Category: Fashion + Soft Goods

Line Sheet that Generates Sales

Author stephanieip.comPosted on Categories 2019, Fashion + Soft Goods

An industry term that is often used in the world of Fashion. If there’s no plan for your business to sell to retailers, you are more than welcome to pass on this blog post, as a line sheet is primarily a visual tool used for wholesale buyers.

Wholesale buyers typically see hundreds of brands a month – brands that are interested to sell through a retail channels to reach a certain type of clientele. These buyers can be representatives of anything from online retailers, to department stores, to boutiques that buy and sell various brands and products. In order for these buyers to determine whether to buy inventory for their selling platform, they typically conduct in-person meetings with the interested brands, and they will most likely ask to have the line sheets ready for the meeting.  

What is a line sheet?

Let’s first identify what a line sheet is. A line sheet basically is a concise form of a catalog page that holds product offering information such as line drawings of the product in front and back view, color and size options, and suggested retail and wholesale price. It functions as a sales tool to communicate necessary information about the product(s) to a potential stockist. 

Who needs a line sheet?

Brands that plan to sell to a retailer. Sometimes, private labels that have physical retail stores will also have their own buying department, where buyers usually request line sheets to support their buying decisions during the buyer/sales meeting. In addition, line sheets act as visual notes for design and production team managers to follow when revising designs, executing samples, and creating production plans. 

If you have a very clear goal and plan for where to sell your products, my suggestion is to slot in time to generate them. It will for sure assist your team in staying organized and for communication purposes down the road.

What should be included?

There is a standard set of information you don’t want to miss. Below is a list of 6 items you want to include:

  • Image of the Product
  • Product Name
  • SKU or Style Number
  • Suggested Retail Price
  • Wholesale Price
  • Order minimums and any variants (Ex. Size, color)

Are there other important details to include?

In some ways, the line sheet acts as a sales tool to present, promote, and close potential purchasing deals. I have worked on line sheets for many clients in the past, and they are all unique in such a way that tells a story. After all, since it’s going to be an interactive meeting, you want the presenting materials to be fun and memorable – especially to the buyers – so that your brand and products stand out and have a higher chance of getting the purchase order.

Here are 5 essentials I recommend including:

  • Infuse a cohesive brand image
  • Clean pages with clear information. Remember: Less is better; don’t clutter the page with unnecessary stuff!
  • Create a storyline. Place products in an order that brings out the theme of the collection.
  • Include buyers’ terms and conditions. Don’t forget to go through important terms with the buyers, making sure both sides are clear what the expectations are! 
  • Special buying options.Wholesale price is already a discounted price, what else can you offer to make it a better deal for the buyers?

How to create one?

There are many tools you can use to general line sheets.  A few favorite tools I recommend would be:

• Microsoft Excel | Available to everyone. Level: All level users.

linesheet-example
Microsoft Excel generated line sheet exmaple.

• Adobe Photoshop | Make those pages look nice and shiny! Level: Intermediate level users

Adobe Photoshop generated line sheet example.

• Adobe Illustrator | Professional look with creative infusion! Level: Intermediate level users

Adobe Illustrator generated line sheet example. Compare to the Photoshop version, the technical drawing is more flat with no shadows, also less fancy graphics.

• Adobe InDesign |Get those layouts as organized as possible!
Level: Intermediate level of Adobe InDesign

Be mindful that every company has its own unique styles and preferences in the sales process. It is best to create a custom version that is tailored to the company’s wants and needs. To get some idea of what they look like, check out our Samples Page.

To help you get started, I have put together a basic Excel format for you! Simply provide your email below, and click Download to get started!

Got questions? You are welcome to leave me a comment below, or send me a direct message at the following social media channels. I hope this post helped clear up some of your questions regarding line sheets!

 

line-sheet-for-starters

Free Line Sheet for Starters

// STEPHANIE IP

SIP_profile

Stephanie is a Creative Director and Consultant, providing creative strategy development support to small and large scale businesses in the industries of Fashion and Soft Goods. She specializes in Design and Development. Learn more about her here.

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What is a Tech Pack? 4 Must-Haves.

Author stephanieip.comPosted on Categories 2019, Design + Development, Fashion + Soft Goods

In today’s day and age, there are many aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own brand. If you are reading this, you are most likely operating or looking into starting a physical product brand. Is that right?

Throughout my career in the industries of fashion and consumer products, the most frequently asked questions often go toward production. “How can I turn my idea into a reality product?” Once one gets closer to knowing the process of manufacturing, tons of questions start to come up. Such as… 

“What is a tech pack?”

In short, Tech Pack stands for Technical Package. It is a package of detailed information about the item one is looking to produce. The terminology is most often used in the manufacturing industry for consumer products. It serves as a blueprint of the product, including layers of information for the factory to follow in the manufacturing process. Below you will find a general list of items a tech pack typically includes.

Technical Drawing Page

Before the digital age, the drawing was generally hand-drawn and outlined with black ink. Now with software tools such as Adobe Illustrator, it has become easier to create technical drawings with the power to manipulate sizing and to add various line details to indicate construction needs.

Here’s an example of a technical drawing of a men’s basic tee. There are suggestions for the shape and size of the design, stitching details, and placement of labels. 

Technical Drawing Example

Callouts

Everyone’s interpretation of the fit of a garment can vary, so even though the drawing suggests a lose fit in the designer’s point of view, in the factory’s understanding, the fit can look like a straight fit. Therefore, the callouts can ensure the designer clearly communicates the measurement specifics to the pattern maker at the factory.  

For example, do you see the blue brackets and numbers over the technical drawing above? Those are the call outs to be identified on the specs sheet.  

Specs Sheet 

Moving on! Let’s get the measuring tape out. By providing measurements to the design, you are communicating to the pattern maker the exact size you have in mind for the design’s shape and fit. Numbers are a universal language, but don’t forget there are different types of measuring units. Depending which factory you are planning to use, you want to make sure your specs are in the correct measuring units to avoid confusion down the road.  

Tip:

European and Asian countries use centimeters (cm)
USA uses inches (in)

Bill of Materials

So, you found a special fabric you plan to use for your design, how should you include the details?
First, you will want to find out what type of fiber content and weight it holds. The factory can’t read your mind, so you want to provide as much clear information as possible. If you have physical reference samples to provide, the better. Gather all the details and put them on a single page.

There’s a lot more that goes into a comprehensive tech pack. If you are looking to build one out yourself, you are in luck! To get you started, we have put together a Tech Pack Starter Kit for self starter to use. It is a template where you simply enter data, save, and then print! Download our free Tech Pack Starter Kit now.

If you are stuck, and looking for some help, we are just an email away! Reach out to us here.

 

Tech Pack Starter Kit

Free Tech Pack Starter Kit

// Stephanie Ip

Stephanie is a Creative Director and Consultant, providing creative strategy development support to small and large scale businesses in the industries of Fashion and Soft Goods. She specializes in Design and Development. Learn more about her here.

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Fading of Fashionable Beauty

Author stephanieip.comPosted on Categories #100PrintsByStephanieIp, 2018, Design + Development, Fashion + Soft Goods, Illustrations, Print Pattern

About a month ago, while I was flipping through new trending movies to watch on Netflix, I stumbled upon this gorgeous movie cover that said “Chasing Coral”, with these radiant coral reefs on the bottom. As a designer myself, I am often attracted to beautiful images, people and things – this movie poster definitely did a fantastic job of pulling me into checking out what this movie is all about.

Chasing Coral Netflix Cover Image

The movie title and poster speak for itself; it is indeed a documentary about coral; specifically, the dying of coral reefs. Over the past few years, I have heard about the bleaching event of Coral Reefs, but never quite understood or cared enough to dig deeper into the topic.

Long before I declared my major in Fashion Design at Parsons, I knew I was very much interested in nature, and wanted to devote my career to designing meaningful sustainable products that will benefit the world. In the past 7+ years, my working relationships with various types of companies that design and sell products had reassured my deep belief in sustainable designs. One of the most inspiring times I had was working with Yeohlee Teng in New York City, who after 30 years, still devotes her high fashion business to sustainable fashion that is classy yet consequential. Interested to learn more about Yeohlee? Check out her company website .

For those of you who don’t know, coral bleaching is a natural reaction to, and warning sign for the changing temperature of the ocean.

What are the causes of this temperature change? As part of the ecosystem, our day-to-day behaviors have the most influence on how the environment changes and develops over time. The waste every single one of us produces and contributes to producing is one of the main causes of climate change.

Here I have gathered 5 hard facts about this bleaching event:

1// Corals are animals who breathe and eat, just like us
2// The coral reefs house vast amounts of ocean life
3// Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change
4// The bleaching event is happening to more than 80% of reefs nationwide
5// The impact is enormous on both ocean and human life

Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote Image Cover

The quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson says it right, “Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” You wouldn’t eat a fruit that has become an unfamiliar color, because you know it has turned bad. But will you turn to yourself when you see how our Mother Nature is displaying signs of sickness?

The message I’m trying to bring across is very simple – be aware, be considerate, and question yourself before making any decisions about the things you choose to consume daily.

Watercolor Corals Fading Beauty Cover Image

So what does this movie have to do with fashion?

Let’s step back to think for a second. Did you know that all the bright and neon colors that are printed on the clothes we wear are toxic to the environment?

Here are 3 main reasons why everyone of us are responsible:

1// We are part of the ecosystem of this planet
2// Nature cannot keep up with, or recover quickly enough, from the speed of human-generated pollution
3// Human beings are over consuming what nature can provide.

The industrial revolution for sure accelerated industrial production processes and produced more jobs for decades. At the same time, it had also increased the basic needs for factories to stay in business. In order for a business to make profit, factories often set a required high minimum quantity, which pushes brand owners to place high volume orders they may or may not even end up selling.

Coral Watercolor Art Print Etsy
Ocean Inspired Wall Art Watercolor Print | Coral Reef 
Available on Etsy.

Working in the industry of fashion gave me the opportunity to witness how polluting the production process can be. I have to be honest – low quality, mass produced products that are sold in the market today absolutely turn me off. As part of being a product-based business owner myself, I think we really should fuse sustainability actions into our design and development process. As a smart consumer, one should be mindful that deciding to purchase cheap clothing and/or products whose creation generates mass pollution can have massive impacts to the environment we live in.

Watercolor Coral Reef Diamonds Throw Pillow
Watercolor Coral Reef Diamonds Throw Pillow
Available on Society6.

In an effort to educate and spread awareness on climate change and saving our coral reef ecosystems that are in serious trouble, a month ago, I had posted a week’s worth of #Awareness posts on my Instagram, which you can check out @SIPbyStephanieIp, or click here. 

SIP by Stephanie Ip Print Pattern Design
Interested in purchasing this print pattern design?
Contact us

My goal for the weeklong awareness posts is to bring out a message through my artwork, created using my artistic and technical skills in illustration and textile design. As part of my business practice of sustainability, all art prints and printed merchandise are print on demand only. Textile prints are ready made and available for sale upon request. Best of all, partial proceeds will go toward the WILD Foundation to fund all research and promotion on all matters related to animal extinction caused by climate change. Check out the WILD Foundation to learn more.

So what else can you do to help?

Take Action Cover Image

You don’t need to paint or draw! Here are a few simple things you can do today.

1// Watch the fabulous Chasing Coral documentary on Netflix with 5 of your friends or family members whom you care about!

2// Check out ChasingCoral.com. The amazing team have put together some positive actions you can take to help spread the word!

3// Like and share my Instagram posts within your network to spread the #awareness!

// Stephanie Ip

Stephanie is a Creative Director and Consultant, providing creative strategy development support to small and large scale businesses in the industries of Fashion and Soft Goods. She specializes in Design and Development. Learn more about her here.

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5 Essential Steps in the Product Development Process

Author stephanieip.comPosted on Categories 2017, Design + Development, Fashion + Soft GoodsTags ,

Thinking about our other post on Fashion Design + Development Process, the idea behind product development is rather similar. In fact, they may just be about the same, especially if the product you plan on developing falls in the category of soft goods.

Regardless of what you are planning to develop and bring into the marketplace, make sure to present the purpose, reason, and vision behind the product.

So, what are the steps?
They are as simple as follow:

5 Essential Steps in the Product Development Process
Case study of CozyPhones

1// Who are you designing for?
2// What are you planning to offer to your targeted audience?
3// When do you plan to launch?
4// Where are you going to launch?
5// Why should your targeted audience buy from you, and not all the other existing brands out there?
6// How are you going to convince your “who” of “why” when executing steps 2 and 4 by step 3?

Basically, have a plan.
Even better, a business plan.

Sometimes you may not know where to start and how to obtain the information you need. You probably wish there’s a step-by-step guide to take you from point A to Z. Although, this post isn’t intended to give you that quick shortcut, it’s here to guide you into the right direction. Eventually, it will be your ultimate decisions on every step along the way before your baby is born, so a shortcut won’t do you and your business any good when building a foundation.

Once you know your who, what, when, where, why, and how, you are mostly likely ready to hire experts to help you get to your end goal quicker than learning and doing everything yourself. You will want to work with someone who can translate your ideas into a reality.

If you are looking for some guidance to start or real assistance for your young business, send us an inquiry! We would love to help you reach your goals.

Check out our case study on how we
helped CozyPhones turn their ideas
into a reality product!

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// Stephanie Ip

Stephanie is a Creative Director and Consultant, providing creative strategy development support to small and large scale businesses in the industries of Fashion and Soft Goods. She specializes in Design and Development. Learn more about her here.

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5 Essential Steps in the Print Pattern Development Process

Author stephanieip.comPosted on Categories #100PrintsByStephanieIp, 2018, Fashion + Soft Goods, Graphics, Illustrations, Print PatternTags , , ,

Are you passionate about anything in repeats? I used to dislike print patterns on clothing, thinking they made the wearer look old and boring. That was probably back in the 90’s, when I didn’t have much appreciation of anything but simple, plain, minimalistic designs. Print patterns have evolved tremendously over the past 30 years. With the advanced designing tools, designers have much more opportunity to experiment and discover new design techniques.

In today’s post, I am going to walk you through the 5 steps I took in making the Under the Water group in #100PrintsByStephanieIp – a creative challenge I set up to encourage myself and other fellow creative individuals to create everyday. You can see more on the related tag on my Instagram page @SIPbyStephanieIp!

5 Essential Steps in the Print Pattern Development Process

1// Pick a Theme

The print(s) you plan on applying onto your product(s) should have a theme that will stand out and complement your product design styles. Under a set of design considerations, you want to choose a targeted season, a color palette that makes sense, and materials you plan to print on.

5 Essential Steps in the Print Pattern Development Process

2// Illustrate and Pull Together Design Elements

This is one of the most fun parts! You get to play and be creative with the types of elements you want to incorporate into the design. For #100PrintsByStephanieIp, I was exploring watercolor design elements, which gave me the opportunity to try out different watercolor painting techniques. For more defined elements, I like to sketch by pencil first, then trace with Adobe Illustrator. In this part, make sure to illustrate each element separately on a large scale to display the element’s quality.

5 Essential Steps in the Print Pattern Development Process

3// Digitize Design Elements

Once you have all the elements down on paper, you’ll want to scan them onto your computer. To preserve the quality of the elements, you want to be sure to scan using at least 300dpi resolution. Then, with Photoshop, clean up the scans, adjust the coloration, and make sure each of the elements are separated for easy composition.

Another fun part of this process is putting together the artwork! Now, with the clean elements, you can play with composition and arrangements. Have fun!

5 Essential Steps in the Print Pattern Development Process

4// Repeat Artwork

Generally, I use Photoshop and Illustrator to create the repeats of my prints. Photoshop is better when the artwork is composed of photo-based elements. Illustrator is more for vector-based elements. For this post, I won’t be going into the details on how to repeat a piece of artwork. If you want to learn more, stay tuned! It will be coming up soon.

5 Essential Steps in the Print Pattern Development Process

5// Factory Artwork

A factory artwork is fairly similar to a tech pack, except the information to include is less complex. On the factory artwork, you will have to include print method requirement, scale, Pantone colors, and print # for the factory to prepare the first sample for your review before production.

While there are more details to consider in these 5 steps, this post is to give you a general idea of what’s needed to get you started!

Need some custom print patterns?
Send us an inquiry to get started!

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// Stephanie Ip

Stephanie is a Creative Director and Consultant, providing creative strategy development support to small and large scale businesses in the industries of Fashion and Soft Goods. She specializes in Design and Development. Learn more about her here.

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