Apparel Classifications

1. Basic Elements of design

2. Design Principles
3. Execution of the sample garment
• The elements and principles of fashion are
very essential factors for the fashion industry.
Designers have to make sure their garments
have all the elements and principals, in order
to be sold to the consumers.
• Every designer is different just like the
consumers. For the seller it might be
challenging for them to sale the garment to
the right person.
• Everyone has different body types and
styles. Sometimes the wrong outfit is the
right outfit, with a few tweaks you do to it.
• LINE, SHAPE, COLOR, TEXTURE,AND PATTERN.
YOU NEED ALL THIS ELEMENTS TO MAKE THE
PERFECT DESIGN FOR THE RIGHT TYPE OF BODY.
• THE LINES YOU USE IN YOUR DESIGN HAVE TO
COMPLEMENT THE BODY TYPE OF THE PERSON.
• THE SHAPE HAS TO BE RIGHT.
• THE COLOR HAS TO MAKE THEIR FACE AND SKIN
LOOK PERFECT AND BLISSFUL.
• THE TEXTURE AND PATTERN HAVE TO BE RIGHT
AND HAVE TO COMPLEMENT THE BODY TYPE.
• AS LONG AS YOU TAKE THIS IN CONSIDERATION
YOU AND YOUR CLIENT WILL BE FASCINATED
WITH YOUR WORK!
 Designing and producing
Apparel Collections
• Inherent in every good design is a
complement of ingredients that work
together.
• The designer selects these DESIGN
ELEMENTS, with the company’s overall
concept in mind
• Then blends them into a garment that will
be fashionable as well as functional.
Basic Elements of Design
• In fashion design the Basic Elements are
Color
Fabrication
Silhouette
Detail
& Trim
• While one may serve as the dominant force
• Each plays a vital role in the creation of the
garment.
• It should be understood that these same design
elements are part and parcel of all fashion
products.
 Color
• Rarely does another element rival the
initial impact made by color on the
customer.
• To take advantage of this reaction, many
designers & manufacturers often present
groups of clothing within a collection in a
specific color.
 Color theory and selection
• There are color rules to address and to
ignore, 🡪 the decision coming from those
who chart the company’s design
philosophy.
• some designers are traditionally oriented
in terms of color use, while others are
sufficiently gifted to rely on their instincts
to come up with color combinations that
defy the rules of the game
 Color Wheel
• Generally the primary safety tool that
designers use is the color wheel.

• Their placement on the color wheel

enables the user to develop color
harmonies that are both technically correct
and pleasing to the eye.
 Hue, Value & Intensity
• Designer use the term hue, value & intensity
• Hue is the technical name of the color.
• Value refers to the lightens and darkness of the
hue.
• Intensity signifies the hue’s brightness or
dullness.
• When the colors are augmented or enhanced
with the neutrals, blacks and white 🡪 any array
is possible.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee at Lakme Fashion Week 2011 in
Mumbai, India.
NY Fashion Week - Spring 2012 Collections
 Color combinations
1. Monochromatic
2. Analogous
3. Complementary
4. Split Complementary
5. Double Complementary
6. Triads
• In addition t deciding on the appropriate color
scheme designer’s must be aware of its
psychological impact.
• Eg: red-romance, yellow-friendly,
purple-dramatic and so on.
 Materials
• Ranges from fabric, leather, fur, metal or
stone etc. any material which suits a
particular collection.
• Selection process depends on –
1. ‘feel’ of the fiber,
2. visual effect
3. and its function.
• Only those with a complete understanding
of the technical and aesthetic merits of
each product will have a greater chance
to design finished products that will attract
both the professional purchasers and the
ultimate consumers.
 Silhouettes & Details
• The garments outline is known as the
Silhouette.
• The Silhouette is enhanced with details
such as pockets, pleating, and buttonholes
to make it unique.
• Silhouette influences and enhances a
particular garment design.
 Trimmings
• Although the basic elements like color,
materials, Silhouette and details comprise
the basic design, the Trim often
distinguishes one model from the other.
• Decorative adornments to any design
are known as Trimmings.
• Those that are functionally oriented
such as zippers are called Findings.
• Trimmings may be produced in a variety of
forms like
– Braid
– Appliqués
– Embroidery
– Beading
– Sequins
– Piping
– Artificial flowers, bows / ribbons
– Belts all that are part of a garment.
Design Principles
 Design principles
• The manner in which the design elements
are assembled.
• A relationship of all the parts must be
considered and placed in a manner tat is
based on the principles of design
1. Balance
2. Proportion
3. Emphasis
4. Rhythm
5. Harmony
 Balance
• When designers speak of balance it is more as
a visual distribution.
• Concept of balance is : symmetrical (formal) or
asymmetrical (informal)
• Symmetrical balance (Formal): approaches
the design by placing two elements on either
side of a central point.
• Eg: a row of buttons running through the center
of a garment with pockets on both the sides –
symmetrical / formal.
• But such style though correct does not lend
itself to innovation.
• Eg: with the use of one oversized pocket
on one side and another differently shaped
object such as a decorative pin or flower
on the other is Asymmetrical balance
(Informal) to capture attention.
• It should be noted that both approaches
stay within the rules of balance.
 Proportion
• When the various parts are properly
scaled to complement each other in the
design, they are said to be in proportion.
• Eg : of a poor proportion would be if an
enormous bow were to be placed on a
delicate sleeveless blouse 🡪 the body of
the garment would be lost to the
proportion of the trim.
• A design must have a sufficient amount of
unadulterated and unadorned space so that the
details and trims can proportionally enhance it.
• Designers continuously experiment with
proportion and try to make their creations more
exciting.
• Eg: an elongated jacket with a short skirt might
look disproportionate but when the fabrics for
both parts are the same and provide the overall
impression as one piece, the proportion is not
only correct but more exciting.
 Rhythm
• Is achieved when a sense of motion moves the eye
from one of the design’s elements to the next.
• Repetition 🡪also provides rhythm by placing a
number of the same shape and design.
• Progression 🡪involves the gradual increase or
decrease of one of the design elements Eg: color
pattern from pure colour to its bands of tints and
shades.
• Rhythmic radiation 🡪 the movement generates
from a central point Eg: a sunburst pattern
• Alternation 🡪 is simply accomplished when two
different elements, usually color, are used. Eg: in a
yellow and orange striped motif, the two colors serve
as the alternating forces that create rhythm.
 Emphasis
• Every good design has a central or focal
point on which attention is focused.
• It is the place in the design to which the eye
is initially drawn.
• It may be achieved in a number of ways
• Eg: through imaginative use of trim or detail,
the introduction of a striking color to an
overall subtle color scheme or in the use of
unexpected material as in the case of leather
ornamentation on a denim jacket.
 Harmony
• When all of the elements of the design work
together and eye witnesses a unified effect,
harmony has been accomplished.
• The end product should underscore the
intention of the design.
• Eg: where the goal is subtlety 🡪 the principles
used should quietly blend together, producing
a low key effect.
if the goal of drama is the desired effect 🡪
the principles should be handled in a manner
that accentuates those elements, such as color
or trim that imparts excitement.
Execution of the sample garment
• The complexity of the task turning out samples
varies from situation to situation.
• The most rigorous are when a totally new
collection is being readied.
• The final number of pieces having been
determined by the staff’s merchandisers the
companies design component must now provide
the various styles.
• the sketches, patterns and sample construction
are now ready to be produced.
 The Sketch
• Preliminary sketch is done by the
designer.
• First sketch- rendering of silhouette and a
few detailing – sufficient enough for those
who are developing the pattern.
• May be hand done or a CAD.
• Most CAD programs translate the sketch
into the pattern that will be used to cut the
pieces of the proposed design.
 The Pattern
• Is composed of various parts of the design such
as: the body of the garment, the sleeves, collar
and pockets.
• It is used in in the transition from the designer’s
rendering to the creation of the sample-size
garment.
• The sizes used are generally those that best
show off the products.
• In men’s wear, a size 38 suit is typical and in
women’s wear, usually sampled is size 7 and
missy in size 8.
• The pattern may be achieved either through a
means of draping in which a “muslin” is
created by cutting the various pieces of the
design on a form; through the use of the flat
pattern technique, accomplished on a table,
where draping is less desirable or means of a
CAD system.
• After the pattern is made, it is placed on the
fabric to be cut by the individual who is
responsible for making the sample.
• Some designers use their assistants for this
purpose, whereas others use cutters.
 Sample Construction
• The sample maker assembles all of the pieces that
complete the garment.
• The stitches and methods used must be appropriate
for those that will be use in regular production.
• Care must be exercised to make certain that both the
sample and the production pieces are of similar
quality. Sample controllers job.
• Though the garment’s appearance is important in its
sale, its fit is equally critical.
• To ensure proper fit, the garment should be tried on a
live model, called the fit model, as the model walks
and sits, the garment’s ability to satisfy the figure’s
formation can be assessed.
• Too often when this stage of development
is lightly passed over, the products are
sent back to the manufacturer.
• When the task of the design phase are
completed, the line is readied for selling,
and production is about to begin.