Choosing Fabric For a Line
As a designer it is important to find the right fabrics for your
first line. This could mean a trip to see fabrics at a textile show.
Textile shows will inform you of new trends and colors for the
following seasons. Finding your dream fabric on your first line can be
a problem for a start up business. Most mills want you to buy minimum
yardage, which could be as much as thousand yards. It takes patience to
fabricate your line and find the best choice at the right price. Plan
on using just a few fabrics at first: no more than three. You cannot
afford more, as it will cost too much to produce. Do not give up; use
all the resources mentioned in Chapter 5. There are great fabrics
available, and with the Internet, finding the right fabrics has become
easier.Usually a designer plans a certain number of garments for each type of fabric and color selected; this is called a story. A certain proportion of the line could be high-end fashion, with some styles designed in more basic styling and fabric, which would complement the more extreme styles. Price as well as the design influences the choice of fabric and trimmings. If the fabric is on the more expensive end of the budget, then a simpler design will be necessary in order to keep the garment within the price range required for the line. A more reasonably priced fabric can be cut in a more elaborate style that will allow the major cost to be in labor.
