I stumbled onto a network for people wanting to meet up. There’s meet ups covering every kind of interest. Of course, you’re probably interested in the fashion ones which you can find here. I wrote a few of the members in varying cities; the word is that the quality of members and participation varies a great deal. Check it out if it interests you. And if you join a group, please tell them about Fashion-Incubator.
[amended below] Speaking of the meet up site, I couldn’t resist clicking on some of the advertisers -none I’d consider to be particularly useful- I’m continually amazed by the pay per click stuff marketed to DEs. One of the advertisers is giggle out loud funny although not intentionally so. The site bills itself as “How to start a clothing line”. They sell some books telling you how to make it in the business and even some software. For example, they sell an illustration package called HADDS (“The New and Incredible HADDS 2.0 – also known as the Harper Arrington Digital Design System”):
Their press release says
“HADDS was invented for clothing designers by clothing designers to help make sketches as realistic as possible,” … “Designers are reporting that our results are so lifelike that you can almost wear them…even laymen who have never sewn a stitch can create their own couture collection.”
Here’s a sample of one “lifelike” illustration from the package:
Hmmm, what do you think? A must buy? The site claims to have been voted “#1 site for fashion designers!” so it must be good although for the life of me, I’ve never heard of a popularity contest for apparel manufacturing sites but then, I’ve been wrong before. Or maybe I’m just jealous since I didn’t rate being included in the contest?
[amended] The program formally known as HADDS has been renamed to “Fashion Pro” aka “Fashion Pro by Harper”, then “Digital Fashion Pro by the Harper Arrington Company” and now, “Digital Fashion Designer Pro”. Why does the name keep changing? Customers will never be able to compare or read reviews of the product like that. Whatever you call it, it’s still the same program as before. As a practical matter, this might help you in house but it’s not useful to anyone else like contractors. As a pattern maker, I can assure you the depictions create more problems and ambiguities than they resolve. Seriously, there are no short cuts. For good working sketches, get a program like Illustrator or hire an illustrator.
I stumbled on HADDS this month as well.. I thought the “drawings” a hoot.. sort of like coloring books for an 8 year old..
..BUT one thing I did find interesting was that it was similar to SnapFashun in it’s concept…and I think you could also alter and add to the library through either Adobe or Paint Shop Pro (way cheaper than AI for startups)
(and being that SnapFashun is humongous bucks and this gizmo is priced like the toy that it seems to be, I actually thought that I might buy one to play with it :-)
..neither Snapfashun nor this one are patterndrafting programs.. they could be used for specs, though. (I definitely wouldn’t use that scary faced ‘croquis’ or the stupid fabric fill file that they offer..but the line drawing aspect may have some potential for cheap, fast, techs..
As far as being #1.. doubt it..
If it was #1, I think I would have “stumbled” across it sooner than I did..I am always checking out CAD and PAD design programs.
YOU are Numero Uno, sweetie..and don’t you forget it..!!xoxoxo
Technical sketches look dumb with heads, hehe. I can see how this might be fun for ages 7-14. Reminds me of the Fashion Plates toy. I wanted one of those so bad when I was a kid but I never got one.
I wonder if their books are as lifelike and as good as their illustration program?
No need to buy either SnapFashun (which I used years ago) or HADDS. If you know how to use Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw you can draw your own technical flats. I even used an old program like Micrografx. I created my own library like SnapFashun and could put my drawings together in minutes. The initial time investment may be a few hours, but well worth it. The Hadds drawings are laughable and out of proportion.
It looks as though this post has digressed from highlighting other blog sites to critiquing the latest CAD program. I agree this draw package is a rather dated approach however maybe more economical and usable than programs of old. Sorry folks but the future is 3D visualizations. Virtual fittings 2D to 3D are will become the standard within the next few years. Use a virtual model morphed to your fit models measurements, virtually stitch and drape the style on model. Use this visualization as a fitting tool, spec image, merchandising tool, or videos! Greatly minimize your samples, fedex bills and pattern paper. http://www.optitex.com is one CAD supplier providing these tools. http://www.brides.com/fashion/dresses/customfit shows an applied example of 2D to 3D visualizations as well. http://www.loviecouture.com/pages/how.html also uses the images on thier website.
It looks as though this post has digressed from highlighting other blog sites to critiquing the latest CAD program.
Actually, the post was about the meet up site *and* one of their advertisers. I think circuitously. Also, I don’t agree that HADDS is a cad program lol.
Sorry folks but the future is 3D visualizations. Virtual fittings 2D to 3D are will become the standard within the next few years.
Lol! Maybe for the big companies! The priorities for those considering the purchase of high dollar software (based on those who already use it), the motivations to use CAD are in this order:
1. Grading and marker making
2. Spec & production related packages
3. Pattern making
4. 3D visualization.
Since only 15% of manufacturers are using CAD now, I seriously doubt that “Virtual fittings 2D to 3D are will become the standard within the next few years”. That’s not to say that the CAD companies don’t want you to think that! Sure, they want you to think you’ll be left behind or in a weak competitive posture.
Back to that 15% who are using CAD. 85% of them are ONLY using CAD for grading/marking and spec packages; they’re not even using it for pattern making so I find it highly unlikely that the potentiality of visualization will somehow dramatically boost those numbers. Particularly when you consider the costs. Since over 68% of women’s apparel manufacturers are tiny (fewer than 20 employees), I find it highly unlikely they’ll have the financial resources to purchase visualization software. I totally disagree that visualization will become “the standard”. If CAD is still not the standard for something simple -and highly cost effective- like grading, I find it highly unlikely they’ll go into hock over visualization. Most designers can already envision that stuff in their heads, that’s how they design. It’s only big companies who need to communicate design ideas to people who can’t see pictures in their head that will use it.
Maybe their slogan ought to be: “Anybody can be a Hadds been!” The illustrations actually look like a paper doll set I had when I was a kid.
Yes. This is the one resource I always come back to. Nobody that I’ve found cares as much about DE’s as you. In fact, I found you by visiting a “dead” forum where people were still visiting and asking questions and the owner had up and quit. You answered a few questions and sent us here. I wonder why she quit, but I’m glad you haven’t.
—Jenny
Everytime I feel insecure about posting my illustrations on my blog, I’m going to come back to this page. Nevermind, that illustration has been burned into my brain. Great.
Aww, come on, if you got a kid interested in design, for the price, let them fool around with it. They want all that techie stuff and this looks cool and a easy way to test out your kid’s interest w/o spending a tons of money….
For the price, I fooled around with paper doll clothes, weaving nylon potholders, embroidering petit-point coasters on pre-printed grids, making doll’s clothes, knitting, crocheting, corking I-cord, carding fleece and spinning it into yarn, making dye from plant materials to dye the yarn, making clothes for me, corking hats, recycling old clothes into bags or new garments, making wire and beaded jewellery, sketching on a croquis, modifying home-sewing patterns, smocking, hand embroidery, enlarging patterns from scale drawings in books and magazines. And quite possibly other stuff. Other kids are carefully taught good technique and can design and sew a beautiful outfit by the time they’re ten; I was just encouraged to play. Both are good.
I didn’t learn to use a computer until I was maybe 19 when a friend acquired a TRS-80 and I programmed it to teach me German.
If your kid is interested in designing clothes, maybe they should design some clothes and see if they like it? Seems to me they (and all kids) should be making things, not just fiddling with computer games.
In response to this post, I received this email from a HADDS spokesperson.
Hello Kathleen,
How are you? I am John Thomas of Harper Arrington Publishing. God placed it on my heart tonight to ask you can we sell your book as well on our startingaclotingline.com web site. It would be our honor to do so. According to Michael and Jay, they said that you have a wonderful book as well that fashion entrepreneurs have enjoyed for years.
We are not your enemy. Our one goal is to help and inspire people just as you. Our work is very much appreciated by our customers. I for one don’t like negative energy because what you send out to the universe is what you will get back. This is why Harper Arrington as a company try to be a blessing to people who want to reach for their dreams. This is one reason why Michael and Jay have a new inspiration book out for children to empower them. It is a very lovely book. This is an excerpt of one of the poems that Michael wrote in the book:
Victory
Victory is only a step away
Freedom is a close reality
My dreams are the building blocks of prosperity
My drive is the catalyst for success
I may fail sometimes, but failure will never be an option
I’m destined for greatness because I can feel it
All in my soul, all in my thoughts
So I will keep my momentum, even in the midst of darkness
I will control my own destiny
For The Lord is the backer in my endeavor
And soon the things I seek to escape will just be memories
Reminding me every morning when I wake and in every breath I take
Just where He brought me from and that Through Him all things are possible
If I believe, If I hold on, If I strive, so I will, and I must
So today I will continue on with more fire than yesterday
Because I know there is only one outcome for Victory
I hope that this kind of put to rest some of the negative feelings you have towards our company. As I said, we would love to be able to do a drop ship deal with you to sell your book on our web site as we offer a few other books from various authors and publishers. Let us know. By the way, Michael had told me that he had read about you on one of your web site’s before. His son Jalen is autistic. He said it is a beautiful thing that you’ve done so much while dealing with autism yourself. You are inspiration as well. Well, as I said, we would love to hear from you.
God Bless,
Until then we wish you the best success.
Sincerely,
John Thomas – Product Manager
Harper Arrington Publishing
Well, they seem experienced in pushing people’s “guilt” buttons, don’t they? Obviously they haven’t read your take on how those who feign “niceness” are usually out to take advantage of you. It’s what I call the Nice Young Man problem. When any of my women friends start talking about someone who later turns out to be fishy, they always say “He’s such a nice young man.” For me, that has become the trumpet call of warning. Of course, older persons and women can be a Nice Young Man in this instance, too. It’s just a shorthand, and yes, most con-artists will treat you very nicely. After all, it’s in their interest.
Liana is correct con-artists will treat you very nice!!!
I read your postings and personally, I think you guys are a little over the top calling people con-artist. The posted reply is a nice gesture in my opinion. I don’t live my life second guessing people’s intentions. To me, that’s a very bad way to view the world. If someone is nice to you, accept their
kindness and move on. You guys are talking about things that just makes you sound jealous. Is this a site for people with fashion ideas or a blog on how to engage in paranoia? Like John said in his reply, it seems like nothing but negative energy on this site. I guess next, when you post my reply (or if you post my comment I should say) you guys will have something bad to say about me. When will it end? Is a pattern emerging here? Let’s get a life people.
Hi Janey
Nobody said they were con-artists. The effect people were mentioning is in regards to something that seems to be unique to this business and we’ve discussed it a lot in other entries but in a nutshell, most people in this business are rude. They’re brusque and impatient and they don’t return calls until they get to know you. There’s a lot of players and suppliers and reps just don’t want to waste their time. What I have done is explain to designers that they should expect this kind of reception, plan for it, not take it personally etc and they’ll be surprised to learn just how nice these people can be. I don’t think you understand, suppliers are weeding through the thousands of wannabees that waste their time.
At the same time, the opposite seems to be true. If somebody is inordinately nice to you right off the bat, they’re usually up to no good. I am not suggesting HADDs is up to no good just because they sent a nice response and no one else is either. The comments went a little OT because it is so common that so many “nice” people in this business, aren’t nice and they were just remarking on the general trend, and not HADDS specifically.
For someone talking about niceness, imo, you sounded a little over the top yourself.
omg, that illustration is funny! I have seen more life like ones on a game called “fashionfever” on neopets!