Choose the Right Print for Your Fashion Collection Bangalore
As a fashion brand, you’re generally catering to two types of customers. The first one loves solid colours while the second is all about prints. It’s quite a difficult choice and can definitely affect the overall aesthetic and appeal of your designs. If your collection only includes solid colours and pastel hues, not much thought has to go into it. However, if you’re rolling out an apparel range where prints are going to be dominant, you need to focus a little more. Designer apparel, bags, and accessories are available in an array of prints to cater to the demands of today’s discerning customers. Prints and patterns are not just limited to clothing but also home furnishing products.
If you’re someone who has just completed a bachelor in fashion design course and wants to roll out a collection of printed garments, you need to put a lot of thought into it.
The Essential Guide to Choosing Print Designs for your Fashion Collection
You can’t just go about choosing any print. It needs to resonate with your brand language and work for you commercially.
Understand your Brand Identity
The most important prerequisite is understanding what your end customer wants. Are they into bold and statement prints, or do they prefer something small and minimal? Next, you need to understand what your brand stands for. You can’t make a fool out of yourself by rolling out a collection different from your brand ethic. You can choose from fun, playful and edgy prints. Then you need to ensure your print style stays consistent throughout your collection. For instance, if you’ve seen SHIVAN & NARRESH prints, they’re luxurious yet fun.
Colour Palette Matters
When you’re zeroing down on a print, you need to go in for the right colour palette. To create visual interest with prints, you can select a complementary or contrasting colour. On white coloured fabric particularly, dark or pastel bold prints look good. When you’re selecting a print, ensure the colour of the fabric is not too overpowering. It’s also a good idea to understand colour psychology to see the different emotions they evoke.
Consider the Season
You’ve probably noticed that large fashion houses and brands roll out their Spring-Summer collection and Autumn-Winter Collection respectively. That is because certain colours and styles are associated with certain seasons. Similarly, the prints for your collection should align with the current season. For example, large floral prints and tropical prints are ideal for summer especially resort or vacation wear. On the other hand, winter months are dominated by checks, stripes and plaid.
Before designing your collection, you can even take a look at the existing seasonal trends in the market. Another prerequisite is understanding the occasion you’re designed for. For casual clothing, bold prints might work but for formal occasions, people prefer delicate and dainty prints.
Consider Trends
During the R&D stage, consider trend forecasting. Research the current market to see what’s working and what’s not. You can also keep an eye on fashion shows and designer collections to stay informed of what’s in vogue. It’s always better to select a print according to current fashion trends. For instance, there was a time when abstract prints were really trending. During this time, designers were widely using it in their designs. Floral prints and geometric prints are also timeless.
Select the Appropriate Fabric
Print compatibility on a fabric is also important. Certain prints work on certain fabrics due to its texture, weight and drape. If you’re thinking about geometric prints, structured fabrics are better whereas florals look great on soft, flowing materials. Also, consider the printing method. Screen printing and digital printing are the two most popular methods used. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t compromise on the quality of the design.
Scale and Proportion
Lastly, print placement plays a very important role in creating visual interest. Large prints are usually associated with making a bold statement whereas small prints are considered more sophisticated. The placement of the print can make or break the outfit. It will also determine the flow of the fabric. Certain prints elongate the body while some can accentuate certain areas. Make sure you adhere to all the rules of pattern continuity so that the seams, edges and patterns are aligned.
Final Thoughts
At the end of a B.Des in Fashion Design Course, students will get to roll out their own collection. By thoughtfully considering all the above factors, they will be able to create a collection that aligns with their target demographic, brand and market trends. It’s a good idea to give your collection a name and follow a consistent theme.
