Designing for Spring 2021

susan baldwin
Apr 19, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Aug 20, 2020

I always love designing a new season, but I especially love designing for Spring/ Summer because with it brings the promise of the excitement of bright, clean, fun designs to look forward to from the winter doldrums. But I don't design in a vacuum. As discussed previously there is a lot of research and thought processes that go into each season. What I focus on while I design are, Seasonal Trends, Colors, Past sales.

Trends & Colors: what is the trends that are currently out there for Children's wear? Trends are filtered down from women and Juniors, Each season there is always a play on past trends its just what is the twist to it? This is also where color palettes come in as well.

Currently there is a more saturated brights palette, as well as a softer pastel palette, and even some bright pops of Neon with neutrals. It all depends on what your brand identity is or what you feel the market will respond best to.

Past Sales: We are always looking at our "sell throughs" to see what is selling best ,that is in stores now. We dissect the style, is it fabric? is it styling? is it a certain category? Right now what's selling very well are Pinafore sets, ( these are skirts with straps, and or bibs paired with a cute tee shirt.)

So when I start pulling together what I like I always hit the internet. Currently my favorite sites are: Zara Kids, Childrens salon, Melijoe and farfetch. The first one does an excellent job of being on trend with out losing the appeal of kids clothes. The other 3 sites sell high end brands where you can see what Brands are up to for the season . Brands such as , Stella McCartney, Chloe, BillyBlush to name a few. I will go through for lines and pick " must haves" for the season. This is also where I find similarities in trends and colors throughout a variety of brands,Then I do my own spin.

I am designing Spring at the moment, and it is 2020. By the time I design my line, I will need to then source sample yardage, have specs and patterns made, then have first samples made, this process can take up to 3 months. Once a line is bought, we need to put it into the production line. This can take another 3-6 months so that fabrics and trims can be made

as well as additional samples, for fit. Once everything is complete, the styles will need to be boxed up, packaged and sent to a warehouse , where they will then be distributed to the stores. Spring Garments will hit the floor by Mid February. Just in time for Spring 2021!

Below I have put together some Spring Items from my favorite stores and merchandised them into a cute group, this is a perfect example of how brands follow the same trends and colors and how we can easily see what trends are emerging for this season. Like the beautiful colors of my newly planted Gerber Daisies. I find this part so much fun!. its like going back to my childhood when I played with paper dolls and dressed them in a variety of fashions. I would be frustrated with the limited styles that I would start making my own styes to expand my paperdolls wardrobe. Have fun!