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8 New Natural Textile Materials for your Fashion Collection

Natural fabrics are essentially textiles that are made up of natural fibres, they’ve beenaround for hundreds of years and are great for the environment. With no harsh chemicals toharm our environment, it is an ideal alternative to use if you are thinking of starting yourown clothing line. By choosing natural fabrics, you can also sell your products at areasonable price and they will last very long! We have put together a list of the top 8 natural fabrics that you can use in your daily life aswell as invest in. It is good to become familiar with the different natural fabrics that thereare to offer, as it will mean you understand the making process of them and be able to helpour environment. 1. Linen One of the oldest natural fabrics known to man, Linen is a derived from fibres of theflax plant. The fibre is super strong, absorbent and dries much faster than cotton,which makes it great for hot weather. Many garments are lines with linen, as it isvalue for its comfort and freshness during humid weather. Some other advantages oflinen include; it resists sunlight, it is washable and it is non-allergenic. 2. Cotton Cotton is known for its versatility. It is a very soft and comforting fibre that grows in a‘boil’ around the seeds of the cotton plants of the Gossypium. The fibre isbreathable, durable and easy to maintain. Similar to linen, the texture of cotton isvery soft and comfortable and is a popular fabric used in most forms of clothing.   3. Silk Silk is a natural protein-based fibre. The protein fibre of silk is composed of fibroinand is spun by the good old silk worm. Silk is known for its beautiful texture and it isknown to drape well, be breathable and hypoallergenic- what’s not to love about it?Silk is used mainly for night attire and evening gowns and has a lot of high value to it.   4. Wool Wool is a protein- based fibre obtained from sheep and other animals. It is great as itcan be blended with man-made fibres, making it easy and versatile to use. Great forwinter essentials, wool is a fantastic choice as it is warm, flexible, durable and it candye fairly easily, which means you can have a lot of creative freedom with it. 5. Bamboo The fibres of bamboo are produced from the bamboo plant itself. It takes roughly 3years to fully process bamboo, and can be used to make a variety of things, such asclothes, accessories and it is even used for medicinal purposes. Bamboo is very soft,durable and it is also easy to maintain. 6. Jute Jute is a fairly long and soft vegetable fibre that can be spun into very strong threads.It is produced mainly from plants and is known for its uses in making cloth forwrapping bales of raw cotton and is also fantastic for making coverings, curtains,carpets and so on. Jute is 100 per cent biodegradable and recyclable. 7. Mohair Mohair is known to be a ‘silk-like’ fabric and is made from the hair of the Angoragoat. It is super resilient and is known for its sheen, lustre and ‘diamond-like’appearance. It also has great heat-regulating properties. Both visually pleasing andfunctional, mohair is a fabric that you should definitely invest in. 8. Hemp Hemp is derived from the cannabis plant. It is one of the fastest growing plants to bespun into a useable fibre. It can be used for a variety of product, such as clothing,construction materials, paper and so on, therefore its versatility is excellent. It is alsovery durable, naturally resistant to mould and it does not lose its shape easily.Some great advantages as to why it is better to go for natural fabrics is because firstand foremost- it is great for the environment, but it is also great for you. You will findthat most natural fabrics are biodegradable, durable, comfortable, heat responsiveand naturally repellent to mould. Many fibres (such as cotton) also grow organically,meaning that no harsh chemicals are used in its process. Although this makes cottonmore expensive, it is long-lasting and has great factors, therefore it is most-definitelyworth your money.Natural fabrics moistures wicking abilities allow the fabric to feel ventilated, leaving anice feeling on your skin. These certain natural fabrics (such as linen) will keep youcool during hot and stick weather. As well as this, natural fabrics are far better forsensitive skin and causes less or almost no irritation. What’s Trending for 2019/2020 In recent affairs, ‘coffee leather’ has been a hit. Made from recyclable coffee beansand plants, a high-end sneaker brand nat-2 has launched a VEGAN sneaker madefrom coffee leather itself. Although it comes at a fairly big price tag ($700), it is inhigh demand! We also have Pineapple Leather. Hugo Boss launched a pair of pineapple leathershoes (otherwise known as Pinatex), the leather is made from fibres of the pineappleleave. It is chemical free, natural and has a very low environmental impact. Theappearance of this innovative leather is also rather appealing!

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What Does COVID-19 Mean for the Fashion Industry?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a phenomenal impact on the world. The impacts have been immediate and some unavoidable, especially in terms of the fashion industry. Is there be any hope during such a crisis? What is Corona? Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been classed as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This outbreak has dominated the news , social media and conversations in the past few weeks. The pandemic means the outbreak of the disease is having worldwide effects. Where did it start? The source is suspected to originate from a Wuhan ‘wet market’ in China which sold both dead and live animals. What are the symptoms? – High temperature – Reoccurring cough How is Covid-19 affecting fashion? The Supply Chain The supply chains have been severely affected by worldwide manufacturers including Asian and European factories with countless disruptions due to quarantine and lockdown measures. The scale of the consequences of these interruptions is still unknown. However, some argue that this may propel businesses to secure their production in other manufacturing regions which are cheaper and less affected. Italy’s manufacturing region has not been suspended despite the country’s lockdown. There have been measures put in place to adjust and prevent the spread. Meanwhile, the biggest challenge is the dramatic reduction in demand with reports from suppliers receiving an average of 1000 handbag orders per month to none for the coming months. Travel bans also make sourcing management and traditionally buying systems difficult for fashion companies. Therefore, new systems are required to establish new connections with potential manufacturers for alternative production options. Fashion Consumption The fashion industry has been substantially affected by this occurrence. China itself has become a dominant fashion consumer, with its share of the global luxury market moving from 2 percent (2002) to 18 percent (2019). Despite this , COVID-19 has altered promising predictions, with brands such as Moncler recording an ’80 per cent’ decrease in customers visiting their mainland stores. This combined with the travel bans will undoubtedly affect consumers’ discretionary spending. The Fashion System The influx of the virus has meant that many fashion shows have been cancelled this season. This has revisited the question about the necessity of fashion shows with the associated labour and costs. Although fashion show originated as a form of showing potential clients and buyers the collections, they are mainly used as a spectacle for marketing agendas. Buyers and press are still privately shown the collections which are essential for brands to sell the collections. The outbreak has meant that buyers are doing this remotely and using high-definition look-books to make their buying decisions. The Armani Women’s Fall Autumn / Winter 2020 show has revealed a new response for fashion brands to operate fashion shows in response to the pandemic. Armani organised a digital fashion show to empty seats is admirable. Along with the Armani ‘message of love’ to China with a set of China models ending the show dressed in Armani pieces inspired by the Chinese culture. The Fashion Technology Solutions Supply Chain Management Use a high tech solution to connect to manufacturers and suppliers Systems that have a tracking system of the status of the order with immediate feedback about potential delays and issues Manage orders automatically For example, the Chanodil system can help buyers to manage their orders remotely. Fashion Consumption Brands must expand their focus with some fashion brands becoming over-reliant on sales in certain consumer markets such as China Fashion System Fashion brands must develop remote working strategies throughout their supply chain that facilitate productive work habits Fashion brands must reconsider and update the purpose of Fashion Weeks The main takeaway for the fashion industry for the aftermath of this pandemic is to be more nimble in their business approach. For example in terms of the use of technology and working remotely, brands had to reimagine their working processes. The insights from these adaptions should inevitably lead to effective solutions for out of date practices. This crisis brings a wave of negative consequences, and the fashion industry is being measured by the way it responds. The brands have the opportunity to support and work together to fight this with compassion and patience. Or they can carry on in denial at the risk to the lives of their employees and others. The choice is in their hands. In terms of the world response, it reveals the necessity for countries to work together than isolating themselves and throwing blame on others. We are all connected and responsible for our actions. How to prevent the spread of Covid-19? Below shows some precautions that you can take to protect yourself and others. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds Wash hands before and after work Use hand sanitiser Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze Only use public transport when essential Avoid social activities Avoid large groups Work from home Stay at least 2 metres away from someone with the virus Do you have the symptoms? Stay at home for 7 days The whole household should stay at home for 14 days after the first person’s symptoms Ring emergency helpline if you can’t cope with your symptoms Vulnerable People 70 or over Long-term health conditions Pregnant women Weakened immune system Chanodil can assist buyers and manufacturers through this process even during the Covid-19 pandemic by helping to find solutions for any order management and manufacturing issues. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us at chathura@chanodil.com or on our website.

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What Technologies are Revolutionising the Fashion Industry?

The fashion industry is always evolving, not just in terms of design, but in terms of the technologies it uses to keep it processing. It is important for the fashion industry to be as digitalised as it can, as this will help it to move faster with the ever-changing trends it has. The impact of technology in our day-to-day lives is undeniable. Customer software technology has become a massive part of the fashion industry technical trend and it intends to become more and more innovative into the near future. 1. Mobiles in Fashion It is likely that you have at least one tech gadget, and that probably is a smartphone. Well, a smartphone is in-fact a big factor in ecommerce. Most consumers are big on online shopping where payments are made digitally. It’s been proven that shoppers prefer shopping online as it is faster, easier and hassle-free. The fashion industry has responded to this behavioural consumer change and focused on the development for mobile applications, creating applications that are easy to use so that customers can make purchases online. An example of this is Instagram’s shopping feature that makes shopping simple, by clicking on a liked item that can then direct you to the fashion products page so you can make your purchase. Brands such as Pretty Little Thing and Missguided all have these features as they are primarily an online store, so it is essential that they have this feature. As you can imagine, these days it is all about simplifying the process so that it’s as quick as possible and convenient for your customer, this is a great marketing proposal to have as you’re more likely to drive sales in your fashion business, therefore it is important to focus on mobile technology within fashion. 2. Tech-Inspired Fashion Shows Fashion shows still play a big part, and it is what most high-end fashion designers work towards throughout summer and winter. With the high pressure of each fashion show being modern and memorable, designers have decided to incorporate technology on the runway through things such as; holographic projections, 360-degree panorama, 3-D motions and much more. There is a variety of custom software used in programming the lights, music and other gadgets throughout the fashion show, proving that technology plays a huge part in succeeding the brand. You’ll also find that most recently, fashion shows can now be streamed online through a ton of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or even Amazon Prime, an example of this is Rihanna’s Fenty X Savage show, where she showcased her new lingerie collection- this was recently streamed on Amazon Prime. 3. 3-D Print Tools and Software in Fashion Even though online shopping is much more popular than going into a physical store, a big challenge that designers and fashion brands face is trying to sell the ‘look and feel’ of the garment, as viewing it online can be deceptive- how can you convince a customer to purchase an item without them being able to feel the texture of it or try it on? 3D custom software development has recently come in, that enables virtual browsing, visually impact-full prints, and richly textured fabrics. Retailers can also collect data metrics to enable them to analyse the consumers buying trends. By having the technology to analyse their consumers behaviour and buying patterns, that can strategically formulate the right fashion products that will sell for the future. Virtual / Augmented Reality (VR) In our recent article we discussed how ‘Ai is Reshaping the Fashion Industry’ – but what is VR? As mentioned before, it is easier for customers now to browse through products and purchase it through the click of a button. However, many retailers have face major backlash from customers who ordered items that didn’t match the online material they viewed the product on. However, with the movement of VR platforms, we can now merge the physical and online world of retail. An example of this is the ‘try on avatars’ which are taking a big hit in the world of fashion. Apps such as the DressingRoom are using AR to allow online shoppers to try on outfits on an avatar- they can even customise the measurements before committing to buying the product. Technology freedom like so, allow customers shopping experience to be clearer and trustworthy. It will also add value to the retailers, as they can fully assess the consumers used of their site which they can then customise their personal experience. 4. Mobile PLM (Product Life-Cycle) within the Fashion Industry PLM in industry is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product; from inception all the way through to engineering design and manufacture. PLM plays an important part in the fashion and apparel industry. Over the last few years, there has been a mobile version PLM created, in order to help in the management of overall operations and logistics for global brands. As the fashion is a fairly ever-changing and fast-paced environment, it needs constant communication amongst various stakeholders. With the use of Mobile PLM, it is now possible to undertake important tasks and handle workflows in realistic timing. Mobile PLM has introduced the concept of automation within the world of fashion, this leads to better clarity of date along with improving the management of time per tasks. 5. Beacons and Geo-fencing in Fashion Geofencing is essentially a ‘virtual fence’. It allows the recognition of when a device enters and leaves a certain area (in this case a retail store). This technology is dependent on smartphones, as the geofencing is enabled by the use of GPS. The main objective of embedding technology into the fashion industry is to achieve a customized experience to its consumers. Beacons are small sensors that are positioned in retail stores, they basically connect to smartphones and push relevant content in them. As a result, this helps fashion retailers to send out important commercial content to the consumers mobile, this allows fashion brands to send

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Chanodil Visits ISPO Munich

What is ISPO Munich? ISPO Munich is the largest sports business trade fair in the world, which happens yearly in Germany. The fair is held Messe München exhibition centre. The organisation is guided by these three mottos: BE RESPONSIBLE. BE ACTIVE. BE CREATIVE. The trade fair hosts over 2,800 exhibitors related to sports products including Snowsports, Outdoor, Wearable Technologies and Health & Fitness. Source: ISPO Munich Why did we visit? We were excited to visit ISPO Munich to broaden our network to find clients and potential business collaboration partners. ISPO seems to be an exciting place to learn about the latest technologies in the sports and fashion sector. Also, we were eager to learn about the latest trends and big ideas affecting the fashion industry. What did we find? Learning We found that ISPO had many opportunities to have open discussions with experts and learn about new technologies. This was accessible through the Sustainability Hub and ISPO Textrends Hub. Networking The substantial benefit of attending such a fair was that we were able to make new contacts with a variety of companies from around the world. Below we have given more details of the companies we met the fair. Cottonworks Twitter: cotton_works Instagram: cotton_works Sector: Manufacturing, Suppliers, Education, Textile, Raw Materials Location: USA Who are they? The CottonWorks program was developed by Cotton Incorporated, as a resource for the fashion and textile industries. This resource includes webinars, workshops, market and trend analysis. Cottonworks has five key online resources: Defects Glossary – this shows types of defects with the fabric and processes involved. Textile Encyclopedia Production Dictionary Fabricast- the cotton related fabric collection developed by Cotton Incorporated. Trend Forecast Source: Cottonworks EA7 Sector: Fashion, Apparel, Sportswear, Outwear, Snowsports Location: Italy Who are they? EA7 is a subsidiary brand as part of the Italian fashion brand, Emporio Armani. EA is named after Emporio Armani. However, the number 7 is inspired by the fashion designer’s admiration for an AC Milan football player, Andriy Shevchenko. The EA7 brand specialises in sportswear and casual clothing. The focus is on using high-quality fabrics and materials to be worn as part of an everyday and sporty lifestyle. Source: EA7 UYN Sector: Apparel, Sportswear, Outwear ,Snowsports , Technical Innovation Location: Italy Who are they? UYN means Unleash Your Nature, which is owned by Trerè Innovation s.r.l and based in Mantua, Italy. The company specialises in producing high-tech apparel. The company highly invests on understand all aspect of their market from design to distribution, with their research labs and partnerships with renowned athletes. They aim to be the number one choice for athletes from amateur to Olympian. Source: UYN Dainese Sector: Apparel, Sportswear, Outwear, Snowsports ,Technical Innovation Location: Italy Who are they? The Dainese brand began in 1972, producing protective wear for motorbike riders. Dainese has since expanded its range specialising in highly technical sportswear. In 2017, the CEO of Dainese was awarded the ‘Excellence of Year/ Innovation & Leadership’ and ‘CEO of the Year’ by the Le Fonti Awards for Innovation and Human Resources. One of their latest technical innovation is the ‘Concept 001’ which is ergonomically designed for high safety and performance of skiers. Source: Dainese Suunto Sector: Sportswear, Snowsports ,Technical Innovation, Outdoor wear, Wearable Electronics, Diving, Sports watch Location: Finland Who are they? Suunto was formed in 1936 after the founder Tuomas Vohlonen developed more accurate compasses for his orienteering. Over the years the company has continued their pursuit in finding the ways to support athletes during their most extreme adventures, from deep-sea diving to mountaineering. The company’s portfolio includes highly technical watches, compasses and accessories. Suunto is part of the sporting goods company Amer Sports. Source: Suunto Movesense Sector: Sportswear,Technical Innovation, Outdoor wear, Wearable Electronics, Sports watch Location: Finland Who are they? Movesense is a platform developed by the sports watch brand Suunto. This platform allows users to build their own wearable electronics at a cost-efficient price. Movesense also has the Movesense Academic Program to work with institutions and researchers to develop solutions for working with technical hardware. Source: Movesense Mode Information GMBH Sector: Fashion, Design, Books, Magazine, Research, Trend Forecasting, Publisher, Supplier Location: Germany Who are they? Mode Information is one of the world’s leading publishers of trend information for Fashion, Interiors and Lifestyle products. The company provides a vast amount of resources relating to trend forecasting and colour management. These resources are essential for designers and brands during their early stages of developing a product by giving them valuable consumer insight. Source: Mode Information How successful was our presence? ISPO Munich markets itself as having a high exhibitor loyalty rate. We agree that from our experience that it will be a trade fair we plan to visit every year in the foreseeable future. If you are interested in developing your own sportswear collection, we can help. Please contact: chathura@chanodil.com

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Tips on Undertaking a Successful Fashion Photoshoot

Proposing a photoshoot for your fashion brand is a very creative and exciting task. However, there is a lot of work that goes into it, you’ll need to consider MUAs to hire for the day, create mood-boards, hire fashion assistants, set up the correct equipment and make sure you have the perfect lighting. All of this is required in every successful fashion photoshoot. This can be challenging as there are so many tasks involved and it involves a lot of people with different professional background, and on top of that, you’re working against a schedule! The best thing you can be in a fashion photoshoot, is calm. Easier said than done for sure, but with the guide, we hope to settle the stress and give you some useful information. Remember, the ultimate goal of the fashion photoshoot is to produce some long-lasting and eye-catching content for your fashion brand. 1. Research HEAVILY Depending on the type of fashion photoshoot that you are trying to conduct (i.e a urban shoot for your streetwear brand), you will need to make sure you have a brief for your photoshoot. You need to be aware what kind of style photography you want, you need to be able to reference artists who may be a muse for your shoot, you need to conduct visual research. Have a look at look-books and attend exhibitions if you need a head start in getting inspired. Decide what type of shoot you want and the angles of the photos that work best to represent your product. 2. Create a List Create a detail list that consists of budgeting and planning. It should contain as much detail as you can, such as the main kind of shots you want, how many outfits you are shooting, the required props, locations for the shoot, contact list of where you may have loaned the props/ accessories, contact list for any assisting workers, colour themes, timeline references, artist references- all in all, try to add as much as you can to the list, and tick it off as you go along. Your list may also include detailed information of the lighting, angles and expressions you want in your shoot. Remember, a photoshoot is ALL visual, so you need to have your planning down to a T. Your MUA, photographers, models, hair team and so on will all need to understand how your mind works and what you expect from the photoshoot, so having a visual documentation is necessary. 3. Your Team As mentioned previously, you will likely to have a big team working with you; this team will include stylists, photographers, hair and makeup artist, technical people, editors, models and so on. Ensure that the people you bring on board for the shoot are on board with you and your fashion brand. Ultimately, it is like interviewing them, and you need to ensure that they are confident, driven and have a ‘can do’ attitude for the shoot. Fashion photoshoots can be very long and tiring, so you want a passionate team who expect a successful end result. On a side note, consider getting creative university students or graduates to help you out. They are more likely to be hard-working and passionate about gaining some extra fashion experience, plus they’ll be able to build on their own portfolio, so it is a win-win for the both of you. 4. Establish the Purpose of your Photos You need to be aware of what your images are used for, as each style of photography is appropriate for different things. Are your images for a look-book, website, social media post? You may want a bulk of images for all these resources, but make sure the style, size, composition and overall look is suitable for each platform. For example, for a look-book, you may want more exciting location-based images for your audience to scroll through but for your website you may want clear images with good lighting and a white background, which means you’ll probably have to undertake a separate shoot…it all goes into the planning! Working a budget out is also very important as you want to be able to get everything you want out of the fashion photoshoot. 5. Create a Call Sheet This will be another important document you need to have- but it isn’t vital. The call sheet is an online template you can use to help you and your team. It will include the logistical side of things such as the timing of the shoot, arrival times, parking details, facilities available, the location, the overall schedule for the day, and it may also list the detail of the outfits for your fashion brand and which model will be wearing what. You can email this time sheet a few weeks in advance to your team prior to the shoot. Make sure you ask all your team to arrive 30 minutes to one hour early before the shoot, to avoid any delays. 6. Ideas for Seeking Inspiration We are sure that you have a visual idea of how you want your fashion photoshoot to turn out. But we’ve decided to give you some extra help. One of the most important things you can do for your shoot is using an iconic location. You will notice that well-established fashion houses have always been successful in picking remarkable locations for there shoots. Using a great location that is suitable for your brand, will have a big impact on your consumer as it will be eye-catching and memorable. Have a look in fashion magazines like Vogue, Dazed and Hunger for photo-shoot inspiration; you may even come across some useful fashion photographers. 7. Create a Story-board Similar to the creation of a movie story-board, you should create one for your photoshoot. It should showcase a general ‘plot’ of how you want your shoot to go, the angles you want and so on. This will also help you take control of your day. You’ll also be able to plan how

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The Revolution of the Sports Bra

The sports bra is around 42 years old and is still an effective athletic undergarment used by woman. Over the past few years, the sports bra has also been made to be seen as a ‘fashion’ statements, besides its useful functions and comfortable factors. The sports bra growth rate has out-space other styles of bras for the past few years and continues to be a essential garment in a woman’s wardrobe. The Story of Nike Well established brands such as Nike, Adidas and Gym Shark are all known to sell best-selling sports bra, and they don’t intend on stopping anytime soon. In-fact, the making of the sports bra is getting more and more stylish and innovative as we speak. “It is the most important piece of apparel for the active woman — a good one enables women to play sports, and sports can give women confidence in life,” -Janett Nichol, VP of Apparel Innovation. The sports bra has a pretty big job; it needs to create comfort, minimise bounce and avoid causing tissue damage during exercise- the creation of the sports bra is a lot more complicated than you think! In 2012, Nike released the Flyknit Bra with the Flyknit Racer. It is a digitally-engineered knitting process, best known for its lightweight properties, formfitting and almost seamless shoe uppers. In recent times, this technology is used largely across Nikes footwear; an example of this is the Epic React running shoes. As stated on the Nike website, taking the Flyknit from the foot to the body took over 600 hours of testing from various engineers and designers. “The goal of the Nike FE/NOM Flyknit Bra was maximum support and comfort that would allow women to feel and look amazing, while doing anything they choose,” – Rendone. The bra itself is made from ultra-soft nylon-spandex yarn that creates that ultimate sculptured fit to your body whilst creating a seamless feel with the two single-layer panels. The Flyknit bra also has encapsulation properties with compression properties to ensure that the bra is offering the best support, comfort and shape with additional components such as wires, pads and elastics. The Flyknit Nike bra is 30 per cent lighter than any of their other bras as is uses a lot less material and seam-work, making it innovative and sustainable. Comfort is Key Some would agree that we are in the process of an undergarment revolution. Woman want comfort over cleavage, which makes the sports bra a special item within the gym sector. An NPD survey found that 46 per cent of millennials who wore a sports bra within the past seven days decided to incorporate it into their daily wardrobe. That said, it is safe to assume that sports bras are a key best seller within the fashion industry, but especially within the world of gym-wear. “Comfort is a dominant theme throughout the fashion world, and today’s bra consumer, especially Millennials, is seeking both physical and personal comfort,” -Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst, The NPD Group, Inc. As mentioned previously, the sports bra came into fashion as a functional item. However, over the years the bra has turned into a fashionable statement piece. The brand Lululemon itself created a whole line of sports bras for streetwear, which proves its versatility. The History of the Sports Bra 2,500 BC: With an attempt to create product to hold the breast in place and provide firmness, woman in Ancient Greece created the Apodesmo- a band of linen to wrap around their chest 1820: The bust bodice was created as an undergarment for empire-waist fashion trends 1911: Fashion designers created the “sports corset”, traditionally wired with metal, this corset was made with elastic 1914: Mary Phelps-Jacobs patents the first bra. In other news, the tango craze influences a corset made for the pure purpose of dancing 1915: A corset was designed primarily for the skating debut The birth of the sports bra came into practise when some students from the University of Vermont realised that if nobody was going to design a solution for the painful breast bounce they experienced themselves (whilst jogging), then they would have to create something themselves- essentially, if the problem won’t get fixed, you got to do it yourself! This moves us on to 1977 where Hinda Miller and Lisa Lindahl called a friend called Polly Smith (who works in the universities costume department). After some tricky attempts, the three females created a prototype of two jockstraps sewn together. A Final Note Creating a bra is not simple. The process of a sports bra with the ultimate support is still in works, and apparel brands are still working on creating the best sports bra that provides comfort and ease in every aspect. Despite the hours of research that goes into this, the balance between controlling the ‘bounce’ per say and making the sports bra comfortable is still hard to achieve all in one. You also need to have other considerations, like the sweat support, straps, slippage, fit as well as wanting it to look appealing, therefore, it is safe to say that producing an innovative and functioning sports bra can be proven quite difficult and there are a lot of design requirements that come with it.

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Industry insight

5 Essential Tips for Working with a denim manufacturer

You need to think about how to work with the denim manufacturers,  If you are thinking of starting your own fashion brand with denim range. Denim is a one of the most popular and in-demand fabric and you are able to reach a larger audience with your denims range easily.There is a huge market for custom jeans, jackets, handbags and so on – you can go wild with your imagination in the world of denim. Ensuring you also research the denim factors for your fashion design is also essential, you need to look out for washes, textiles and colours.This can help you assess how to build a successful and friendly denim brand. Another thing you need to consider, is that your denim products are selling at a fair and reasonable price. When you conduct your business plan, you need know how to target different markets and understand the competitive market price. These are the 5 essential tips for working with denim manufacturers: 1. Understand and know your denim Manufacturing Process There will be a variety of processes in the creation of denims. It consists of 5 important steps. The first one is ensuring that you have the essential raw materials to create your product. This will include things such as the correct fabric, rivets, buttons, zippers and any other fasteners and accessories you need depending on the type of jeans that you produce. The second step is considering the type of manufacturer you want. There are specific high-tech machinery that goes into making high-quality jeans, these machines can vary from stitching machines, logo making machines and so on. Remember, that when creating jeans, there are so many elements to it from the fastening, to the logo, to the style of seam you want- this isn’t just a simple print on T-shirt, it is a lot more technical, so it needs to be well thought out and executed to a high standard. Depending on your business plan, if you decide to start off with a fairly small denim clothing line, then you can connect with a specialist manufacturer- these guys will be able to help you with the whole of the production process! Lastly, ensure you check samples beforehand for any imperfections, do this before you pursue any other methods such as; stitching, embroidering, patchwork and other processes. 2. Choosing the Colour / Technique for your Denim jeans. Denim is a great fabric as you can experiment with colour, the texture and the overall look. Those old pair of black denim jeans you have in your wardrobe were dyed, it’s original colour would have been nowhere near black, which shows you can truly have fun with the dying process. Alternatively, you could use raw denim- this is a type of denim which is not dyed or altered in any way. Another technique you could propose is enzyme washing. This process involves softening the fabric, providing exceptional comfort in comparison to other jeans. 3. Be Creative with your denim range. Denim is a fabric which can be produced into many different products, such as jackets, denim shirts, shorts and much more. It is considered a very flexible element within garment industry. Also take to note that denim is long-lasting, therefore market and idolise the idea that your jeans can be re-worn again and again with no damage. Also take to note the washing requirements- if the procedure is followed correctly, the denim should stay in perfect condition! Also consider the idea of customisation for your denim, as this will drive more demand. Dependent on your market research, you may want to add exciting accessories such as zippers and rivets. Whether these work as a functional piece or as a fashion statement, they’re more likely to make your product look more design-driven and exciting. 4. Pinpoint your target audience. Still working out a marketing plan? Check out our latest post ‘How to Create a Marketing Plan for a Fashion Business’. Tailoring your marketing ideas to your audience is important. For your denim brand, you may want to consider your audience…in fact, you must. For example, If your target audience are young university students, then creating TV ads and posters will not reach out to them effectively. Use resources that they would use, such as social media apps like Instagram and Twitter. 5. Additional Notes: The key things you need to know before you start a denim range is: Knowledge of the denim you want to sell, as well as the style, product, colour, stitch techniques and additional accessories. Understand what is the most important manufacturing process for you. Research heavily on your target audience. Create an effective marketing plan in regards to your target audience. Get a business license. Know your product and think of future trends in the world of denim. Be open to new ideas, such as customisation. On a final note, whilst starting a denim brand is slightly more technical, Chanodil can help connect you to specialist manufacturers. We in Chanodil aim to provide you with reliable, ethical, and sustainable manufacturers. Book your meeting with us and check our pricing plans. We can help you with your development of your clothing range come to live and will give you professional and right advice for your brand. If this is something of interest you, do not hesitate to contact us.

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Industry insight

Instantly Start a Children Clothing Line with 5 Quick Tips

Whilst there are plenty of streetwear brands, evening wear brands and apparel brands, the growth in the children clothing sector is ever-growing and it is a great market to go into with plenty of scope for start-up business. Although there are many risk factors and health and safety things you need to consider before starting a children’s clothing brand, it can be the most exciting and creative adventure you can pursue- it may even bring you back to your own childhood fashion! In this article, we have shared some key tips for you for starting a children’s clothing brand. Be sure to take notes as there are plenty of factors that you need to consider! 1.Establish your Target Audience This does not mean your target audience is aimed at children, as that is very broad. You need to identify the age gap that you are targeting. The process and alterations you’ll need to make for new-borns and toddlers will completely differ for the process you need to make for children around school ages to very young teens. This is one of the most important stages that you need to address before starting a children’s brand. Remember- to determine the type of people you want to invest into your clothing, you won’t be targeting the child- they won’t be handing you over any hard-earned cashed! It will be the parents / guardians that will control this, so you will technically need to consider their buying methods and take note into what they are looking for when buying clothes for their children, some of these include: Cheap Baby Clothing The parents may not want to splash cash on overly expensive baby clothing as it won’t be worn long- term as babies grow pretty fast at the earlier stages! It also does not feel ideal to spend £100 on a baby Gucci jacket if not long after a stain may appear on it! Creating cheap clothes is ideal for most parents as they will try to be cost-effective. Designer Kids Wear On the flip side, you will get a huge community of parents who will want to lavish their child in designer kids wear. Therefore, you may want to go down this route. It still means you would have to invest more to be able to profit more, but it is definitely a route to consider with the ever-growing trend of designer kids wear and the massive need for it from parents! Trend-led designs: Similar to creating designer kids-wear, instead of focusing on the quality aspect as the primary factor, focus on the trend. What is in fashion? What’s suitable? Again, parents whom are trend and design driven will invest into this idea. Taking into note these things will hopefully help you identify what route you would like to go down so that you can further progress the next steps. Remember, that the consumer-base (the parents) are completely different to each other. Some parents will be looking for affordable clothing so they are not too fussed about style and the brand, they focus more on how durable and safe the clothing is for their child and how much use they can get out of it. On the other hand, some parents will look into designer children clothing and want the latest fashion for their child, they most likely won’t focus too much on price but image. Undertaking an in-depth analysis into your target marker will help you gain a strong understanding of how you can create the best and most suitable products. Many people who go into children’s wear have a natural passion and experience in the sector but it is not a necessity. Many children-wear entrepreneurs discovered this gap in the market and took it upon themselves to learn about the business of it and turn their fashion children-wear brand into a bestseller. 2. Create Business Plan for your Start-up business. Creating a business plan is a must to get your start up brand up and running. Don’t jump straight into big ideas, start off small and take one step at a time. Your business plan should information such as: Initial Idea- what is it? How does your product meet the needs of the customer? Who is your target audience? Who are your competitors? What is your budget? What is the best marketing strategy for you? Production and operations – what manufacturer? Where? Forecasted financials By having the information for the above pointers, you will be able to start your children clothing line in no time and will have pretty good knowledge of where to start. Documenting each stage will help you to identify what else you need to do and improve on. 3. The Visuals: Design The kid wear products you create will be your main selling point. Therefore, it is important to get your children fashion brand is perfected so that it appeals to your target audience in the best way. Ensure you put out the right message that makes your brand memorable to your customers and stand out from your competitors. On the other hand, you also need to think of ‘design’ for your kids wear clothing. This is super important, especially in the fashion industry as it heavily focuses on style and visuals. Create designs that are appealing and ticks boxes for your target market. You can do this by drawing up initial sketches and then create them on software such as CAD as this will most likely be the format you need it in when you send out your designs to get made. You will need to enter specific information for your Tech Pack which is a necessity for the production of your brand. Check out our article ‘How to Create a Tech Pack’ to find out more. 4. Source your Fabrics / Find a Suitable Garment Manufacturer Yet another important step is to source the correct fabrics for your designs and find the perfect garment manufacturer who can make them. It is super important to

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Industry insight

5 Import Taxes and Logistical Considerations for your Fashion Business

Starting a fashion business is the most exciting business venture you can pursue, but unfortunately not all aspects of it are glamorous, and there are certain things you need to learn beforehand, before committing to your business. One of these factors being your import taxes and logistical considerations. Importing to and from the UK can be pretty costly, so it is good to do your research beforehand to find out the best way you can be effective with your money. 1. Cut Costs Trading internationally is an amazing luxury we are now open to, whether it be as far as East Asian or Europe, it is now much easier to do so. Finding suppliers from all around the world is exciting, but the process of importing product is not so exciting as it can be very expensive! Some key things you need to consider are the price of the goods you’re ordering (in this case clothing products or fabrics), the transportation costs, fees charged by outsourced service providers and additional charges levied by the government agencies for export and/or import for duty and VAT. Some of these charges cannot be changed, however there are some areas where you can cut costs. For starters, paying for the goods themselves. If you pay your overseas suppliers through regular bank transfers, fees and costs will be added and you also need to consider the exchange rate depending on the country! Depending on your bank, the exchange rate might not be brilliant. Using an alternative platform can save you from having to pay these additional costings: TransferWise With TransferWise you can save up to 8 times the amount than generic UK high-street banks. When making an international payment, you will get the actual mid-market exchange rate and you will pay a small upfront fee for each transfer – everything is clear from start to finish and you’re made aware of your financial situation straight away. This platform is regulated by the FCA has 3million + customers- these are pretty reliable figures! If you are dealing with different currencies, the ‘multi-currency borderless account’ holds up to 40 currencies and will charge you NO fees when retrieving the money. Alternatively, our service at Chanodil allow you to pay in the same currency as the business you are working with abroad, this therefore makes it easier for you to work out and manage your finances. 2. Transportation Options A majority of your costings will go to the transportation fees. However, there are a ton of options that you can choose from. These include; Air Freight Air freight is used mainly when transporting small high value items or things that are required urgently. These good can be transported through a passenger aircraft or a specially designed freight plane. There are a variety of options within buying a small amount of freight space on a normal flight to managing an entire specified plan yourself- not to mention the change in costs. The costing is typically high, but it is much quicker to transport your goods via air rather than by road. The prices are usually based on the weight and worth of the goods. Shipping a small item from a European country such as Italy or Spain to the UK will most-likely cost you less then shipping the same quantity item from an Asian country such as Bangladesh or India. It is important to know the cost of import duty to and from the UK as well as calculating the cost of goods and transportation fees. The VAT is usually worked out by adding the cost of goods and transportation with the duty paid. By paying more in transportation, you are increasing the costs of high duty and VAT costs further down the line. Sea Freight This form of transportation is often used when importing goods from the far East to the UK. It is fairly cheap and a great way to move larger volumes of products around the world. If you are ordering a large quantity, you will have your own 20-40 feet container, otherwise you may share the space of the container with other shipments. The time consumption for this transportation technique can take up to several weeks, however it is a lot cheaper than using transport by air. The costings for sea freight is worked out based on the volume rather than the actual weight as well as the value of the item. Again, the cost with differentiate depending on the country it is being shipped from. This option is better suited for large orders typically 100kg or over. The cost of transportation via sea is a lot cheaper than any other method and the duty and VAT will also reduce. Rail Rail transport can be fairly cost-effective for some areas. European rail services are fast and persistent but they do not offer much flexibility on road haulage. On the flip side, the rail option is environmentally friendly but can be quite expensive in comparison to moving goods by road. You will also need cover for the transportation of your goods from the original supplier to the depot and from your depot to your warehouse/ studio. This makes things time-consuming and add to your costings. Road You can transport your items via trucks within Europe. By doing so, you can also move large volumes of your clothing due to the capacity of the trucks. You will often see well-established brands such as Pretty Little Thing using this method. The cost is reasonable but you’ll need to be made aware of potential prices for fuels and tolls. This option can also be time-consuming due to road traffic and any unexpected delays. Bigger companies will generally decide to transport large items of clothing packages via Road or Sea freight, depending on their finances. Additional Notes If you are unsure about how to calculate your tax for shipping, click here to find out more. 3. Importing from the UK When you are importing your clothing goods from the

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