In this blog post, I share some ideas to help you save money and work more sustainably when sourcing on-trend textile print designs for your collections!
Tell me if this sounds familiar. You are a fashion brand trying to scale in a retail market impacted by subdued economic growth.
Staying new and relevant is still key to your business, but rising costs make delivering innovative designs at a profitable margin more challenging.
Perhaps your in-house team is now half of what it used to be, and so you scramble to find ways to stay on top of design and development lead times.
Well, I'm here to tell you it's not all doom and gloom.
As a freelance textile designer, my primary business goal is supporting small to mid-sized fashion brands that cannot hire a full in-house team.
With the economy throwing curveballs left and right, it's time to get creative. Here are my top tips on how to save money working sustainably.
Reworking Existing Prints: The Sustainable Solution
Instead of splurging on brand-new, exclusive designs (which can be pricey, let's be real), why not let me work my magic on your existing prints? I can customise, edit, and rework them to create something totally unique and on-trend. It's like giving your prints a fabulous makeover without breaking the bank!
Not only will this save you money, but it's also an eco-friendly approach that aligns with the sustainable fashion movement. Who doesn't love a win-win situation?
The Benefits of Reworking Prints
Cost-effective: No need to invest in entirely new designs, saving you possibly hundreds.
Sustainable: Repurposing existing prints reduces waste and environmental impact.
Unique: Your reworked prints will be one-of-a-kind, setting you apart from the competition.
Versatile: We can explore different colour palettes, layouts, scale, and styles to keep your brand fresh.
More Money-Saving Ideas
Non-exclusive Licensing: Instead of purchasing designs outright, consider non-exclusive licensing. This allows you to use the designs for a fee without owning them entirely, saving you money upfront. Ask me about my non-exclusive licensing fees by getting in touch here.
Recolouring and Rescaling: A simple change in colour palette or scale can give your existing prints a whole new look, making them feel fresh and exciting again. This is a very simple solution and involves less work than a complete rework. Have a print that needs an update? Get in touch here.
Affordable Trend Reports: Instead of splurging on expensive trend reports (WGSN is world-class, but very pricey for many of us), look to online platforms that offer free or more affordable options. Staying on top of trends doesn't have to break the bank. Below are some of my personal favourite, go-to sources:
Patternbank Trend Reports - https://patternbank.com/trends
Pattern Curator Trend Service - https://www.patterncuratortrendservice.com
The Pattern Edit - https://www.thepatternedit.com/trendreports
Pantone Colour Trend Reports - https://www.pantone.com/articles/fashion-color-trend-report
Digital Weaver Trend Bureau - https://www.thedigitalweaver.com/collections/shop-trend-boards
The Print School's Print Pattern Forecast - https://www.theprintschool.com/the-print-pattern-forecast
Vogue Fashion Trends - https://www.vogue.com/fashion/trends
Elle Fashion Trends - https://www.elle.com/fashion/trend-reports/
Tagwalk - The Fashion Search Engine - https://www.tag-walk.com/en/trends
Independent Artists: Consider collaborating with independent artists who are excited about your brand. Not only will you support emerging talent, but you'll also get unique designs at a more reasonable cost.
So, what do you say? Are you ready to embrace these cost-saving strategies and stay ahead of the game? Let's schedule a call for a creative brainstorming session. Book your discovery call here.
If you found value in this blog post or had any other suggestions about optimising the textile print development process, let me know!
As always, you can email me at: hello@carolynquan.design
Carolyn