Making a clothing piece requires a a good amount of attention to detail and careful planning to ensure a successful result and good experience. Have in mind that shaping a product that follows the right concept needs to happen simultaneously while pushing the boundaries between the creativity and what can really be produced. This blog post will provide an in-depth look into HW Studio design development process and guide you through our steps of what it takes to to create the desired outcome.
Shaping the thought
Designing is rarely the result of the idea that happens out of nowhere, it is also a process that involves a lot of careful consideration, problem-solving and iterations. Before any actual piece can be embodied, it is needed to define the garment's purpose: what collection, drop, or season this product fits into, what story it tells, for who it is intended for. This can take some time and these details, after the product is finished, often come across some redefining.
After putting the intentions of the future garment into the work, there comes the point of considering the fit, relevant color palette, trims, fabrics, and other finishing details. This is kind of a boiling point of the pre-development part of the garment-making while collecting the previous knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to think of new, creative solutions.
Before any actual piece can be embodied, it is good to rethink and establish the future garment’s purpose to make it long-lasting and sustainable.
From concept-heavy to easy to use
After defining of what is going to be created, guided with clear vision, there comes the real research conducting as the bare start of concept development. Never-ending explorations of creative solutions, but also data collecting, ends with quality mood boards.
Mood boards are collages that provide a visual reference for the design concept and help to define the overall vibe of the project or product. In HW, mood boards are being made both by hand or in Figma in which a we systematize variety of information and elements, including fabric and color swatches, trim samples, images of clothing, and inspirations from all over the creative industry.
First forms of the idea: Sketches and flats
This is where the idea is confronted to the what-can-really-be-made in the given time. Sketches and technical drawings or flats are a fundamental part of the design process. They are used to give a form to the concept as they fasten up the determination of the material, then colors and textures.
Sketches are main tools of capturing the essence of the creative vision. With the use of sketching and technical drawings, fashion designers can translate their ideas and show them to the next members of the project that help garment come to life. For drawing, HW designers use programs such as Procreate, Affinity Designer, Adobe Illustrator or a plain piece of paper.
Sketches and flats are used to capture the essence of the creative vision.
Pre-assembling step 1: 3D
Following the conceptualization and sketching process, 3D garment visualizations are being made in the studio using CLO 3D digital prototyping software. 3D visualizations provide a creative and pretty accurate way to create designs, allowing designers to see how the clothing will look on a specific model or how the design would appear in different colors, fabrics and textures.
These are the advantages that we can use to make last-minute changes in real-time and allow us to modify the piece until we are satisfied with the end result.
Pre-assembling step 2: Sourcing
After the materials have been selected and sourced, physical properties must be tested for bulk manufacturing, a process which is usually done in-house in the studio. This process helps to ensure that the items produced meet the standards of quality and sustainability set out by the designer.
Embodying the designs: Prototype
While introducing the designs in to the physical world, pattern making and developing a prototype is crucial for fashion design projects as they allow us to test the fit, function, material properties, and overall appearance of the piece. The final prototype needs to have the correct design details, and can be made out of substitute or actual fabrics.
Prototypes are important for collaborating with vendors and manufacturers, as they will have a better understanding of the desired design by having the prototype in their hands. This is the first moment of experiencing the piece and building initial impressions that can carry the project on.
While introducing the designs in to the physical world, prototyping is crucial for fashion design projects as they allow us to test the fit, function, material properties, and overall appearance of the piece.
