With COVID-19 accelerating and disrupting the future of the fashion industry, many companies, like PatternLab, are reshaping their operations and reducing risks by going digital to adhere to new demands and safety regulations. The innovative start-up has launched a digital software solution. It has been designed to provide intuitive pattern making for design beginners all the way to industry professionals. It can be accessed anywhere, anytime, and without expensive costs. Offering free masterclasses, PatternLab demonstrated how easy it is to use the platform to start fashion labels or make one-of-a-kind pieces from pattern to completed garment.
Dedicated to Creating Opportunities for Fashion With Technology
Established in 2014, PatternLab has created new software to automate digital pattern-making that has been designed and developed over the last 6 years by pattern cutters and software engineers. PatternLab works with Adobe Illustrator to transform basic blocks into hundreds of unique designs that can be stored and saved into a personal library. By automating patterns, the user can create reliable basic blocks in minutes, minimising sizing doubts and removing time-consuming learning out of pattern making. The company has seen huge success in working with individual designers and start-up fashion brands, to generate patterns for collections and made-to-measure clothing. The ease and affordability of the software gives people the opportunity to experience creating their own fashion pieces that are not only customisable but also have a reduced production time of minutes rather than hours/days.
“By offering high-quality patterns alongside free tutorials, we are bridging the gap in the fashion market, making fashion design accessible to those that don’t have the time or money to spend on expensive courses.”
Since the beginning of the lockdown period, PatternLab has seen a staggering +500% increase in revenue and received 530% more YouTube subscribers after the release of their first tutorial. Following this success, the team released a wide range of complimentary video tutorials to gift the community with the resources to learn new skill sets and have fun with fashion design.
“Our product is no longer the main focus, our success comes from giving something amazing back first. Providing designers with the knowledge and tools to be able to create garments with accuracy, efficiency, and with no prior pattern-making experience,” said Ralph Pink, PatternLab’s Creative Director. “By offering high-quality patterns alongside free tutorials, we are bridging the gap in the fashion market, making fashion design accessible to those that don’t have the time or money to spend on expensive courses.”
Founding editor-in-chief of FashNerd.com, Muchaneta is currently one of the leading influencers writing about the merger of fashion with technology and wearable technology. She has also given talks at Premiere Vision, Munich Fabric Start and Pure London, to name a few. Besides working as a fashion innovation consultant for various fashion companies like LVMH Atelier, Muchaneta has also contributed to Vogue Business, is a senior contributor at The Interline and an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion, UAL.
