Why wearer trials are important

As well fitting your lingerie, you should undertake a wearer trial before you sign off on your lingerie style, this will highlight any issues not found in the fitting process.

I call this process ‘looking for any pained points’

You will be making a list of all the things you love and all the this things that you would like to change.

For example, when designing this gold bikini fit wise it was spot on, but I found that I wanted to lengthen the rouching at the back to make it more visible. After swimming in it I realised that I wanted to attach the rubber differently to make it firmer. On the top I wanted to reduce the back shoulder pattern slightly so the front sat closer to the breasts (the water tended to drag the front down) and I would replace the inner fabric with a firmer swimwear fabric like Carvico.

So if I was making a list to work through on what to alter it would look at bit like this:

Love

• the way the fabric shines under water

• the fit of the briefs

  Pained points

• Rouching needs to longer

• Water drags the front top down - reduce the the back shoulder pattern in length

• Rubber attachment needs to alter - attach by double zigzag rather than O/L then zigzag

• Inside fabric needs to change to a firmer fabric for support

  Things to look for

  Look: is it as expected? Is there anything you wish to change?

  Fit: Does it support? Does it dig in? Does it look the same after wearing? Does it dig in? Do you boobs pop out when you bend over? Do you need to adjust the lingerie during the day? Does the swimwear come down when you jump in?

  The most important thing for wear trials is that you get it worn (even if it’s yourself) by your target market. So if you are designing swimwear - get it worn in the pool/sea, if you are designing maternity wear get it worn by someone pregnant, you get the picture.

  
  Also always get the garment made how it will be made for when it sells - I once worked for UK high streets and stayed late one night prepping all the lingerie and swimwear to be sent off for Press, as I was going on holiday the next day and was just packing everything so the other designing just had to post it. One piece was a bikini for NEXT and the bottom had a diamonté bow on the bum, now it was late and the heat press machine took ages to warm up so I decided to just iron the bow as that would last for a press shoot, unbeknown to me the buyer was also going on holiday and had requested a press sample but in reality had wanted the sample to wear on holiday, the diamontes did not last and came off whist being sat on repeatedly. Cue a halt on production whilst the other designer went back and forth with the company who had provided the diamonte artwork to see why it wasn’t staying!!

  Obviously there was no problem, had the buyer stated she wanted a wearer trial I would have done it all correctly, so just ensure your wearer sample is how it will be made.

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