The Mechanism of a Design Department

in Clothing
By Disha Dewani
 The mechanism of a design department can vary
depending on the size and type of organization.
However, in general, a design department is
INTRODUCTION responsible for creating and developing the visual
and/or functional aspects of products, services, or
systems.
ITERATION AND REFINEMENT

Iteration and refinement are important processes in the clothing industry, particularly in the design
and production stages. These processes involve continually reviewing and improving the product to
ensure that it meets the desired specifications and quality standards.

In the design process, iteration and refinement occur when the initial concept is reviewed and revised
multiple times until the final design is created. This can involve making changes to the color, pattern,
fabric, and other design elements based on customer feedback, trend research, and feasibility. The
design may go through several rounds of prototyping and testing to ensure that it meets the desired
specifications and quality standards.

Similarly, in the production process, iteration and refinement occur when the initial prototype is
reviewed and revised based on feedback from the patternmaking, cutting, and sewing departments.
Adjustments may be made to the pattern, fabric, or stitching to improve the quality and functionality
of the garment.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

● Trend research: The design team conducts research on the latest fashion trends and styles, both locally
and globally, to identify new ideas and inspiration for their designs.
● Customer feedback: The design team gathers feedback from customers through surveys, focus groups,
or social media to understand their needs and preferences.
● Sketching and ideation: Based on trend research and customer feedback, the design team begins
sketching and generating ideas for new garments. These sketches can be rough, and multiple ideas may
be developed in parallel.
● Selection: The design team reviews the sketches and selects the best ideas to develop further. They
consider factors such as feasibility, marketability, and alignment with the company's brand.
● Refinement: The selected ideas are further developed and refined, incorporating feedback from other
departments such as merchandising, production, and sales. The design team may create more detailed
sketches, renderings, or even prototypes.
● Presentation: The final designs are presented to the relevant stakeholders, such as senior management
or buyers. Feedback is incorporated, and final revisions are made.

Throughout the concept development process, communication and collaboration between departments are
crucial to ensure that the designs are feasible to produce, meet market demand, and align with the company's
goals and brand. By creating compelling and innovative designs, companies can differentiate their products
from competitors and attract new customers.
PLANNING AND STRATEGY
● Setting goals: The planning and strategy team works with senior management to set short- and long-term
goals for the company. These goals may include increasing revenue, expanding into new markets, or
improving production efficiency.
● Assessing resources: The team assesses the company's resources, including financial, personnel, and
technology, to determine what is needed to achieve the goals.
● Developing strategies: Based on the goals and available resources, the team develops strategies to achieve the
goals. These strategies may include product development, marketing, sales, or production improvements.
● Allocating resources: The planning and strategy team works with other departments to allocate resources to
the strategies. This may involve allocating budgets, hiring new staff, or investing in new technology.
● Implementing plans: The team monitors the implementation of the plans and adjusts them as necessary
based on feedback and results.
● Evaluating results: The planning and strategy team evaluates the results of the plans against the goals and
adjusts them as necessary.

Through effective planning and strategy, companies can ensure that their goals are aligned with the needs of the
market and that all departments are working together to achieve those goals. This can lead to improved efficiency,
increased revenue, and a stronger competitive position in the industry.
TECHNICAL DESIGN
● Creating detailed sketches: The technical design team creates detailed sketches of the garment design,
including front and back views, as well as any special design features. These sketches are used to
communicate the design to the production team.
● Developing specifications: Based on the sketches, the technical design team develops detailed specifications
for each garment component, including measurements, materials, and construction details.
● Creating patterns: The technical design team creates patterns for each garment component using
computer-aided design (CAD) software or traditional drafting techniques. These patterns are used to create
the physical garment.
● Creating prototypes: The technical design team creates prototypes of the garment using the patterns and
specifications. These prototypes are used to test the fit, quality, and overall design of the garment.
● Testing and adjusting: The technical design team tests the prototypes and adjusts the specifications and
patterns as necessary to improve the fit and quality of the garment.
● Creating final specifications: Once the prototypes are approved, the technical design team creates final
specifications for the production team to follow when creating the final product.

Through effective technical design, companies can ensure that their garments are produced with consistent quality
and fit, and that they meet the expectations of customers. Technical design also plays an important role in
minimizing production costs and waste by ensuring that the production process is efficient and streamlined.
COLLABORATION

Collaboration can improve the efficiency of the production process, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of the final
product.

● Communication: Clear and open communication is essential for effective collaboration. Departments must
communicate their needs and expectations to each other and suppliers in a timely and accurate manner.
● Teamwork: Collaboration requires teamwork, with each member contributing their unique skills and expertise to the
project. Departments must work together to achieve common goals, with a shared vision of the end product.
● Shared resources: Collaboration involves the sharing of resources, including materials, equipment, and personnel.
Departments must work together to ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively to achieve the best
possible results.
● Supplier relationships: Collaboration also involves working closely with suppliers to ensure that they understand the
company's needs and expectations. Suppliers must be selected based on their ability to provide high-quality
materials and services that meet the company's specifications.

Through effective collaboration, companies in the clothing industry can achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively.
They can also improve the quality of their products, reduce costs, and maintain a competitive edge in the market.
QUALITY CONTROL

● Inspection of materials: Quality control begins with the inspection of raw materials, such as fabrics, trims, and
hardware. Materials are inspected for defects, color consistency, and overall quality.
● In-process inspection: During the production process, garments are inspected at various stages to ensure that they
meet quality standards. This may include checking for proper stitching, accurate measurements, and appropriate
labeling.
● Final inspection: Once the garments are completed, they undergo a final inspection to ensure that they meet the
required quality standards. This includes checking for defects, fit, and finish.
● Testing: Garments may also undergo various tests to ensure that they meet quality standards. This may include tests
for colorfastness, shrinkage, and durability.
● Quality management system: To ensure that quality standards are consistently met, many clothing companies have
established quality management systems that include standard operating procedures, training programs, and quality
audits.

By implementing a comprehensive quality control process, clothing companies can ensure that their products meet the
highest quality standards, minimize the risk of defects or flaws, and enhance customer satisfaction. Quality control also
plays an important role in reducing costs associated with rework or returns, improving production efficiency, and
maintaining a competitive edge in the market.
CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT

● Research and analysis: Clothing companies conduct market research and analyze customer preferences, fashion
trends, and competitor offerings to identify areas for improvement.
● Concept development: Based on the research and analysis, clothing companies develop new concepts and designs
that meet customer needs and preferences.
● Prototyping and testing: Once the concepts are developed, clothing companies create prototypes and conduct testing
to evaluate the performance and functionality of the products.
● Feedback and refinement: Based on the feedback received from customers and testing, clothing companies refine and
improve the product design and development.
● Production and implementation: Once the product design and development are finalized, clothing companies move
into the production and implementation phase.
● Monitoring and evaluation: Throughout the production and implementation phase, clothing companies monitor and
evaluate the products to ensure that they meet quality standards and customer expectations.

Continuous development helps clothing companies stay ahead of the competition by providing innovative products that
meet changing customer needs and preferences. It also enhances production efficiency, reduces costs associated with
rework or returns, and improves customer satisfaction. By continuously developing and improving their products and
processes, clothing companies can maintain a competitive edge in the market and ensure long-term success.