research

From Massimo and Lella Vignelli's clothing manifesto, I resonated with the statement about clothing being interchangeable. I'm all for versatility and maximizing the scenarios in which a product can be used to achieve the most value and fulfilment. The apparel category that intrigued me was jackets because I knew it would be a challenge (I had only sewn a sleeveless circle dress prior to this), so I researched 2020 coat trends to determine market opportunities and my design goal.

market
positioning

I did some competitive research to determine market opportunity. I specifically discounted Gore-Tex Technology (a waterproof and breathable material) because it is a registered trademark that drives prices way up. I wasn't looking to design for that price point.

customer
 profile

ideation

collection
proposal

After input from peers, I decided that these designs made the most cohesive collection that also achieved the goal of being sophisticated, fun, and versatile. Many of these designs reminded me of motifs from nature, so I gave all of them latin names based on natural organisms: Leodoptera (moth), Coleoptera (beetle), Urodela (salamander), Lilium (lily flower), Capillum (hair), and Carassius (goldfish). I named the collection "Nimbus", as in clouds. I chose to explore Lilium first because it was the popular vote amongst peers.

process
highlights

finished
piece

tech
pack

CLICK ABOVE TO VIEW FULL TECH PACK.

takeaway:

I really enjoyed jumping into the deep end with this project. Since I knew very little about sewing and apparel going in, I was aware that I would make a lot of mistakes, but it also meant I couldn't be too hard on myself. I think this opened me up to absorbing as many techniques as possible, so I emerged on the other side as a designer that's excited about apparel and finds tech pack assembly very satisfying.