Design
Product Concepting
Stars' goal is to make the design process as painless as possible for clients. We approach every unique situation with an array of methods and procedures designed to facilitate clear communication between clients and the organization. Like a creative brief assigned to a creative team in a traditional ad agency development process, our project initiations begin when the client provides a key document outlining the parameters and scope of the project.
Some key information includes:
Company logo and brand concept needs to be sent to us so our designers can incorporate your graphics standards into garment design labeling, as well as the presentation booklet. This will ensure the final product will reflect your corporate excellence and values.
Company information can be given to our designers by providing your website and, as well as microsite addresses. Our designers use this information to better acquaint themselves with your company and are more easily able to locate photo images of your product.
Target market of your customer base. Who will be wearing your apparel? What is the primary age group? What is the ethnicity of your target market? What is the ratio of men to women in this group? If you would like to see 50% women's apparel designs and 50% men's, just let us know. The more we know about your target audience, the closer we can effectively tailor the design of your apparel items to reach your goals.
Image & lifestyle you wish to project with your apparel. This may be 'upscale,' 'casual,' or industry-specific (e.g., running, hiking, skiing, dancewear, hunting/fishing, etc.).
Look and feel of your desired product. This can be contemporary, traditional, or even vintage in styling (e.g., 50s retro or 70s hip).
Colors you want included in your apparel. You may need to include specific color schemes, or you may simply state that you want to include "bright" or "vibrant" color combinations.
Design Quantity is important, so please provide the number of samples you would like our designers to produce for you.
Climate Objectives - Let us know if you would like your custom-designed collection targeted toward winter, spring, summer, or fall.
Apparel Reference - Is there a line of clothing from another company or retail outlet that parallels your style preference and desires, or do you have your own? Let us know by providing samples, catalogs, or simply a website address. Our designers can key in on what you like about another line and design custom apparel for you that is uniquely your own.
Garment Fit - Give specifics on the desired fit of specific apparel items (e.g., loose, fitted, relaxed, etc.). This may include details pertaining to the bottom of a sweatshirt (e.g., open bottom vs. waistband). Size and fit can be easy or complex. We have a large library of industry-standard fits, which we can incorporate into your custom apparel, or we can design something more unique that meets your needs. We can start with basic specifications and modify with fit sessions (e.g., special interest uniforms, etc.).
Apparel Selection - What type of apparel items do you want our designers to produce for you? Here's an example of a list of desired items:
- Two sweatshirt items – one men's crewneck and one women's hooded, washed-out look.
- Two outerwear items – men's waist-length, golf look, zip-front, super soft fabric.
- Two knit polo items – men's golf look, upscale, black ground with tan tipping, and reverse as second option.
- One women's knit-top pullover, v-neck 3/4 sleeve, lycra element.
Fabric Selection - Let us know if you would like a specific fabric or material you want incorporated into your apparel designs (e.g., cotton, fleece, nylon, denim, leather, suede, etc.). Custom apparel can incorporate a combination of fabrics or materials to create unique designs or purpose. Fabric selection is based upon a variety of factors: special fabrication want or need, pricing objectives, lead-time requirements, fabric for the product design, etc.
Trim Selection - The last, but one of the most significant phases of the custom apparel design process, involves the final embellishment of the garment, including zipper pulls, buttons, and embroidered logos. We also accommodate custom labels and hangtags to further enhance your brand.