fashion design process

Fashion DesignProcess

By Sunil Talekar,

A FASHION YEAR

Two main seasons

Spring & Summer

Autumn & Winter

LIGHTWEIGHT FABRICS IN SUMMER

HEAVIER FABRICS IN WINTERBoth require a different fashion look and a new range of colors and fabric designs for the time of year.

THE PLAN...

Designers work a year in advance

In the spring, the studio works for the spring/summer of the following yearOnce a collection is finished, on to the next!

THE PLAN...

ResearchEach collection is researched so that’• all the items in it

complement each other,

• will be in style,• and have the

particular look for which the company is known for.

THE PLAN...

Predicting Trends• A designers most

difficult task is forecasting what will be in style for the coming years.

THE PLAN...

Predicting Trends• To do this, they

know the past trends and look at repeats. They also purchase HIGH priced trend magazines.

THE PLAN...

Predicting Trends• Additionally

they observe what succeeded with customers in the past.

THEM

E

A designer selects a theme that represents their collection. It can be a period in history, a foreign place, a range of colors, a type of fabric…

• A Mood Board is a summary of your collection’s inspiration and theme.

WHAT IS MOOD BOARD

WHAT IS MOOD BOARD

• It’s a design tool that will help you remain

focused and consistent as your line develops.

WHY DO YOU REQ. MOOD BOARD

• It’s also a great communication aid when explaining your vision to others (retailers, media etc.).


Magazine tears, fabric swatches, old photos, buttons, ribbons;


basically any visual reference you desire are mounted onto a hard board. Be sure to give your story board a title, like a book or film”.

1. Research: Go to galleries, exhibition, watch the music videos, the latest fashion show, street fashion, specialty magazines from different part of the world (fashion, architecture, design…), go to boutiques.

HOW TO MAKE MOOD BOARD

HOW TO MAKE MOOD BOARD2. Take pictures of objects, scene and store front. Create a “mise en scene” related to your theme.

HOW TO MAKE MOOD BOARD3. Write down a few thematic keywords you want to have in your design.4. Combine two theme to create something new. Example: Punk and Aristocrat, Urban and Cosmic…

5. The presentation must be strongly themed, capturing the mood in a nut shell and should always be accompanied by a title. This can be determined by the fabrics: Natural Linens, the season: Summer Blues, or the merchandise: Metamorphosis…


6. Cut out pictures that inspired you. Use anything you can find from magazines, your pc or mac, tissue paper, feathers, foil, string, fabric etc., books (not just fashion), your own photographs and collect fabric and paint swatches. But DONT go overboard, this can look messy.

7. Use a large sized board ( example 24”x18”) to lay out your images, your color swatches, fabrics and buttons…. This allow you to show a complete idea.


8. Extract from the large board the essence of your theme. At this point usually use Photoshop + scanning and a smaller board.9. Take a step back and critically look at what you’ve created to see if it matches your keywords and theme you defined earlier.10. Show your mood board to 2 other people (from different social circles (two friend might give the same answers, but a friend and a peer might come up with totally different critiques).

MOOD BOARD

Designing

• After the groundwork is completed for the nature of the collection, the designer must decide how many and what types of garments should be included in the collection.

• Usually, they have a three month period to design, produce and publicize the collection in time for their fashion show.

• Press and buyers get their first look at the collection at the show

THE COLLECTION

THE RANGE...

DETAILING...

DETAILING...

THE DESIGN

Steps• Designers work differently to put the design ideas

together: some sketch, drape fabric on a dress stand, or use patterns from previous seasons

• Create a paper pattern• Make a muslin sample• Try it on (a dress stand or live model) adjustments

are made When fit is right, a professional pattern cutter makes an accurate pattern

• A sample item is made in the fashion fabric, then produced in various colors

• Fashion show: reveals the finished designs in their most attractive state

MEASUREMENTS

CONTINUE