Attention fashion brands and start-up clothing labels!
Are you ready to invest in a custom textile print design? Whether you’re a fashion label, interior design brand, or anyone in between, let’s make sure you’re fully prepared before we get started on your custom design!
If you have never worked with a freelance textile designer before or are new to the world of fabric and textiles, this list will help guide you through this fun and creative journey.
1. Do Your Market Research
Before we get into the creative side, it’s important to conduct market research to understand what’s already out there. What prints are your competitors using? What’s trending in your niche? What about your brand messaging? We want to make sure that this textile print design sings to your target consumer.
By having a solid understanding of the current market, you’ll be able to create something unique that stands out. Plus, we’ll avoid accidentally creating a print that’s too similar to something else. Let’s make something that’s so you!
2. Build Your Mood Board
Ah, the fun part... creating a mood board! Mood boards are your visual playground, where you can throw all the ideas you have onto a page (or digital canvas). Think of it as a collage of textures, colours, patterns, and anything else that resonates with your brand’s identity.
Questions to ask yourself:
What’s the vibe? Boho chic? Modern and sleek? Bold and bright?
Are there specific colours you want? Let’s nail those down early!
What shapes or elements inspire you? Floral, geometric, abstract?
Having a mood board helps us align right from the start, and it gives me a clear idea of the direction we’re heading in.
3. Know Your Printing Specs
This is where things get technical, but don’t worry. I’ll help guide you through it! There are a few different printing ways to print onto fabric, each with its own quirks.
Digital Printing: This can be a sublimation print, heat press, or direct-to-garment (inkjet printing). Perfect for smaller runs or detailed, vibrant designs. Because digital printing does not require colour separation for screens, you can use unlimited colours.
Screen Printing: Ideal for bulk production but typically works better with simpler designs and fewer colours. Screens will need to be prepared for each colour, which means the more colours you have in your design, the more screens will need to be made.
Rotary Printing: Common in fashion manufacturing for large quantities. It is similar to screen printing, where your design needs to be colour-separated for etching onto multiple rollers. The more colours you have in your design, the more rollers will need to be made.
Understanding which method you’ll be using helps me design with the appropriate resolution, colour limitations, and format. Don’t know which method to use yet? No stress - we can figure it out together! Just let me know.
4. Consider the End Use
Where is this design going to be printed on? How will it be used? Is it for a flowy summer dress or sturdy outdoor cushions? Different end uses will require different design elements.
Scale Matters: Tiny prints can get lost on large items like bedspreads, while a bold, oversized print may overpower a smaller piece like a bikini.
Durability and Wear: If it’s for something that will endure lots of wear and tear, we may want to consider a less intricate design that can withstand the test of time. Small details may rub off or fade quickly over time, while large areas of colour will look fresh for longer.
Think about the item’s final look and feel. This will help us ensure your print is functional and fabulous.
5. Fabric Selection
This is the secret sauce! Not all fabrics behave the same when printed, so knowing what fabric you plan to use is essential.
Natural fibres (like cotton and linen) will give your print a more organic look and feel.
Synthetic fibres (like polyester) tend to hold colours more vibrantly but may look slightly different on the finished product.
Top tip! When selecting fabrics to print on, don't forget to consider colourfastness, colour bleeding, and hand feel.
If you’re unsure about which fabric is best, you can always order test prints on different fabric bases. With industry experience working in-house for various fashion brands, I can help guide you through some basic fabric suggestions based on your end use!
6. Fabric Cutting and Placement
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of designing, but don’t forget to consider how your fabric will be cut and sewn. The way a print flows across seams and edges can make or break the final piece.
Repeats: Does your design need to flow seamlessly from one panel to another? We’ll want to make sure the pattern repeat works perfectly for the item it’s going on.
Directional vs. Non-Directional: Does it matter if the print has a specific “up” direction, or can it work in any direction? This is key to minimizing fabric waste during cutting!
Borders: Does your design have a border? We'll need to consider the layout when cutting out styles with borders. Most commonly, the border is printed along the selvedge.
By thinking ahead about these details, you’ll save yourself time and materials down the road. If you are unfamiliar with some of the above terms, get in touch. I'd happily provide 1:1 design consultation services for anyone new to fashion and textile terminology.
Let’s Get Designing!
Hooray! Are you ready to design? With this checklist, you’re all set to start your custom print journey. Whether you’re a design pro or just dipping your toes in, following these steps ensures we’ll create a print that’s ready to rock from concept to completion. I’m here to help you every step of the way!
Now, let’s bring that vision to life. I can’t wait to see what we’ll create together!
Ready to chat about your project? Drop me a message, and let’s make your brand’s dream print a reality!
As always, happy designing and feel free to reach out via email if you have any questions: hello@carolynquan.design