Week 8 – Testing the Collection in the Real World: Feedback, Fit and Market Considerations

Evaluating audience responses, fabric choices and practical production challenges.

PROCESS

At this stage of the project, I organised a photoshoot and began sharing the collection publiclyto see how people would react to the designs. Seeing the garments fully finished in their final fabrics was extremely exciting, because it allowed the concept to move from sketches and prototypes to complete pieces.

Figure 21: Final garment constructions.

Figure 22: Behind the scenes of the collection photoshoot.

REFLECTION

Many people responded positively to the creativity and construction of the garments. However, some feedback suggested that the pieces were too revealing or might be difficult to wear in everyday situations. My initial reaction was defensive; I had chosen to make them revealing to put the focus on lingerie as the main part of the outfit.

After reflecting on this feedback, I realized I could keep my core idea while still making the designs more accessible. For example, additional layering pieces or adding more coverage could make the garments more adaptable for different contexts. 

Another key piece of feedback was about fabric choice. Many of the garments used non-stretch materials like fine wool, silk, and leather. These fabrics gave a nice contrast between tailoring and lingerie, but they made it harder for the clothes to fit different body types. Some people pointed out that producing garments in more sizes could increase production costs, so it was actually in my favor and the customer’s favor to make each piece work for various sizes.

INSIGHT

This feedback helped me realize that creative ideas also need to take practical production factors into account, like how fabrics behave, sizing, and cost. Sarasvathy (2001) argues that entrepreneurial ideas often evolve through interaction with customers and stakeholders. Reflecting on these responses helped me understand that finding a balance between design concepts and practical needs will be important as I continue developing the collection into a potential brand.

Figure 23: Video of me......

Figure 24: Final photoshoot images.