The Falak
A contemporary fit with a contrarian fly front for a pant.
Story & Inspiration ·
Design Goals & Audience ·
Market Data & Research ·
Competitors ·
Consumer Needs ·
Materials & Trims ·
Development ·
Technical Packs! ·
Prototyping & Sampling ·
Brand Cohesion ·
E-Commerce Site Plan ·
Challenges & Reflection ·
Story & Inspiration · Design Goals & Audience · Market Data & Research · Competitors · Consumer Needs · Materials & Trims · Development · Technical Packs! · Prototyping & Sampling · Brand Cohesion · E-Commerce Site Plan · Challenges & Reflection ·
What to expect in this case study
My muse is my sister, Zehra
I love these pants like I love my older sister, who nicknamed me Falak since birth. These pants feel authentic to who I am and reflect the overlap of our sisterly fashion senses: a bit contrarian.
Inspiration
These ultra high-rise pants were inspired by a few things. First, there’s something undeniably alluring about high-waisted pants—their ability to make a woman look powerful, sexy, and elongated always captivated me. Second, the satin: black satin pants add a subtle yet striking texture to any outfit. Lastly, the asymmetrical closure. Non-conventional fly fronts are rare, but they've always stood out in my memory.
Why I Designed This
TARGET AUDIENCE
PURPOSE
Somethng different The asymmetrical closure introduces a unique, non-conventional element, reflecting your desire to push boundaries while maintaining a sleek, refined aesthetic.
Demographic: Urban men and women aged 22-35, particularly in cloudier climates.
Lifestyle: Dynamic individuals balancing work, social activities, and personal interests in the city.
Style Preferences: They prefer a clean, contemporary aesthetic with some quirk. Never compromising on sophisticated details and a focus on quality.
Geographic Focus: Ideal for cooler climates in cities like San Francisco, London, Portland, Seattle, and New York during Autumn and Spring.
SPECIFIC GOALS
Versatility in Styling: The statement in piece in your outfit. It can go with any dark or gem colored bottom.
Comfort and Functionality: Crafted from soft, breathable knits - the sweater provides all-day comfort while maintaining a structured fit. The wide funnel neck and bell sleeves add to the ease of wear.
Modern Aesthetic: Maintaining a modern aesthetic to the brand’s design language while also having that fun quirk we love - which is the blend of a wide funnel neck, bell sleeves, and two-toned gem colors
Market Data
70%
of Gen Z and Millennials prefer high-waisted pants over other styles due to their flattering fit and versatility.(WhoWhatWear).
Global Satin Fabric Market Growth (2021-2026)
Line graph showing the projected growth of the global satin fabric market from 2021 to 2026, with the market expected to reach $2.15 billion by 2026. The data demonstrates steady growth, indicating increasing demand for satin fabrics, which makes designing satin collar shirts a potentially profitable venture. (Statista, Grand View Research, WorldMetrics)
COMPETITORS
What they do well…
JW Anderson: Proportions I admire JW Anderson's ability to design pants that are voluminous yet maintain a sense of balance, creating shapes that are dramatic but still harmonious to the eye, resulting in silhouettes that feel visually striking without being overwhelming.
Acne Studios: Unconventional Sihlouttes Nanushka has carved out a niche by pioneering innovative leather techniques, particularly in the realm of sustainable leather. Nanushka's leather pieces are often contemporary, soft, luxurious, and versatile. They offer a wide range of pattern designs for leather garments.
Fit is everything.
Pants can be hard to find, especially with the variety of shapes and sizes in women's legs and thighs. It can be challenging to find a flattering fit. However, these satin pants, with their high-waisted design and elastic band, offer both comfort and a flattery.
60%
of Gen Z consumers express interest in retro or vintage-inspired clothing, driving demand for fun vintage styles among Millennials and Gen Z. (WorldMetrics)
$2.15 Billion
by 2026 is the projected value of the global satin fabric market, driven demand for premium fabrics in both high-end and everyday fashion. (Cognitive Market Research)
Trims
CONSUMER NEEDS
Statement Styles
Fashion-forward individuals often enjoy taking more risks with their bottoms, as it’s a less conventional area to experiment with, where many tend to play it safe. The asymmetric design of these pants encourages that sense of boldness.
Care Label
Standard satin label, thermal print, folded, in white
Thread
Spun Polyester, 100% Polyester, T-21 (Match to fabric)
Brand Label
TBD Sourced from the factory.
Pants for Women under 5”3
Many women under 5'4" struggle to find well-fitting pants. As I conduct fitting sessions, I want to ensure I include petite models, as this seems to be an underserved market. My goal is to make my sizing sufficient for all body types.
Materials Research
Single Face Satin (Polyester/Nylon)
Single face satin offers a luxurious feel on the interior while being more cost-effective and lightweight than double face satin. The satin's glossy side reduces friction, making it easier to slip the jacket on and off, while its breathability ensures comfort during wear. Using a polyester blend is more affordable, durable, and less prone to wrinkles than silks.
Fabric
Color
Design Development
Fashion Illustrations
Initial Sketches
Tech Pack
Prototyping & Sampling
Currently manufacturing in China
Qingdao Prinda Textile &Garments Co; Ltd
Manufacturing Timeline
Mid-October 2024:
Proto Sample Submission: The proto sample will be submitted by mid-October 2024.
End of October 2024:
Feedback on Proto Sample: Provide feedback on the proto sample by the end of October 2024.
November 10, 2024:
Final Agreement: Finalize the price, quantity, and payment terms by November 10, 2024.
November 20, 2024:
Grading and Fabric Purchase: Begin grading and fabric purchase by November 20, 2024.
December 2024:
Grading and Fabric Completion: Complete grading and have all fabric ready by December 2024.
Mid-December 2024:
PPS Submission: Submit the PPS using bulk fabric and trims by mid-December 2024.
End of December 2024:
Feedback on PPS: Provide feedback on the PPS by the end of December 2024.
Early January 2025:
Production Start: Production will start in early January 2025.
End of February 2025:
Estimated Delivery: Delivery is estimated by the end of February 2025.
How this piece fits with rest of the line…
Color Palette: The beige color of the jacket compliments the more neutral and muted tones which creates a cohesive look across the collection.
Silhouette and Style: The jacket’s minimalist design is consistent with the overall modern and tailored aesthetic of the other pieces. The sharp lines and structured fit of the jacket align with the other garments' sleek silhouettes. The lack of excessive embellishments and the focus on clean design elements are also unifying.
Versatility: The jacket can be easily paired with the other pieces, such as the black pants and white shirt. This versatility is a key characteristic that ties it into the broader collection, emphasizing the ability to mix and match within the line.
E-Commerce Site Plan
360-Degree View
A 360-degree view of a jacket online offers a comprehensive and interactive shopping experience. By allowing customers to rotate the jacket and view it from every angle, they can get a more accurate sense of its fit, design, and details. This feature reduces uncertainty and increases confidence in the purchase decision, as customers can examine important aspects like the back design, side cuts, and fabric texture.
Visual Diagram
A visual diagram easily breaks down the jacket’s key features—such as material, design, and craftsmanship. This highlights how confident we are in the product's quality - specific elements like the collar design, magnetic placement, and overall fit.
Challenges & Learnings
Think with Cohesion.
When launching an entire line, it's essential to maintain a consistent design language across all pieces. While designing this jacket, I was often tempted to introduce varsity and preppy elements. However, I needed to stay true to the minimalist and simple aesthetic of the collection to ensure overall cohesion.
Manufacturing, you truly are a beast of its own kind.
The manufacturing process has proven to be more complex and demanding than I initially anticipated. I contacted over 100 manufacturers across multiple countries to find one that could meet my requirements for low minimum order quantities (MOQs), competitive pricing, and high-quality production. Additionally, I had to adapt my communication style, especially on platforms like WeChat, to ensure my terminology was clear and easily translatable for my Chinese manufacturers. Being on the same page from crucial.
The art of the tech pack.
Developing the tech pack has been a significant achievement for me. A lot of my pride as a designer is there. It's the primary tool for conveying my designs in clear, detailed, and straightforward terms. I underwent multiple feedback sessions with my mentor to refine and perfect the tech pack.