The
Challenge
Maia came to us with a six-style ladieswear capsule collection, including a tailored blazer and trouser, empire-fit mini dress, belted blazer dress, knitted midi dress and a shirt dress with bust cut-out detail.
The collection had a premium direction, but the starting point was not straightforward.
The client brought existing samples to the development day, but the fit was not where it needed to be. The reference garments were also made in very different fabrics to the ones chosen for the Maia collection, which meant they could not simply be copied or used as a reliable production base.
That meant the first prototypes needed much more technical work than expected.
Each style was different in fit, fabric, construction and silhouette, so the collection needed proper development, not a quick sample tweak and a hopeful thumbs up.
Especially because tailoring and cut-outs are famously relaxed and low-maintenance.
Said no one ever.
The
Solution
We began with a development day to review the client’s direction, reference samples, intended fabrics and overall collection structure.
Because the reference garments were not strong enough from a fit point of view, we used the first prototype stage to properly assess each style and identify what needed changing.
An external fit model was used throughout the fit process, giving the development a consistent body to work from and helping us refine the fit across the capsule.
The tailored blazer, trousers and blazer dress needed a more specialist approach, so the factory stepped in to support with the next set of patterns. As they specialised in tailored garments, they were able to adjust the patterns from our prototype amendments and create the next round of fit samples.
They also graded the patterns for the PP size set, giving the collection a more accurate production base.
The Blair shirt dress, with its bust cut-out detail, was one of the most technically challenging pieces in the collection. The straps had to sit correctly and consistently around the waistline, which took three fit samples to engineer properly before the style could move into size set and production.
Because, as always, the smallest-looking detail was the one quietly causing the most drama.
All branding and care labels were designed in-house by Chloe and signed off by the client, helping the collection feel more complete and considered.
Wash tests were carried out by the client, with measurements and changes recorded as part of the approval process.
During production, factory visits were carried out to monitor progress, and a full AQL inspection was completed on the finished garments before delivery.
Thank g*d for Fazane Fox
Because premium womenswear is not built by copying a pretty sample and hoping the fabric behaves.
This project needed fit correction, technical pattern work, specialist tailoring input, grading, wash-test review, factory collaboration, production monitoring and final quality checks.
We helped Maia take a challenging capsule collection from uneven reference samples through to refined, production-ready womenswear with the technical structure needed behind the scenes.
Pretty dresses and sharp tailoring? Yes.
“Just copy this sample”? Absolutely not.
"We worked with Fazane and the team to create a 6 piece collection and they were able to bring our ideas to life. They assisted with everything from initial design through to production, and helped us get through our fair share of Brexit and covid related delays! The quality of the range is amazing and we wouldn't have been able to do it without the Production Agency - thanks again and will definitely be working together again in the future"
LOIS / FOUNDER / MAIA
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