Blizzard Entertainment

Irvine, California

Overwatch League Apparel Program

Pre-production | Technical Drawings, Tech Packs
Production | Sourcing, Project Management

What is Overwatch League?

Overwatch League, also known as OWL, is a professional esports league for the video game Overwatch, produced by its developer Blizzard Entertainment. To learn more about the OWL, check out the official website.

Background

In 2017, we had the opportunity to work on this amazing apparel program with the Blizzard Entertainment Consumer Products team in executing their inaugural season’s collection for the 12 competing teams’ players, and worldwide fans.

The inaugural season apparel collection for the competitors were composed of a single head to toe look. Items included:

For all 12 teams

• Classic snapback flat visor hat
• Sublimated Home Jersey (Custom)
• Sublimated Away Jersey (Custom)
• Cut and Sew Home Jersey (Custom)
• Cut and Sew Away Jersey (Custom)
• Cut and Sew Joggers
• Cut and Sew Jacket (Custom)

Total number of SKUs: 84 SKUs
Size Range: Offered in 7 sizes from XS-4XL

In addition to the players’ outfits, team-based apparel were also developed and produced, launching with multiple delivery timelines to support the marketing merchandise plan for the season. Items included:

For all 12 teams

• Cut and Sew Short Sleeve Tee
• Cut and Sew Long Sleeve Tee
• Cut and Sew Home Jersey
• Sublimated Home Jersey
• Cut and Sew Joggers
• Cut and Sew Jacket

Total number of SKUs: 872 SKUs
Size Range: Offered in 7 sizes from XS-4XL

Challenges

With the extremely tight delivery schedules, especially when the 12 teams were still undergoing players recruitment and solidifying branding designs, it was a challenge to proceed with product development and production. By working closely with the Blizzard team, we brainstormed on an execution plan, delivered a production strategy, and logistic plan in order to meet their delivery windows.

Results

Being a resourceful partner in providing execution strategy and sourcing options, we overcame the challenge where the Blizzard team could rely on. We worked with domestic and overseas vendors, and managed to roll out the collection within 6-months. The accuracy of color matching between each apparel item on fabrics, trims, embroidery, and screen-printing were especially crucial to the overall look of the entire product line.

Blizzard Entertainment

Irvine, California

Softlines Manufacturing Specialist

Pre-production | Technical Drawings, Tech Packs
Production | Sourcing, Project Management

Apparel production for a video game company is rather different than the typical fashion company. As video games are an entertainment business, the production calendar runs differently. Unlike traditional fashion companies, their merchandise development schedule and product categories generally surround the launch of the individual game, esports events, and industry related exhibitions throughout the year.

Launched Products

For example, we have worked on products that were campaign specific. The focuses of the products were to promote the launch of specific game characters, game expansion launches, upcoming esports events and conventions (San Diego Comic Con, GamesCom, Blizzcon, and E3), and seasonal launches such as Back to School, Holidays, Spring/Summer, and Fall/Winter. Therefore, the number of items per campaign can vary depending on the trend, target audience and lifestyle. To accommodate the different launch dates, we had to get involved at the very beginning stage of product planning in order to acquire the best production strategy possible.

Challenges

As the video game industry continues to evolve and grow bigger each day, the demand for franchised consumer products becomes stronger and particular in the types of products. With the variety of options in the market, fans are looking for items that are made with good quality, comfortable to live in or use, and trendy enough to show off their love for the video game they enjoy playing every day.

While the production calendar runs based on the core business’ timeline, using manufacturers that are accustomed to fashion company operations required up front effort and trial runs in order to get the vendor familiarized with the video game company’s process and timeline.

At the same time, it was also important for the internal teams to understand their manufacturers’ expectations and needs in executing quality products that fit the company standards.

Results

In collaboration with the internal teams, we openly communicated the challenges and importance of finding a mutual balance with the contracted vendors. Trust was built via transparent weekly production progress communications, in-person sample reviews, and weekly meetings with the internal operation and design teams.

An average 6-month turnaround was established successfully during our 1.5-year partnership.

Mim and Lily

Australia

Phase 1 - Discovery

In this phase, we discovered our client’s need and end goal on this project. While the client had a specific parameter to stay within, we proceeded the project with the most creative input in the area of print patterns and construction recommendations.

Phase 2 - Design Concepts + Technical Drawing

With the given direction from our client, we executed print pattern ideas base on an inspiration reference provided by the client. The ideas came in various color comobos that matches the color palette of the collection. Simultaneously, we worked on the technical details on each style in the collection.

Phase 3 - Line Sheet

Before the collection got finalized to send to the manufacturer, we worked together on line sheets in picking the best color combos to proceed into production.

Phase 4 - Ecommerce Launch

The launch was a huge success. While the client is based in Australia, we were unable to attend but to virtually celebrate with the client. Client was pleased with our design effort and collaborated with us again for the following season collection.

Must Grind Harder

Start-up brand client

Phase 1 - Research + Moodboard

Given the direction by our client, we pulled together moodboards that provided trend research in the target market categories - men and women, color story, and fabrication. We presented the materials to our client over a video call, and gathered feedback.

Phase 2 - Design Concepts

After gathering the needed feedback, we sketched out a number of design options to each style category for the client to pick and choose from.

Phase 3 - Illustrations, Technical Drawing, and Line Sheet

By showing the finalized designs on a head to toe figure, it helped our client to better visualize how the whole outfit would possibly look when styled together.
In this phase, technical drawings were generated in several color combos for our client to pick and choose to proceed into production.

Traveler Purse

Start-up brand client

Phase 1 - Research + Moodboard

Based on the given direction by our client, we compiled a target customer moodboard for the item we were assigned to design. We looked into the designer level marketplace for references to make sure we stay relavant in the designing stage.

Phase 2 - Design Concepts

The most fun part of this project was designing different options for our client. We conducted design calls to commnicate our design ideas and gathered client’s immediate feedback. Then, we edited down to 1 design concept to focus on. From there, we made a few minor design changes that reflected back to the core vision of the brand.

Phase 3 - Technical Drawing + Tech Pack

As we moved along the design development phase, we focused very much on each and every design details. We finalized the design concept with technical drawings of the inside and out of the product; and calling out the function behind each and every design element on the product. Once we were ready to move toward sampling, we developed a comprehensive tech pack as final deliverables for client to use on the sample development stage.

Wedding Dress Illustrations

Private client

Discovery

The Groom-to-be was looking for a fashion illustrator to put together a surprised wedding gift for his fiancée. He wanted two fashion illustrations of his fiancée's wedding gowns. We worked with the client to gather the needed images for the first phase of sketches.

Phase 1 - Sketches

In this stage, we began sketching in pencil.
Client got to review and provide feedback on the drafts before we proceeded into digitizing the illustrations with colors.

Phase 3 - Colored Figures

The final figures came in front and back views; colored with a requested frame and output size.
While the client is based in a different state than us, he chose to take over the final execution within his hometown. We provided the client with high resolution digital files, and recommendations on local professional printer and framing experts for client to handle the remaining part of this project.

The client was compeletely satisfied with the final results, he referred his friends to our design service as a wedding gift idea.

BRIDES Operation Dress Dress

Independent design competition

Details

In 2011, a wedding gown design competition opened up by Brides Magazine. The goal of this competition was to encourage aspiring wedding gown designers to turn their ideas into a reality. The first phase of submission was reviewed and judged on the initial design sketch.

Phase 1 - Submission

Our submission was inspired by the multi-layers of a rose, the organic shape and form, and simplicity element found in a rose.

Phase 2 - Execution

With over thousands of submissions, we got chosen as one of the 24 semifinalists to proceed into the execution stage. We began by draping, and fine tuning the pattern pieces during the pattern making process.

Within 2 weeks, we put together the dress from scratch and photoshoot it on a model for final submission. We worked with a local wedding photography studio on the composition of the shoot, and performed the shoot at the studio.

Phase 3 - Press

The final stage of the competition was based on popular votes. We were featured on Brides.com on this particular event.

Bedhead Pajamas

Los Angeles, California

Phase 1 - Inspiration

Bedhead Pajamas approached us for a series of print pattern design project. We were given directions and inspirations of a few specific design concepts their exclusive retail client had asked for. One of the prints we had worked on was Rosé All Day.

Phase 2 - Design Concepts

Before we laid out the composition, we presented design concepts in individual elements designs for client to review and comment.

Once the individual elements were revised and approved by the team at BedHead Pajamas, we then went into laying out the pattern, first, in composition, then, in repeats. At this stage, we also provided various color and design combinations for the team to pick and choose from.

Phase 3 - Line Sheet

Part of the process in working with a large retailer like Neiman Marcus was to present design concepts in line sheet format, where the buyer could see the artwork, as well as the actual scale of the artwork, when applied onto a technical drawing of the styles. We were assigned to execute this task as part of the project.

Phase 4 - The Launch

The print pattern got chosen by Neiman Marcus to proceed into production. We were excited to see our designs come into reality! The exclusive print for Neiman Marcus was sold in store and online towards the end of 2016 and early 2017.

Amerex Group

New York, New York

Background

Before designs get sent to the factory for sample development and production, all design concepts require specification sheets that include all the necessary production details of each individual products - in the industry, they are called tech pack.

A tech pack outlines each and every design details from silhouettes, to specific measurments, to trim details, to print pattern production artwork, to placement graphic artwork, to hangtag design artwork, to fabrication details, and specific Pantone color palatte. It is basically a comprehensive blueprint of the design before it becomes a real life product.

Floridita

Miami, Florida

Discovery

Floridita is a swimwear company based in Miami, Florida. They approached us for a lookbook design project with specific design guidelines. The client wanted something that would present the look and feel of that particular season collection. They wanted to incorporate graphic elements, and edited photos to present the collection in an online and physical lookbook format.

Drafts

First we put together a few drafts for our client to consider our design approach. We conducted video calls to review and look over the drafts. From there, we gathered feedback to conduct a couple rounds of edits and revisions.

Final Delivery

After a couple round of revisions, we laid out the finalized drafts of spreads for client to review before we arrange the pages, and call out output dimensions.

The final delivery we provided to the client was production ready with printer’s marks. With the sucess of this collaboration, the client had scheduled us to work on their next season collection lookbook.

SIP by Stephanie Ip

Background

A self directed and published lookbook to present SIP by Stephanie Ip’s Zero Waste collection. To learn more about the designs and the collection, check out the page here.