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Why Womenswear?
Ever since starting the brand, I've wanted to create womenswear with BY SUNMONU. And with the mad love that women show the brand, it went hand in hand. As I can see from our IG stats, 39% of our followers are women, so we gotta buckle up and do right by you. So this is how it all went...
In April, I went to IG and directly asked for opinions on a tank top idea I was working on. I felt that it was important to ask the people who will actually buy the product what they want. And from a couple hundred votes these were the results.
So I took the info, mixed in a little of what I want as a designer and ran with it. I started designing but around the time my eyes were still wondering and by that I mean I wasn't staying true to myself. I was looking at what other brands around me were doing and while that might work for them, it might not be my ting. So I had to scrap the plain ribbed tank top with the simple one-colour puff print design and go back to basics.
After that first sample, I knew at least the shape and sizing were calm and my little sister said it was comfy and fit right. Moving along I was confident with that but I needed to step more into my element graphic-wise. Then I showed my cousin the 1st tank top, to which she told me it could be better and deep down, I knew it too and agreed with her. She also told me to go down the polyester route rather than cotton, as polyester can be worn casually during the day or dressed up at night, whereas cotton, not so much. And once again I gwarn with the road.
I started working on an all-over print tank top, all bright, colourful, vibzy, just in my lane and that's when everything was connecting. I sat on photoshop and picked colours for hours and days, trying to get a mix of nice summer colours but at the same time, colours that aren't often used to give a unique angle in a very saturated market and I finally got the Pretty Peach colourway which is a personal favourite. And I knew I wanted 2 other colours and eventually after a couple sessions I made the Sweet Orange and Rhythm Blue colourways. And I went back into sampling but still, it wasn't right.
As you can imagine, money is being spent and time is going lool. I wasn't really impressed, personally, it looked cheap, the webbing around the shoulders and neck looked loose, the print wasn't positioned correctly and the inside was white (eww!), I just couldn't release it like this, and after a little online tussling with my manufacturer, she agreed to do it again, but she suggested using ribbed cotton for the webbing. This is something I didn't think of so honestly Jenny if you ever read this, God bless you! I took the chance and agreed, we started on the 2nd sample with a more in-depth tech pack because I just don't have time or money to waste anymore, summer ti de!
"Alexa play Meek Mill - Dreams and Nightmares" loool jkjk. But honestly, I knew it was curtains, the singlet is too hard, the ribbed webbing gives it a touch of class but youthfulness and vibes, the back print is cut off to perfection and the colours popppp! I was ready for the other 2 colours as soon as I got this sample in hand. Honestly, the material is so nice, like it's really nice, I'm gassed how it's come out. And even with the change of material the great shape remained, and it has 5% elastic in it so it's stretchy and you won't be uncomfortable at all. And my models all loved the fit and how it feels, which made me extremely glad as a designer. I then made the 2 other colours and it's officially a wrap.
Then I took a light day trip to Dublin to shoot with 3 amazing ladies, but you'll have to wait until next time for that story.
With love,
Dolo & BY SUNMONU