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Just the Basics: What is a prototype and How do I create my Product Line

Product Line

Product line is the operative word (or phrase, in this case) in thinking about product design. A product line is individual designs or products which work together to create a look or image that will sell for a prescribed amount of time. This cohesive collection of design ideas—for a season, for example—are what you use as the focal point for the development of your designs and subsequently for selling purposes. You create a look, a collection which is held together by line or color or fabrication or theme or any or all of the above.

· Follow your sense of design.

· Be aware of fashion trends—either to follow or purposely ignore, avoid or break away from.

· Know your target market—your high end evening wear will not sell to the K Mart crowd.

· Maximize the various attributes of the fabrics you use—pattern, texture, color range, draping qualities, washability.

· Be aware of the differences of designing for production vs. designing one of a kind.

Specific inspiration Is generally from silhouette to fabric or fabric to silhouette. In the garment business, finding the right or suitable fabrics will be the biggest challenge for first time designers. Often, you cannot find or cannot afford what you want…so you design “into” the available piece goods. Taking your lead from the fabric, you adapt your design to maximize its look when made up in that available fabric.

Create enough similar items which have a cohesive theme so that the store or catalog buyer has sufficient choice to purchase items which are appropriate to the store’s clientele. Have an adequate amount of product choices so that the line looks full and complete.

Tips for Developing your First Product Line

Have from three to five styles/silhouettes for the season
Each style should be offered in two to four fabrications—colors, prints, fabrics.
Have a full size range appropriate to the item:

Women’s dresses should be Sizes 2-14 .
An oversize sweatshirt can be one size fits all.
Men’s boxers shorts can be S, M, L, XL.
Infants clothing should be 0 - 3 Months, 3 - 6 Months, 6 - 12 Months, etc...

Initally, focus on one part of the market share, one type of buyer who buys this type of merchandise: just infants, not infants and toddlers; just accessories, not clothing and accessories.
Offer a balance of style types such as a typical two to one ratio of tops to bottoms in a line.

Prototype

A prototype is the first creation of the item you are designing. It may even come before an actual pattern is made. It can be a mock-up of what you want the item to look like or it can be the first sample sewn together. If you have a prototype, you or the pattern maker will use that as the basis for pattern making. If you do not have a prototype, you will need sketches from which to make a pattern.

You personally may be able to take a design from an idea to a prototype but, you cannot expect a pattern maker to do the same. Pattern makers are visual people and need to see some sort of image for which they are creating a pattern. Even if you do not draw as well as you would like to, sketch your idea. Do not worry if it is not a museum quality work of art! You just want to give the pattern maker an idea of what you have in mind. You might also use a fashion illustrator or artist who may be able to work from your verbal description and can certainly work from your sketch. This illustration or drawing should be in sufficient detail for the pattern maker to create all the elements that you have in mind.

The prototype may go through several stages of evolution and development until it looks right, makes up right and actually becomes the first sample. It should be tried on a real body to test for fit and functionality. You want it to look as good as possible and function as well as possible before you make the final pattern.

Patterns and Pattern Makers

As you develop your patterns it is important to focus on developing patterns that “are” your look. You can use these same patterns repeatedly, season after season—changing the fabric or collar shape, adding a pocket or a bow, removing a pleat or adding a slit to a skirt. These simple changes give you a new look each season and save you the time and money of creating new patterns every season. Your line needs an identity and your line needs something fresh for each new selling season. You can try out one or two completely new designs each season without much hassle, but the majority of your line should be simple—an easy updating of existing patterns.