- Know the customer. Describe in detail who the customer is.
- Establish the calendar. Determine the collection presentation and work backwards — make/publish a seasonal calendar showing target presentation week and what needs to happen to get there.
- Research initial trend direction. Spend time researching brand sights to determine initial style direction. Shop brick/mortar for merchandising ideas.
- Create Mood Board. Highlight categories, colors, theme and direction to create seasonal feeling.
- Start fabric market research. Visit shows, mills, collect fabrics.
- Understand retail price points. Design into selling price levels.
- Determine collection breath. Determine and define each category and sub-category.
- Set target sample quantities. Given categories, determine ideal number of samples by sub-catetory.
- Set up conceptual silhouette line sheet by category/sub-cat with target quantity.
- Create tech packs. On going process.
- Record fabric data. Content, construction and price idea. Establish a fabric ID.
- Design small groups/themes where possible/appropriate. Design with targeted price levels in mind.
- Create signature pieces. Make a couple of attention pieces to create wow factor, independent of price.
- Edit the line. Take out pieces not completely compelling.
- Tag and ID each sample.
- Photo each sample. For record keeping and line sheets.
- Capture live images through season. Shopping retail, mills, factories, street, office — shoot and collect live images.
- Create line sheets complete with images and style numbers.
- Present collection making sure to articulate inspirations, overall stories, sub-stories, and customer attraction.
- Evaluate results. After sales, absorb what worked and what didn’t for future consideration.
