Needle & Thread
To aid in the development of soft goods, we have a sewing lab and soft goods specialists on staff with the ability to sew fabrics, foams and plastics. We can create soft goods prototypes that are production quality as well as quick study mockups to test ideas. Through our experience, we’ve found it critical, when developing innovative soft goods, to create prototypes using actual materials. These prototypes allow us to test ideas quickly and are also useful tools in bridging communication gaps with manufacturing vendors outside the U.S. In addition, we have an extensive fabric and materials library where clients and designers can research new product development ideas.
Soft Goods Prototypes Validate:
- Design Intent
- 2D Patterns
- Assembly Process
- Material Performance
TaylorMade Headcovers
When TaylorMade wanted to add an innovative closure to their head covers, they asked us to help with soft goods prototyping. Our design called for embedding magnets inside the fabric to eliminate the need for a zipper. We sourced a vendor who made magnets encased in a strip of heat-shrunk tubing. Then we made multiple mockups to refine the design, with the magnet strips sewn into the edge binding. Our final working mockup was then given to TaylorMade’s production vendor, along with a set of 2D patterns to create final samples. By being able to create these soft goods prototypes in house, we saved many months of back and forth communication with the manufacturing vendor.
SOFT GOODS PROTOTYPE EXAMPLES:
Rawlings NRG Football Helmet
Design, Engineering, Prototyping, Soft Goods (Prototyping), Sporting Goods, Sports
Bledsoe Knee Brace
Appearance Models, Design, Engineering, Prototyping, Soft Goods (Prototyping), Sports, Testing and Analysis
Plano Gun Guard
Design, Soft Goods (Prototyping), Sports, Strategy
