3D Fashion Design: Five Reasons Why Designers Should Use 3D In Pattern Making

“Are you already using 3D fashion design technique for pattern making?” I bet many designers would give me a negative answer. If I guess right, please go on reading this article where we have compiled a list of five reasons why fashion designers should probably consider using 3D technology for pattern making.

1. Pattern making of 3D clothing design is not subject to time and space constraints

Have you ever been bothered by rushing between studios, fabric suppliers and garment factories carrying the heavy toolkit jammed with pencils, erasers, rulers, etc.? 3D fashion design technology could save designers from such troubles in pattern making. As a computer-assisted design technology, a computer is all designers need to make garment patterns. In 2020, the clothing industry was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic when designers could not access to their pattern making tools, digital fashion design tool on their laptops was revered as the savior of the whole industry. 3D clothing service platforms like Seemsay that allows 3D virtualization of garment pattern, fabrics and trims, have provided designers and pattern makers an opportunity to get free from tedious drawing and cutting works. All we need is just mouse click movements in front of a screen.

2. 3D fashion design technology accelerates the garment sampling

Design process, by its nature, is a trial-and-error approach. The pattern makers are required to repeat the cutting, spreading and pressing steps until the final patterns are aligned with the originally intended designs. When working in flat format, the pattern making process involves countless steps relating to modifications, corrections and editing, which wastes plenty of time. While working in 3D format, all processes are automated. That is to say, all amendments are made on computer and all data can be saved. With Seemsay platform, all the amendments can be marked directly on the 3D sample and all reviews and comments can be shared instantly online. When designers want to make reference to their previous comments or undo one of the modifications, all they need to do is just a single click. Using those automated functions of Seemsay eliminates the need of laborious repeating works and speed up the pattern making process.

3. Virtualization presents a true-to-life display of a garment on models

By using virtual try-on function of digital fashion design, designers and pattern makers can find problems that can not be detected in 2D pattern making process. Unlike flat sewing patterns, 3D fashion design allows real-time virtual fitting. Designers can simulate the draping behavior of 3D cloth patterns and create animation. Such process can give you a direct view of how your designs work in the real world on virtual figures and eliminates the need for persons to be physically present for every fitting.

4. Digital fashion design promotes sustainable clothing manufacturing

In traditional pattern making, garment samples are made up to three to five times in average during the apparel development process, which caused billions of tonnes of carbon footprint every year. Digital fashion design is a perfect solution for fashion brands to reduce wastes. With the use of 3D patter making, no waste samples were produced, as physical prototype will only be created until the virtual image and design ideas align. 3D clothing manufacturing does not need any paper pattern, which means less energy being used during the product development and saving resources for our planet.

5. Better communication in creative workflow

Delivering 3D clothing models assists designers to communicate their ideas more vividly. In addition, 3D pattern is extremely useful for lessening communication errors with the clothing manufacturer in editing and modifying the garment samples. 3D rendering of final prototypes with digital fashion design platform like Seemsay can also show manufacturers a clear picture of the final garment they will manufacture, every piece of pattern they will cut and how patterns will be sewed together. Through interacting with the garment virtually, manufacturers may help designers save more time and costs.

The garment industry is stepping into a 3D clothing epoch. The new technology is definitely to make great changes in pattern making process. Adhering to traditional ways may not be a bad thing - like some of the designers say that the 2D flat sewing patterns help them to feel the art form of their ideas. However, advantages of 3D fashion design can not be neglected. Hopefully this article has given you the motivation to try 3D pattern making in your work and help you get ready to embrace the 3D clothing technology.