How to Design Maternity Clothing
Maternity clothing (clothing designed specifically for pregnant women) has always presented a challenge for fashion designers---namely, how to create attractive, desirable clothes that can accommodate a mom-to-be's growing tummy. But although fashion trends will come and go over time, maternity clothing must always be designed with practical principles in mind. Comfort, style and economy are evergreen considerations when it comes to designing clothes for pregnant women.
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Instructions
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Create designs that will be wearable beyond pregnancy. Women who are shopping for maternity clothes will be more likely to choose a design if they know they can still wear it after returning to their normal shape. In addition, your designs may get picked up by women who are not pregnant but see something they like. Designs---such as dresses and shirts with gathers below the bust and long, billowy skirts---are popular maternity items for this reason.
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Design for all stages of pregnancy. Clothes that can look and feel just as good during the beginning bulge of the first trimester as they do in month nine will be a hot commodity for shopping moms-to-be. Loose and billowy shapes can accommodate changing body size, but also consider form-fitting designs whose sizes can be changed during pregnancy: use adjustable straps, stretchy knit fabrics and variable button holes to achieve this goal.
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Consider comfort. Pregnancy is a time when discomfort from body and hormone changes is common, making comfort in clothing more important than ever. Use soft fabrics and light, loose designs that don't constrict joint motion. If using elastic for waistbands, make sure to spread out the stretchy band over a wide surface area. This will allow you to use a softer elastic and prevent the occurrence of a narrow band of higher-intensity pressure on the woman's belly.
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Choose colors, patterns and designs that will slim and minimize the appearance of the pregnant belly. For most women, pregnancy tends to come with weight gain beyond just the "baby bulge," so women will likely be shopping for designs and colors---such as darker shades and vertical stripes---that will give the appearance of slimming all over. Also, some women may wish, at times, to draw attention away from their pregnant status; look for designs that will minimize the belly such as loose, fitted-shoulder jackets and eye-distracting, asymmetrical patterns.
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Prepare designs for all seasons and climates as well as all levels of formality. There is a common trend among maternity designs to tend toward casual and summery, but since pregnancies start at any season and last year 'round, and since pregnant women still participate in most areas of their life and activities, it's a good idea to buck this trend and design warmer, more formal wear.
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