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Designing a skiwear line.. NEED YOUR INPUT!

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hardc0reharriet
Posts: 36 - Karma: 8
Hey guys..
Finally finishing up my last semester of college, and I'm doing my final collection on skiwear (fashion design major). I know what I look for with skiwear, but I wanted to get your input on what you like as far as colors, styles, what works and what doesn't. I want the line to be really forward, and there's huge style/fashion movements in freestyle skiing. I'll post pictures and stuff as the line develops, but if you could help with the research/development stage, that'd be awesome.

Since I'm east coast, yet stuck in a city without mountains, do you know of any fabric shops that specialize in technical fabrics for skiing/outerwear up north?

Thanks!
Jan 16 2008 8:37PM
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ThaLetterM.
Posts: 8609 - Karma: 1,613
i want something that when i see it, im gonna think "wow, no one else has ever done anything like that"

the main thing i am looking for is originality.
Jan 16 2008 8:38PM
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solitaryman
Posts: 3578 - Karma: 123
usually i would use 2 colour schemes and neon colours
Jan 16 2008 8:40PM
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max.
Posts: 2022 - Karma: 12
my one suggestion would be not to overdo it with the neon colors. the purple and green sessions one piece just seems like overkill to me.

post pics when your done too. Itd be cool to see your creations.
Jan 16 2008 8:40PM
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Dr.Dank
Posts: 1642 - Karma: 51
Two requirements for me:
1. No all over prints (played)
2. Pure steeze


Jan 16 2008 8:41PM
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honeydip
Posts: 984 - Karma: 20
i like to see pure one colour suits, with some random detail pattern in just certain areas of it. like purple pants and jacket with random white pattern on the side of jacket and pants or something.
neon is played

go with some earth tones
Jan 16 2008 8:43PM
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AndrewZ
Posts: 759 - Karma: 36
My one suggestion would be to try to make it stand out without looking ridicules, I would try to avoid to many super bright colors and crazy designs, just try to make something thats really pleasing to the eye, yet eye catching.
Jan 16 2008 8:44PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Classy, form guided by function, not style. Making a cool looking jacket and then trying to make it work for skiing wont work, start with a basic frame and add technical features to it (like vents, pockets), then design around them.

Also, just an idea I wanna throw out there - what about a sorta shirt collar for ski jackets look? You can fold it down when its warm, but then pop it up when its cold?
Jan 16 2008 8:47PM
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killabees
Posts: 8558 - Karma: 494
i want someone doing a kang badazled on the back of someones jacked
Jan 16 2008 8:48PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
I really dig 686's stuff. I'm not sure why but I fuckin love that company.
anyway, technical outerwear is good too. I like a lot of pockets and music pockets and vents and stuff like that. I like a big attached hood too. could be removable I suppose. anyway big hoods are awesome for those days where you don't feel like wearing anything on your face but the lift ride up gets cold and you can throw the hood over your helmet.
Jan 16 2008 8:49PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84

I don't know, but my favorite line is Oakley. I am the Oakley style so I dig it.

Jan 16 2008 8:50PM
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Mezmerize19
Posts: 6475 - Karma: 18
jea, no all over prints and be original. make some dope stuff. and a hoodie under 40 bucks. i need one real bad
Jan 16 2008 8:52PM
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Nicholas.
Posts: 10905 - Karma: 60
make a variety of stuff to appeal to the most people, some all over, some stripes,some plains, some neons, some earthtones.
Jan 16 2008 9:02PM
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hardc0reharriet
Posts: 36 - Karma: 8
I want to play with asymmetry, and taking fashion style, but tweaking it to be waterproof/weatherproof/etc.  Something where it would be a great functioning jacket on the slopes, but you can modify it enough to wear out at night to a party or bar without looking massive.

I want to steer clear of a lot of neons and trends that are up now because the line is "projected" for next season. My main issues now I think are finding the fabrics and deciding on silhouettes;the whole old school skate steeze vs. gansta is right now, so I want to develop what might be next
Jan 16 2008 9:02PM
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doublexl
Posts: 8407 - Karma: 27
long fit, natural colors, fur on hood. and da pants gotta be like huge.
Jan 16 2008 9:03PM
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ax_murderer
Posts: 3322 - Karma: 30
i think the suit in the green goblins extras in look it up is sick when it has the whack colors they are neon but pretty tight. make that. not the pink and green but other colors... look it up LOLZ
Jan 16 2008 9:04PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 373
plaid
REAL fur in the hood
functonal
Jan 16 2008 9:07PM
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mizzike
Posts: 1386 - Karma: 251
you should make something like last years ronin 2l. That was the dopest suit ever.
Jan 16 2008 9:11PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
I think the current style is moving a little away from gangsta steeze and to a little more formal. Like the JL collection. Add a little more fluidity and maybe some colors and keep the fur and stuff. That would be dope.
Jan 16 2008 9:12PM
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EH_DUBS
Posts: 3080 - Karma: 969
i think neon is gonna die soon
id like to see something like two basic earth tone colors come back again

i dont really have anything besides that
Jan 16 2008 9:12PM
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DDrem.
Posts: 3552 - Karma: 24
i enjoy crazy colors. not neon per say, but stuff like purple or teal, stuff like that is tight
earth tones are classy
also, i enjoy stuff like the clothing material set-ups, like denim or corduroy.

remember, bigger is better
Jan 16 2008 9:13PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
New Orage TJ Jacket is a prime example of what people want (Well what I want haha)
Jan 16 2008 9:14PM
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artfullydodged
Posts: 8358 - Karma: 1,674
steezy pockets at steezy angles, also, pockets that are colored differantly than the rest of the suit can look amazing
Jan 16 2008 9:14PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
I'm not a huge fan of asymmetry, but that sounds like a cool idea.
back to 686..
Click for larger image
what you're saying sounds a lot like that which is pretty cool. plus the liner works for non- skiing related activities.
Jan 16 2008 9:17PM
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word-sauce
Posts: 1151 - Karma: 11
im being completely serious right now




 optimus prime. seriously i designed a hoodie for my tech class changed up his colours a bit BALLA! maybe you could make the coat so its actually like robot armor that would be so cool
Jan 16 2008 9:18PM
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SteezyasPie
Posts: 1160 - Karma: 15
i like to have a kinda darkish tan pair of skipants, and a dark/medium green jacket, but features are KEY, i look for that before style
Jan 16 2008 9:19PM
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steevner
Posts: 4502 - Karma: 47
asymmetrical stuff is way more fun to design and looks baller.

peep this site for fabrics

http://www.seattlefabrics.com/outerwear.html#Gore%202%20ply%20Cordura
Jan 16 2008 9:21PM
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Reptar.
Posts: 1509 - Karma: 34
stay away from plain and boring colors.
Jan 16 2008 9:23PM
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back_woods
Posts: 1579 - Karma: 10
I would say thorw down some relatively cool colours or whatever but make it solid. Simple and functionaly. Like tose jackets pictures up there- I would never buy that, who wants fucking flaps all over the place when your on the hill. Ski clothes should a) be really really practical YET SIMPLE (e.g. don't put fucking zippers everywhere, noones going to use 'em, b) warm as hell, with venting options, and c) stylish. yes, stylish is dead last. remember that.
Jan 16 2008 9:23PM
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BELFRAGE
Posts: 364 - Karma: 10
check out candide's jackets from quicksilver, they are always sooooooooooo sick. if you could make something like that it would be awesome.
Jan 16 2008 9:31PM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
i am starting to feel the baby blues and mind greens and stuff. it doesnt matter to me though, i only wear last years shit so its cheap. last year is the new this year, you know.
Jan 16 2008 9:32PM
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sbark
Posts: 300 - Karma: 11
earth tones, few to no patterns, useful pockets(lift pass, ski lock, etc.)

what I would like is rip/cut proof/resistant legs in my pants, i have cuts in mine from rails, edges, trees.

powder skirts, normal fit, not gangster loose or tight emo asymmetrical would be cool, try to not mass too much on points where people fall.
Jan 16 2008 9:49PM
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slashquatch
Posts: 874 - Karma: 17
TJ's new orage suit is soo sick. really stylin
Jan 16 2008 9:51PM
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hardc0reharriet
Posts: 36 - Karma: 8
This is all great stuff, I just need fabrics. I found online places, but I'd rather physically shop to see hand and stuff.
Does anyone have a local shop that has that stuff? Or knows of a fabric store featuring outdoor fabrics?
Jan 16 2008 9:53PM
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Ruski
Posts: 1872 - Karma: 11

if you're making any womens ski pants make them a little low slung, i wear helly hansons a size too big so the waist band is at my hips instead of my ribs.

i'm really not a fan of earthtones though, i like something that pops and plays with my eyes. if you can work in some kind of reference like mod, pop art, etc. that would be kinda cool. seeing colors that i dont normally see in ski clothing is also a big thing like i saw a magenta jacket the other day that really made me double take, also the feel of the fabric, i love having fleece where the jacket touches my jawline/chin

Jan 16 2008 9:57PM
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Ericpbp
Posts: 3161 - Karma: 24
you have overall prints and you doo look like a loser....Second, you DONT ski
Jan 16 2008 10:08PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7842 - Karma: 22,156
I really don't know where you can find technical fabrics, i think what I would do would be to go to a local core ski shop and see if they could tell you anything.....It seems like the people that order clothing in would be the most likely to know where the raw material comes from. Or go to the websites of the fabric brands you want to use (i.e. polartec or e-Vent website just for an example) and email or call them to see if they have a distributor close to you.
As
Jan 16 2008 10:08PM
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Swan_Solo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 14
make like tight-fit warm stuff with faux-fur and argyle and that would be sick, be really original with the designs
Jan 16 2008 10:10PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
matchin color suits
a neon color line
an earth color line
Jan 16 2008 10:13PM
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ski_DC
Posts: 1347 - Karma: 58
some all over prints work if they are subtle and natural looking, like obermeyer's burlap from last year. and subtle accents are better than in your face colors and designs, kind of a less is more approach, except for pockets. im sick of jackets with just three pockets.
Jan 16 2008 10:13PM
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TheQuailman
Posts: 7382 - Karma: 152
Whats really gunna spark people's attentions i think will be a forcefield type look.  Like one solid color but then like the pockets and shit is outlines in another.   I would love to see a jacket in one of these color schemes: 

Jan 16 2008 10:15PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7842 - Karma: 22,156
I think what I would do is inquire at local core ski shops, because it seems liek the people who order clothing in would be most likely to know......or go to the website of the fabric manufacturer you are planning to use, or just all the ones you can find (i.e. polartec, e-Vent just as examples) and call or email them to ask if they have a distributor somewhere near you. That's all I can think of as far as getting fabric goes.
For design I think a kind of wrap-around thing that would extend from pants on to the coat would be neat. (i.e. right leg of pant same color as left side of coat and a different color on the other side) I like solid Primary colors and stripe patterns. I'm sure you probably have done this, but it migth be a good idea to just look through art books ( like an art history text) and find designs or pictures that you like and build on those ideas. I find it's always very interesting to look through my art history text in the chapters from the late 19th century onwards, especially when things get abstract. There are some  neat organic looking designs in the Art Nouveau style which could be really neat to play with. These are just some of my ideas. Hope this is helpful and good luck getting everything together. It'll be really cool to see what you come up with in the end.
Jan 16 2008 10:20PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
Solid colors, attention to detail, and at least 15k waterproofing.
Jan 16 2008 10:22PM
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comeatmebro
Posts: 10720 - Karma: 66
besides fabric and what not, and just style...

i think earth tones are sick these days, but of course neons. maybe some pinstripe shit, most of all be original with it!
Jan 16 2008 10:32PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
i think if you had like a knitting pattern printed on the jacket so its all clean and uniform with the stitches and stuff and then you maybe had like a scribble or maybe a clashing pattern with a nice complimentary color i think that would be pretty sick. but dont get carried away with the abstract part of it. id say no more than 30% should be abstract.
Jan 16 2008 10:34PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
offer everything in a baggy and a slim fit
longer cuts are fun too
Jan 16 2008 10:51PM
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argo801
Posts: 602 - Karma: 39
im a fan of the zipper not being right down the front, off to the side a bit.    I think that looks pretty cool
Jan 16 2008 10:57PM
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jedi.Jim
Posts: 1133 - Karma: 13
On a coat with a hood? I don't think that would look too great. I dunno about a polo jacket.


Anyways, no plaid or other patterns. Give the jacket itself a more baggy design; that way when people want the baggy style they won't have to get the XXL, where there's so much fabric it folds over and doesn't function as well as a jacket that is made to be baggy.
Neon colors are good, as long as they're used well. Green may be overused, but a lighter blue is always needed. No yellow. I'd like to see deeper reds too. Good luck with the designs!
Jan 16 2008 11:16PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
solid colors, no neon, a wider baggier fit. but not like a xxl fit. check out orages 08 line for the sickest outerwear. and good waterproofing.
Jan 16 2008 11:20PM
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Skipig25
Posts: 10729 - Karma: 256
clutch comment, no one really picked up on it
Jan 16 2008 11:33PM
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CooksCorner
Posts: 3939 - Karma: 22
Call a major manufacturer...idk, Burton maybe? They've always been nice on the phone and in person when I've dealt with them.
Jan 16 2008 11:43PM
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