ESSENTIAL_IST - 11/2/20

For this collection I worked somewhat backwards. I woke up with this top spinning around in my head. TYPICALLY YOU WOULD START WITH YOUR COMPANY CONCEPT OR THE GAP IN THE MARKET THAT NEEDS ATTENTION. SINCE THIS WAS A PERSONAL PROJECT I DECIDED TO ROLL WITH IT AND START FROM THE BACK END AND LET THE PROCESS EVOLVE FREELY. IT REALLY IS SURPRISING HOW MUCH CAN COME FROM WAKING UP WITH A DESIGN IN MIND,

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PROCESS

i started with roughy sketching the shirt on my whiteboard and then moved directly to draping on the mannequin.

After patterning the cloth patterns were transferred sto paper. Once the paper pattern is made you can start pinning the patterns to the material. making sure the material is on a fold . .

When the pieces are cut you can pin and sew the patterns together. i started with the straps + cords and then started to assemble the rest. there’s always a very specific order.

once the top is sewn (to fit me) i have a personal mini fit session. this top was pretty close to perfect on the first go; however I made a minor adjustment to the side seams, made one of the back cord straps a shorter length than the other and went with a longer length.

TIME TO RE-PATTERN WITH THE CHANGES MADE FROM THE FIT SESSION.

ROUND TWO ON THE SEWING MACHINE SHOULD FLY A LITTLE A FASTER THIS TIME AROUND SINCE THE ORDER IS A LITTLE MORE SECOND NATURE. Everything fit perfect so a third round was not needed. however i used what i had available and iF I WERE TO SEW THIS TOP AGAIN I WOULD HAVE USED A DETACHABLE ZIPPER SO THE TOP IS EASY TO GET INTO.

AFTER FINISHING, YOU CAN CREATE DIGITAL PATTERNS TO SAVE AWAY OR SEND OVER TO THE FACTORY. TYPICALLY I WOULD JUST SEND A TECH PACK AND THE FACTORY WOULD CREATE THE PATTERNS. SINCE THIS WAS A PERSONAL PROJECT I DECIDED TO CREATE A FULL SIZE RUN INCLUDING SIZE 0-12.

i created a tech pack for the factory to bring all the material, color, dimensions and sewing instructions together. with this information they would be able to create the patterns without the digital patterns i provided.

SINCE I WORKED BACKWARDS A BIT, ONCE MY TOP WAS finished I DECIDED TO CREATE A broader COLLECTION AROUND the top focused on FUNCTIONAL SYNCHING. THE THOUGHT BEING THAT I CAN DRAW OUT A FEW MORE looks TO cREATE A MORE FULL PICTURE OF WHAT BRAND THIS SHIRT WOULD BELONG TO. typically you START WITH YOUR MARKET + CONSUMER RESEARCH WHERE ON THIS PROJECT I STARTED WITH THE APPAREL AND THEN CREATED THE BRAND CONCEPT BASED OFF OF THE STYLE OF THE PRODUCT.

 

COMPANY CONCEPT

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COMPANY COMPETITOR:

OAK AND FORT: KNOWN FOR ITS MINIMALISM, COMFORT, FUNCTIONALITY AND STYLE THAT IS ROOTED IN TIMELESS LOOKS. WHAT INSPIRES ME MOST ABOUT THIS COMPANY IS HOW THEY BALANCE MARKET RELEVANCY WITH AGLESS SIMPLICITY. THIS CONSUMER WOULD BE 24-35

CONSUMER: ROOTED IN THE HEART OF CITIES, THIS CONSUMER IS A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN OAK AND FORT TARGET LANDING MORE IN THEIR 30’S . THEY CHERISH COMFORT, SUSTAINABILITY AND LONG LASTING PRODUCTS. UNDERSTANDING THE increase of price that comes with craft + eco conscious choices. SINCE LESS IS MORE TO THIS CONSUMER THEY WANT THEIR PRODUCT TO BE TIMELESS AND LAST WITH THEM THROUGH THEIR CHANGES. WE APPEAL TO THE ARTISTIC AND FORWARD THINKING, THEREFOR WE ALSO PROVIDE A LARGE SCOPE OF GENDERLESS APPAREL. WE WANT THE GENDERLESS TO KNOW WE HEAR THEM AND LET THE EARTH KNOW WE SUPPORT AND CHERISH IT.

SUSTAINABILITY

sustainability IS THE PRIORITY: WE ARE VERY ECO CONSCIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO MATERIALS, WE USE recycled materials (recycled cotton and econyl) and sustainable materials (hemp, bamboo, algae and pinatex) . AFTER THESE MATERIALS ARE CUT, WE RECYCLE AND RE-USE THE FACTORY FLOOR SCRAPS. SINCE WE KNOW OUR CONSUMERS ARE AS INVESTED AS WE ARE WE SET UP A BRAND INITIATIVE. for every 1lb of clothing brought in,  you would get 10% off your next purchase. s0 every 2lb’s received would give you 20% and every 5lb would give you 50% all the way up to 80% off where a cap is set. .