What is the difference between apparel design and product development? While we all believe that design is only about creativity, our role as designers requires us to use both our left and right brains. This includes both product design and development. It is crucial that you are knowledgeable about all aspects of your business as a fashion entrepreneur.
Design, conceptualization, and creativity are the first steps in creating a vision. The first step in product development is apparel design. The design stage is where you take your idea and create a concept. This will help establish the direction for function, quality, and aesthetics. Design success is dependent on market research.
The fashion business is not only about design. There are many steps and people involved. The process of creating a product can be described as taking an idea and turning it into reality. This includes producing a prototype that is perfect or very close to perfect, which you can then give to the factory for a counter sample.
Remember that product development is an organic process and involves more than just creating mood boards and sketches. Your creative abilities are still being used, but it is slightly different. This includes things such as building a team, legal compliance, pattern creation, tech packs, prototypes, clothing manufacturer, and pattern revisions. You will also need to make sample requests, request quotes, provide fit comments, create more revisions, and get more samples before your creation is ready for market.
Remember that product development will involve design. The clothing manufacturers in Canada provide apparel design that can be more creative as you are laying out the vision and idea while product development is making it a reality. During development, you still have to consider the original vision.
- Create concepts using a mood board
You should have a good understanding of communication and teamwork. Finding your tribe (the person who will create your prototypes) is possible if you are a graphic designer or pattern maker, sample maker, or lawyer.
- They are able to understand the needs of customers and show their taste through designs
Both prototypes and counter samples can be created
- Understanding the fabric properties and structure of fabrics, as well as their content, weight, and functions is key to selecting the right fabric.
Both prototypes and counter samples can be created
- Choosing the right garment trims.
Collaborating with a technical designer in order to create tech packs (the blueprints and assembly instructions) for your design. You can also update them as your design changes.
- Create sketches
To keep product development on track, create a calendar (also called a work back plan).
- Market research- gathering data about target markets (focus groups, interviews, and gathering stags), go to tradeshows, competitor analysis, what’s in the demand? What is your target market looking for?
Fabrics, trims, and factories
- Take photos of the market and purchase samples
Assure quality standards are maintained by approving and commenting upon samples. Constant communication with the factory is essential.
- How to label your artwork and print/embroideries
Ensure that your products are ethically and sustainably made
- The setting, wholesale, retail, and finalizing target costs with the factories, adhering to budgets
It doesn’t matter how many books or people you talk to, the first season can be confusing until you have experienced the whole process. Today, product design and development are handled by the same person. This allows you to make sure your designs reflect your vision. For your product to succeed, it is crucial that you have the right balance between a product developer’s pragmatic and a designer’s creative imagination.
Deasil Custom Sewing is a growing industrial sewing contractor. we are hiring experienced Industrial Sewing Machine Operators.
