How to Find a Pattern Maker in Los Angeles For Your Next Line

If you’re looking for a pattern maker, Los Angeles-based experts from The Evans Group (teg) are here to assist. We have more than a decade’s worth of experience helping emerging and independent fashion designers see their collections come to life.

Pattern and sample-making services typically happen once you set the conceptualization and design details in stone. Because your patterns serve as the foundation for a solid and well-constructed collection that captures your vision, it’s essential to choose wisely. Fortunately, no matter where you are on your timeline, TEG can guide you in the right direction.

What is a Pattern Maker?

A pattern maker is the link between the ideas for your collection and the finished, saleable product. The pattern maker’s responsibility is less about artistic flair and more about the technical aspects of clothing construction and design.

“Pattern makers use their knowledge of fabrics, sewing skills, and ability to alter garments to draft a pattern that replicates a design concept,” explains Study.com. “Eventually, a pattern maker’s pattern is used by an apparel manufacturer to mass-produce the garment for clothing retailers.”

Choosing an expert in this niche is imperative because their skill and technical know-how can ultimately make or break your physical design. Just as the Fashion-Incubator suggests, anyone can call themselves a pattern maker, so we’re here to help you understand how to choose the right Los Angeles pattern maker for your line.

Our L.A. studio has worked together for years, forming a team of skilled and experienced craftspeople when it comes to highly-qualified pattern makers. Artisans at heart and experts in their field, our pattern makers are professionals who care as much about developing rapport with our clients as they do about honing and perfecting their designs.

Getting Ready to Work With a Pattern Maker in Los Angeles

Finalizing the direction of your designs means you are one step closer to working with a sample maker. We recommend preemptive preparation before kicking off your relationship with a pattern maker in L.A for the process to go smoothly. As we mentioned before, designers must perform their due diligence in researching qualified professionals.

To help you get started, we are offering you our top three tips for working with clothing pattern makers in Los Angeles.

Step 1

The first step is to understand the types of pattern-making that exist. To choose the right pattern maker, you must first know the specific technique you need to take your designs from sketch to sample room floor.

Although used primarily in menswear fashion, a flat pattern is the most basic form of pattern making. In flat pattern making, pattern makers take accurate measurements from a dress form or a figure, and then measurements are turned into a pattern using paper. One benefit to flat pattern making is creating multiple other designs based on a single pattern. Once you’ve perfected the flat pattern, it’s easy to create new designs by combining the basic pattern’s cut, slash, and spread techniques.

Drafting is another pattern-making style that derives from standard sizing presets from factories or measured accurately using a fit model. These designs, typically first drafts, are completed on paper with markings for ease allowance to complete the formation of the garment.

Draping is the final technique used by pattern makers. For this type, we use a live model or mannequin. Then, the fabrics and materials will be draped and pinned on or around the body or form to create a pattern. Designers Nexus notes that this style allows the pattern maker and designer to “immediately see” what the apparel will look like and fit corrections. “Some apparel designs are just impossible to make via flat pattern making and need draping first,” explains Designers Nexus, making it an important skill to have when designing couture, high fashion, avant-garde, and wedding or evening wear.

Step 2

The second step is knowing what to bring or take into your pattern maker. Professional sample technicians will likely understand your design from the get-go but will ultimately need your continued input and commitment to your vision along the way.

Rather than tech packs, something most other pattern makers require, we will create and provide specification sheets, a resource exclusive to TEG clients. Knowing your choices for fabrics, trim, colors, material placement, and other facets of the design will help you arrive prepared. However, we can help you meet these demands, no matter where you are in your journey.  

Recruiting a full-service fashion and production development house like TEG will allow our specialized teams to walk you through the collection creation process every step of the way. Not only is it less stressful, but it’s more efficient and typically more cost-effective in the long run.

Step 3

The third step is identifying your shortcomings when trying to convey your needs to the pattern maker. Communication is the foundation, and everything else branches off from there.

Whether in Los Angeles or anywhere in the world, sample makers are all about the details. However, unlike our competitors, we have eliminated the need for tech packs and sketches. Instead, our specification sheets, which we provide you with, have streamlined and simplified the process.

You should also have a clear budget in mind, as well as a deadline or timeline that works for both parties. The size of the business also matters. TEG is equipped to cater to small labels and independent designers who want to get their brands up and running.

How to Find a Pattern Maker in Los Angeles

Finding a pattern maker in Los Angeles isn’t as daunting as it might seem, mainly because independent, avant-garde and boutique designers needn’t look any further than The Evans Group (teg).

We are a vertically-integrated studio located in L.A.’s Art District focusing on quality, high-end clothing. From production management to pattern making services in Los Angeles, we have experts who can assist you from start to finish.

We’re not overwhelmingly large, either. Our team of 30 employees makes every interaction we have with you feel like a tailor-made experience.

The Evans Group (teg) Pattern Making Services Los Angeles

Our pattern making services in Los Angeles are among the best in the U.S. We employ some of the most skilled pattern makers and sewers in the country, which allows us to offer an all-inclusive suite of in-house development and production services at our renowned Los Angeles and San Francisco studios.

We also provide cut and sew manufacturing that includes in-house studio-level production with no minimums required, sewn art installations, and low minimums on factory-level production, among other perks.

TEG has master pattern makers and lead sample makers at both locations who oversee the entire pattern making process. Suppose you decide to partner with us from concept to fruition. In that case, the experience will look like this: After your initial meeting with us, you will go through the intake process, design, and sourcing processes, and then into the technical review with a pattern maker before receiving your first patterns and samples.

You’ll then receive a fitting and adjustments as well as duplicates and costing. Finally, you can enlist our production team to implement our stringent and quality-controlled production process to oversee the fabrication of your garments.

Pattern Making Costs

Pattern making costs can vary widely and most often reflect the quality and care of the product. We believe in the notion of “getting what you pay for” and always meet that concept with the utmost quality and care.

For this reason, we’ve created packages that give you all the resources you need to set your collection up for success. Budgeting and planning have never been easier with our clearly defined Development Packages.

Our packages start with the Test Drive, an option that’s perfect for getting your feet wet. Next in line is The Capsule, an offering that results in 5 production-ready patterns.   You can also design mini and full collections with the Basics and The Collection packages. You will receive a set number of patterns within every option that reflects the size and cost.

Choose a Pattern Maker Professional For Your Next Line

A strong fashion collection is only as strong as the pattern maker. Los Angeles-based design group, The Evans Group, is ready to assist you on your journey. Whether it’s securing everything from skilled pattern maker professionals to high-end, retail-ready garment production.