Welcome to the the Blog Series: The No-Fashion-Experience Guide to Developing Your Fashion Line, where we will walk you through how to take your design idea from your head to a polished design, ready to move into the sampling phase! This is part 2 of 4, so be sure to subscribe to stay tuned!
Alright, so you’ve got your sketches down—it’s rough, but hey, it’s a start! Now comes the fun part (or so they say): refining it. This is where you’ll start finessing proportions, playing with fabrics, and figuring out which trims to use. It sounds like a lot, but breaking it down into small steps makes it doable—and even fun.
In this blog we will talk about how to refine your initial sketches into polished, wearable designs by adjusting proportions, selecting practical fabrics, and experimenting with trims to create styles that are both stylish and production-ready.
Step 1: Proportions & Practicality
Real Talk on Proportions: Just because that crop top looks great in a sketch doesn't mean it’ll work IRL. Adjust the proportions so the fit is actually wearable (no one wants a shirt that only fits Barbie).
Pro Tip: Print a photo of a model in a basic pose and put your tracing paper over the top. If you want the top be to be cropped, draw the length exactly where you would want it to hit on the body.
Wearability Check: Ask yourself: Can someone actually move in this thing? Try picturing the person wearing it—comfort should be as important as style. Remember, you want this to be a hit, not a one-wear wonder. Consider range of motion. Is your skirt fitted down to the ankle? I'm sure it EATS on paper, but how will your customer actually walk in that?
Step 2: Fabric & Trim Choices
Narrow Down Fabrics: You’ve probably been imagining a fabric for your design, but is it practical?
Now’s the time to start doing more research. Look for fabrics that balance style, durability, and availability.
Remember when we suggested you think about fabrics when you FIRST made your rough sketch? Now is the time to go find samples. Drape the samples across your body or a friend in a similar manner to how it might drape in your design. How does it fall? If it works, snap a pic and use that to refer to when sketching fabric folds or details, so it mimics the look of the fabric properties
Test Out Trims: Try playing with different trim combinations—zippers, buttons, tassels, you name it. Trims can transform a basic design, but make sure they don’t make your item too fussy to wear. No one wants a skirt they need an engineering degree to get into. Also consider the size of your trims. An oversized plastic zipper may look really cool and editorial on your sketch, but if you plan to put it on a mesh garment, it might be too heavy. Again, get physical samples of trim options and sketch what you see!
Section 3: Iteration is Key
Redraw (But Don't Overdo It): Refining your design might take a few drafts. Tweak the details, but don’t obsess—perfection is the enemy of progress. Aim for “great” not “I can’t stop staring at it for all the wrong reasons.” It will never be perfect, but it only needs to be "good enough".
Get a Fresh Set of Eyes: At this stage, it’s helpful to show your refined design to someone you trust. Their feedback might point out things you missed or validate that you're on the right track.
Feeling like a design pro yet? In our next blog, we’re going to help you narrow down your final styles (because you can’t make them all!). You’ll learn how to focus on your strongest concepts and align them with your brand’s vision. And remember, if this refinement process has you in over your head, our team is here to help! We’ll work with you to polish those sketches or even design them for you.
Connie Bourgeois
Connie Bourgeois is a fashion industry expert based in St. Louis, MO, serving as the CEO of Conjetta Designs and an adjunct fashion professor at Washington University. With extensive experience in design, product development, sourcing, logistics, brand building, and sales, she offers valuable insights to brands seeking innovative solutions.
Her holistic approach to brand launch focuses on establishing a strong foundation for profitable business growth by intertwining story, customer connection, production models, costs, and marketing strategies. She guides emerging designers and brand owners through these critical elements to thrive in the fashion industry.
In her freetime, she enjoys long walks with her husband and toddler son, weight-lifting, drinking coffee, and listening to fashion industry podcasts.
Are you ready to take the next step in your fashion journey but feel overwhelmed by the complexities of getting your product developed?
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