels you need for your garment.
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.