10 Apparel Technical Design Tips (From An Industry Expert)

Want to design an apparel brand but don’t know where to start? This blog was created by Amanda Rango of ARD Fashion Consulting, a designer with over 23 years of experience who helps fashion founders launch and scale their fashion businesses. You’ll be provided with the top 10 tips about apparel technical design so you can confidently begin your fashion design journey.

At ARD Fashion Consulting, we understand that the journey from creative inspiration to a well-constructed garment can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your skills, mastering the technical side of apparel design is crucial to bringing your fashion ideas to life. 

Here, we’ve compiled 10 essential tips to guide you through the intricacies of apparel technical design, helping you build a strong foundation for a successful career.

1. Master the Basics of Pattern Making

Pattern making is the backbone of garment construction. It’s where your design ideas start to take physical form. As a beginner, it’s essential to get comfortable with the basics of pattern making. Begin with simple shapes and garments, such as skirts, tops, and dresses, before progressing to more complex designs.

Understanding pattern manipulation—how to add darts, pleats, or other details—is key. This knowledge allows you to transform a basic pattern into something uniquely yours. 

Practice is everything here, so spend time drafting patterns by hand and digitally. Remember, accuracy in your patterns will save you a lot of time and headaches later in the process.

2. Learn About Fabric Properties

Fabric is the canvas of your design, and each type of fabric has its own personality. Some fabrics stretch, others don’t; some are rigid, while others flow beautifully. 

Understanding these properties will help you choose the right fabric for each design, ensuring that your garments drape and fit as intended.

Spend time handling different fabrics, observing how they behave when cut, sewn, and worn. Knowledge of fabric behavior will also influence your pattern-making, as you’ll need to account for stretch, weight, and drape in your designs.

This type of learning requires you to interact with fabrics in person. When Amanda Rango of ARD Fashion Consulting first started, she created a fabric library where she kept swatches and made notes of their properties to reference. This library continues to grow as she works with various clients and manufacturers.

3. Focus on Precision in Measurements

In technical design, precision is everything. Accurate measurements are the difference between a garment that fits perfectly and one that doesn’t quite as you intended. Take the time to master measuring techniques, and always double-check your work. Make sure you include a “how to measure” guide as well. This is crucial to ensure that your measuring methods are communicated and duplicated by your manufacturer or sample room.

When creating garments in multiple sizes, consistency is crucial. Develop a systematic approach to grading your patterns—scaling them up or down to create different sizes—so that your designs maintain their integrity across all size ranges. A “grade rule” is something you create which can be unique and specific to your brand and customized fit esthetic. 

4. Understand the Importance of Fit

A beautiful design means little if it doesn’t fit well. The fit is where your creative vision meets practicality, and it’s one of the most critical aspects of technical design. Understanding body shapes and proportions will help you create garments that not only look good but also feel comfortable for the wearer.

To improve your fit skills, practice by creating muslins (test garments) of your designs. This will allow you to see how the garment fits on a body and make necessary adjustments before cutting into your final fabric. Remember, the goal is to create a garment that flatters and fits the body beautifully.

5. Develop Strong Technical Sketches

Technical sketches, or flats, are your design’s blueprint. They communicate your ideas clearly to everyone involved in the production process, from pattern makers to manufacturers. 

A well-done technical sketch includes all the necessary details: stitching lines, seam placements, pocket placements, and construction methods.

As you develop your technical sketching skills, focus on clarity and precision. The more detailed your sketches, the fewer questions and misunderstandings will arise during production. Learning to use software like Adobe Illustrator or REP SKETCH can be incredibly helpful, as it allows for clean, scalable, and editable sketches.

6. Use Tech Packs Effectively

A tech pack is a designer’s bible—a comprehensive document that contains all the details needed to sample and produce a garment. It includes everything from technical sketches and fabric details to measurement charts and construction details. A well-prepared tech pack ensures that your design is communicated and ultimately executed exactly as you envision.

When creating a tech pack, be as detailed as possible. Include notes on fabric types, trims, colors, and special instructions for construction. The more information you provide, the smoother the product development process will be.

Remember, the goal of a tech pack is to eliminate any guesswork for the manufacturer. The tech pack will serve as a contract between you and the manufacturer, ensuring you’re on the same page about every detail for each style you produce.

ARD’s techpack software of choice is Techpacker! They’ve increased our organization and efficiency immensely, all whilst being accessible to budding designers, entrepreneurs and enterprises. Check out their blog for more information. 

7. Stay Updated with Industry Software

Technology has become an integral part of fashion design, particularly in the realm of technical design. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Adobe Illustrator, CLO 3D, Gerber AccuMark and Pantone are essential. These tools allow you to create detailed technical sketches, develop patterns, choose global color standards and even simulate how garments will look and move on a body.

Invest time in learning these programs, as they can significantly enhance your efficiency and accuracy. Being proficient in these tools also makes you more attractive to potential employers or clients, as it shows that you’re equipped with the skills needed for modern fashion design.

8. Practice Consistent Documentation

Documentation might not be the most glamorous part of design, but it’s incredibly important. Keeping detailed records of your design process, alterations, and prototypes will help you stay organized and make informed decisions throughout the production process. Again, think of your tech pack as your contract between you and the manufacturer, keep a detailed record of everything you receive, comment and update to ensure clear communication and understanding when you’re ready to go into production.

Create a system for documenting each stage of your design process, from initial sketches to final prototypes. This documentation will be invaluable if you need to revisit a design or troubleshoot any issues that arise during production.

An organized designer is a valuable designer!

9. Pay Attention to Construction Details

The devil is in the details, and nowhere is this truer than in garment construction. The quality of your garment is determined by how well it’s constructed. Learn about different stitching techniques, seam finishes, and reinforcements for high-stress areas like armholes and crotch seams.

Well-executed construction details not only enhance the durability of your garment but also elevate its overall appearance. Pay attention to small details like how a hem is finished or how a zipper is inserted, as these can make a big difference in the final product.

The tough part about technical design is balancing production timelines and rounds of sampling. If a garment doesn’t feel “just right” and you want to ask for one last sample before production, you must also understand its implications on the timeline and ultimately the delivery.

10. Seek Feedback and Stay Open to Learning

Fashion design is a continuous learning journey. No matter how experienced you become, there’s always something new to learn. After 20 years in a corporate environment and 3 years consulting with fashion founders, I’m still learning every day! Seek feedback from mentors, peers, and manufacturers, and use it to improve your work. Constructive criticism can help you see your designs from a different perspective and refine your technical skills.

Stay curious and open-minded, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The best designers are those who never stop learning and evolving, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in fashion.

Resources for Fashion Apparel Design

Designing apparel is a rewarding journey that combines creativity, technical skills, and an understanding of fashion trends. By following these steps, beginners can start creating their own unique garments and build a strong foundation in fashion design. Remember, practice and persistence are essential—keep designing, learning, and growing as a designer.

If you’d like assistance designing and producing your fashion apparel collection, ARD Fashion Consulting is a full-service design and production firm that helps clients launch their brands from concept to creation. We work in all of the areas of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel with decades of industry experience at the corporate level.

Check out our website at ard-consulting.com to schedule a discovery call or read more informative blog posts like this one!