Developing Virago Lorica Segmentata.
Behind the Seams
The Creation of This Collection
In September of 2021, FABRIC was invited to compete with five other companies from around the nation in the Gerber Ideation Pitch Competition.
The Challenge
The challenge was to create a small collection that can be made in Gerber's NYC Innovation Center. The Innovation Center is a micro-factory that utilizes Gerber's pattern-making software and automated technology that can print, cut, and sew garments on-demand.
The challenge was to use as many of the following technologies as possible and more: YuniquePLM, AccuMark 2D or 3D, AccuMark Image functionality, AccuNest, AccuMark MTM, Z1 Cutter, 3DLook, Savitude, Caldera, Kornit Digital Printing, PointCarre, or Kaledo, Adobe Creative Cloud, 3D Printing, Embodee, etc...
Digital patterns, tech packs, and other industry standards were required. The garments must be ready-to-wear garments that can be sold on e-commerce. They must be manufacture-ready, and can also be made using the technology in Gerber's Ideation Center.
The entries must tackle a social topic like sustainability, inclusion, personalization, or others. We chose DEMOCRATIZING FASHION as our topic because FABRIC's mission is to provide apparel entrepreneurs with training, guidance, innovative industry resources, and access to no-minimum and on-demand manufacturing, so they can build sustainable fashion businesses domestically.
All processes and steps had to be documented with photos and videos and submitted to Gerber. We had one month to complete all of this.
The Team
- Creative Concept Designer: Angela Johnson
- Pattern Maker, Director of Design & Development: Uli Beator
- Surface Designer, Creative Director: Amelia Walsh
- Director of Product Management & Production: Kate Anderson
- Design & Development Assistant & Sewing Supervisor: Bria Blunt
- Sample Maker: Haley Lu
The Inspiration
VIRAGO LORICA SEGMENTATA
- VIRAGO: A derogatory term for strong women.
- LORICA SEGMENTATA: Warrior Armor.
FABRIC is run by mostly women and they are accomplishing the impossible every day. These strong women are like warriors and the clothes they wear are like their armor for everyday battle. So, the silhouettes of the designs were inspired by medieval armor shapes. Each piece was named after one of FABRIC's strong female team members.
The Designs
The Print Inspiration
The prints on the designs are Trompe L’oeil style design lines on the garments made to look like flats and pattern markings to reflect the technical work that goes into designing a garment.
The Pitch
The Process
The Result
WE WON!!!!!
We presented the collection to the NYC industry judges via a virtual live-streamed fashion show over Zoom at FABRIC. Then we headed to the Gerber Ideation Conference in NYC where our garments were featured in person in a VIP fashion show. Our designs were then made in the innovation center micro-factory using all of Gerber's amazing technology.
This collection is now available as private label blanks that apparel entrepreneurs can purchase, customize with their own print designs, re-sell as part of their brand. This is a more affordable, faster, and obtainable alternative to developing a garment from scratch and much more fashionable than printing on basic T-shirts or hoodies.
They can be ordered in small quantities to be manufactured at FABRIC or can be made on-demand at Arizona Fashion Source.