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EMERGING FASHION DESIGNERS

• IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET MARKET

  Identifying your target market is the first essential step prior to designing your collections. In order to determine your target market you’ll need to do some market research.  Always be looking at what other successful clothing brands are putting out there and make note of what they are maybe lacking or you feel could do better. Do you think flattering swimwear for all body types is missing? Or maybe sexy, eco-friendly lingerie is non-existent? If you find yourself constantly craving certain pieces you can’t find anywhere, there’s a good chance others are seeking it too! 

• WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN

  Your business plan will include every aspect of your fashion venture, outlining your business framework, details pertaining to your target market and target demographics. Next, your business strategy should include details including: how you will market your product, where you stand alongside potential opposition and competitors, what your first launch will consist of, and potential growth opportunities. One of the most important aspects of your business plan is providing a full financial breakdown. You should include what your budget is and itemize each cost and category in which you expect to spend on startup costs and upkeep. If the two numbers don't match, you will need to refine and reconfigure until you are able to realistically fit your budget. Creating this budget will ultimately help you in creating the prices for your products and calculating your profit margins. You may also want to think of a future goal for your clothing line in terms of what sales channels you want your product to be on. 

• CREATE YOUR BRAND AND YOUR BRAND VALUES

  Once you have created a business plan, you can start to get more into creating your own brand to start your clothing line. A brand is essentially your company, and it determines how you want to represent yourself. As the fashion industry is so vast with plenty of well-known brands already, you will need to find a way to stand out, so you don't become part of the background. You can start by creating an easily recognizable and likable brand.

  Your brand values can reflect your own personal values and what you want your clothing line to represent. Your brand values are important and should be reflected throughout your business. If you want to create an eco-friendly brand, for example, all of your business practices should be eco-friendly from using sustainable manufacturing to ensuring fair living wages are being paid to everyone involved in creating your clothing line. 

  Utilize your brand when marketing to your customers on social media. Emphasize your values and create an online experience that will welcome new customers who support the same ideals.

• CONSULTATIONS

  Each client and collection is unique. We start by taking the time to learn about your process, your product, and your goals. We share insight on how we can support your next steps and offer advice based on our years of experience. This also gives a chance to answer some of your questions and discuss our services in detail with you. A one-hour consultation is also available to you for a more in-depth critique and review of your goals, budgets, and timeline. Underrated Studio is here to answer your questions and provide genuine advice that will support your vision.

• DESIGN AND RESEARCH

  In reviewing a brand’s aesthetic and consumer identity, our team can better understand their intended audience and overall vision. Focusing on present and future sustainability goals, we next review all chosen materials and each style in a collection, before producing a custom size chart to focus on fit and function. 

• PATTERN MAKING

  This is where the magic happens! Think of the pattern as the blueprint for your garment. Once a technical sketch and tech pack have been put together our master patternmakers begin shaping the garment. The skill of the patternmaker establishes the garment's balance, structure, and most importantly fit. Any item from a tank top to a wedding gown starts with a pattern. Our 30+ years of experience creating tens of thousands of patterns is at work when we develop yours.

• SAMPLE MAKING

  Your sample is the first garment made from your new pattern. This is the piece that brings your concept to life and where you get to refine and perfect your vision in a way best suitable for you! Our tailors and sample makers work closely with the creative team and the patternmakers to create the best iteration of your design. Skilled in many areas of fabric qualities and finishings they elevate your design to a finished garment that exceeds your expectations.

  Before one can start with the production of garments, it is recommended for samples to be produced. Samples are the first step in order to help turn your ideas into finished products! This process will reduce the probability of errors in mass production. During sample production, with the help of trial and error, our team can assure your garments can be in top-notch shape!

• FITTING SESSIONS

  Whether you come to us with an existing garment or have created your first sample with us we take the time to fit and perfect each garment. A fitting session can take 15 to 45 minutes. In that time a very critical evaluation of the seams, fit, and look of the garment is made. Recording all notes and corrections during the fittings so that the next steps can be executed accurately.

• PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

  Many times the concept for a brand or a key item is what launches a new collection. Our team is able to work alongside that vision to support merchandising, additional iterations, sizing, and designs. Product development takes the ideas and puts them into action with sketches, flat drawings, tech packs, market research, mood boards, and sourcing. 

• PRE-PRODUCTION 

  Before we are ready to enter production, we must review each final style in detail, cross-checking all final materials and approved specs then producing manila and digital patterns. Next we grade and mark each style. This information is used to create custom tech packs, including a production price analysis. 

• PRODUCTION 

  The Bill of Materials is updated and all components that are required for your product are ordered. Any services we are not able to fulfill for you in-house will be sourced by a third party of our rigorous network. Productions can begin once all items are in-house. Our team manages each step of production hands on - from marker printing to fabric cutting, garment sewing and inspection. Upon inspections the each product will be review and our team will looks at every item diligently, all before packing and shipping final goods.