Bikinis & atom bombs: Be inspired by everything.

When we think about inspiration, what influences us most are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. We appreciate when someone has the ability and willingness to be selfless, creative, innovative, or just dares to be different. Being ordinary and creating extra ordinary stuff.

It’s one of fashion’s great mysteries. Where do designers find their inspiration? The birth of a trend has long been a source of debate. Inspiration can literally come from anywhere, be it family, music, streets, a crack in the sidewalk etc . There are no restraints as to what someone can draw from to turn a mere thought into a reality. In fact, fashion design is all about great inspirations. Today’s designs are everything from elaborate drawings in a sketchbook to creative photo shopping.

Unexpected inspirations:

Miniskirt: Did you know the origin of the miniskirts by Mary Quant’s was actually named after her favourite car – The Mini. According to her, miniskirts meant young, fresh, colourful and fun.

The bikini: Louis Reard named his two-piece swimming costume after the Bikini Atoll, where the US military was testing bombs. He believed his revealing swimwear would create a shock similar to that of the atomic bomb. He sure did!!!!!!

Versace logo: Gianni Versace’s major influence was Greek mythology – the logo for his company is the head of Medusa – thought to symbolize the empowerment of women. Through his clothing, Versace wanted to give women confidence and power, and this was shown through his choice of flamboyant textiles, bold colors and flattering cuts.

Red-soled Louboutins: Christian Louboutin’s red soles were inspired by Andy Warhol and nail varnish. When designing a pair of shoes influenced by Warhol’s Flowers, Louboutin was dissatisfied with the outcome. While looking at the shoes, which had black soles, to try to figure out why they didn’t work, his assistant was painting her nails red. Seeing the polish, Louboutin grabbed the pot and lacquered the shoe’s sole, and an icon was born.

We at MyWear® would like to be the bridge that leads artists to becoming entrepreneurs. We can provide you with all the tools you need to successfully launch your own clothing line. Your own website, Custom sizes, your own choice of fabric, Social media integration, advance designing tools, ecommerce, on demand manufacturing and shipment. You name it we got it.

We have made sure that tools, technology and cost are no longer barriers. Just bring in your creativity, talent, drive and let’s get started.

Show the world what you can do,

Register now: www.launchmywear.com

Move Beyond Shirt Design Software with MyWear’s 3D Product Designer & Manufacturing Platform

Some of you have been curious about this while logging in to design custom clothing and accessories on LaunchMyWear.com:

To the left, you’ll find your designer portal. To the right? Meet MyWear Decorators Network. In addition to the artist and designer platform you’re familiar with,  we’ve recently developed a new design and manufacturing software specifically for custom retailers and manufacturers.

This soon-to-be released software has industry-specific solutions that optimize user experience, bring innovative products to market, and drive new business models. MyWear Decorators’ Network provides a single technology platform across the entire manufacturing life cycle, at a very affordable price, so you can focus on running your business without worrying about the technology heavy lifting. Based on years of research, our patented real 3D designer helps customers easily visualize products in real 3D, as they will be manufactured and our manufacturing automation software delivers production ready patterns to create exactly what was visualized!

Create stock designs or publish blanks for your customers to design on. Use our patented design automation tools to design once for multiple sizes, products and styles – a huge saving in time and cost. Get manufacturing ready patterns, not spec sheets. Reduce pre-production costs by up to 90% with automated pattern generation, grading, cross product designer, design corrector and more! Let your customers design or personalize in real 3D on the web, take a photo and design on a mobile or personalize with a Facebook app. Fully managed e-commerce, social commerce, payment processing and production management.

With MyWear Decorators’ Network you have access to industry specific tools like:

3D Visual Designer

Collaborate closely with your customers. Design and communicate in real 3D. Download production-ready patterns.

Production Management

Get manufacturing-ready patterns, not spec sheets. Automated pattern generation, grading, cross product designer, design corrector and more!

Quick Product Setup. Simple design tools

Offer customers pre-made designs or a blank canvas. Easy to use, intuitive 3D design controls for your designers and customers. Design once for multiple sizes and products!

Mobile & Social Apps

Let customer’s design and order from their mobile, using the camera integrated 3D app! Sell on Facebook with an integrated marketplace app.

Complete Commerce

E-Commerce, Social Commerce, Payments & Order Management.

Broadest Product Coverage

Full bleed, cut & sew apparel, bags, accessories, hard goods, shoes, skateboards or car wraps – we got you covered!

Want to see more? Email Sales@LaunchMyWear.com for details or to schedule a demo!

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Seeing Red: You Can’t Be Mad at This Week’s Romantic Looks

Normally, when we think of the color red, words that might come to mind are along the lines of “passion”, “action”, or “anger”. Color psychology associated with red represents “our most physical needs and our will to survive. It exudes a strong and powerful masculine energy.”

But, let us introduce you to the softer side of red. This look has been spotted multiples over the last week, especially at Cannes. Florals, naval stripes, and hints of nude and blush have been keeping things romantic, feminine, and, dare we say, soft?

Red is a classic color that never goes out of style, but with its current popularity, now is the perfect time to design something of your own in the timeless shade.

Here are just a few examples of how you can achieve this style with MyWear®:

How will you showcase red in your next MyWear® design? Tweet us your creations at @LaunchMyWear!

Stripes: The Perfect Companion for Your MyWear® Line this Summer

As we’ve reported a few times now, stripes have been quietly elevating their status from classic wardrobe staple to one of 2016’s biggest trends. We saw this budding as early as last year, gaining traction through early 2016, and now;  they’ve officially hit their trending tipping point:

Stripes are easy to create, compliment other prints (think polka dots or floral pattern mixing), and go well with multiple colors and styles. Simply put, they’re perfect for incorporating into your MyWear® designs this summer!

To design your own in Photoshop, use the rectangular marquee tool to select the size stripe you want. Then, use the paint bucket tool to fill in the selected area with a desired color. Repeat! Copy and paste your stripe design for an ongoing pattern.

Want to switch it up with a new color scheme, you chameleon, you? No problem! Use the Hue/Saturation dial located in adjustments to give a quick color change!

As mentioned above, pattern mixing is a cinch with stripes, just remember to use at least one matching or complimentary color!

Most importantly, have fun and infuse your own personality into this classic!

Until next time, happy designing!

This Just In: MyWearStore Spring Arrivals

MyWear®‘s team of independent artists is growing quickly, and with it so is our lineup of products. Here’s a look at what’s new in the MyWearStore!

Tanks

Spring forward with ultra-soft tanks in poppy colors and designs!

Artist-designed tank tops in Bright Playful, Block Party, Decalcomaniac , & Rio Copacabana

Dresses

Dress up for spring in an array of silhouettes and artist-designed prints.

Dresses in Neon Khaki, Unicorn Blues, Fun and Fuchsia, & Aquaplex

Men’s Tees

Far out prints in comfy cotton!

 

Men’s T-shirts in Bowie, Laser Lights, Bogomil Variation 7, & Clouds

Backpacks

Unique, bright backpacks that are stylish, comfortable to carry, and perfect for everyday use.

Backpacks in Abstract Mirror, Beautiful Abstract, A Splash of Color, & Rio de Janeiro Wave

Totes

Carry all your necessities in a one-of-a-kind, artist-designed tote.

Totes in Second To None, Coeur, The Heart Knows, & Traditional MotifFeeling extra creative? Design your own

This only skims the surface of MyWearStore’s vast product lineup, so head on over to see what’s new in travel bags, baseball tees, scarves, and much more! Feeling extra creative? Try designing your own clothing or accessories!

Bridesmaids’ Dress Design Made Easy – Make Your Own with MyWear

Custom bridesmaids dresses continue to gain popularity, but they’re missing something in my opinion… true customizability! There are many brands that offer a few different silhouettes in limited choices of fabric or color, but, aside from that, there’s only so far you can go. Trying to find a style that all of your bridesmaids will agree on is exhausting. And trying to find the exact shade to match your accent color, or print to coordinate with the groomsmen’s ties, is down right overwhelming. Add in the staggering task of finding something that’s offered in a variety of sizes and you have a huge headache and are quickly charting Bridezilla anxiety levels.

I too experienced this during my wedding. One of my Bridesmaids didn’t really agree on a dress and when they all finally did agree, it wasn’t available in the right sizes. This is after months of trying to find a shade of “peach” that wasn’t actually orange or hot pink (apparently, the color peach is surprisingly subjective). Ultimately, I chose to have my bridesmaids wear different tones of peach and coral in different styles and fabric, although my preference at the time would have been different shades in the same dress style and fabric. Ultimately, it just wasn’t an option at the time.

I regret nothing, but for brides facing the daunting task of finding the perfect bridesmaid dresses, might I point you in the direction of MyWear®!

In just a few minutes I made four bridesmaid dresses, same silhouette and fabric, different shades of peach and coral, all available in custom sizing for every body type. Wow, this would have saved me time during wedding planning!

Or, for those of you who want to match the dresses to the exact color of your bouquet, or just really love a specific shade, we got you covered too! MyWear can make dresses in a variety of silhouettes and fabrics in any color of the rainbow you desire.

It also doesn’t hurt that these dresses are half the price of a standard bridesmaid gown. MyWear® is a great solution for all you brides trying to find the right dress for each person in your bridal party. Breath easy and get to the fun stuff (cake tasting!) with MyWear®.

MyWear My Way: Lupita Nyong’o’s SAG Awards Head Turner

It’s no surprise that Lupita Lyong stunned at the  21st Annual Screen Actors Guild on Sunday. The floor length Elie Saab gown was just the right amount romantic, moody, and modern… a sure fire way to land on everyone’s best dressed list for the evening.

I fell in love with this print and knew immediately that I wanted to make an affordable MyWear version. But, upon some internet investigation, found the real kicker: Lupita loved it so much, she wore the same print in the fit’ n flare version to an after party!

In a day and age when After Party means “costume change!” and an opportunity to wear a second showstopper, arriving in the same exact print takes real dedication.

Lupita’s loyalty to this Ellie Saab Pre-Fall 2015 stunner tells me that this style is going to be EVERYWHERE. I had already predicted we’d be seeing moody, romantic pieces and stripes this next year, but having a fashion icon like Lupita confirm it x2 makes me want to scream, “I told you so!!!” from the hilltops (<yeah, I have some issues to work through).

I created a soft, almost pixilated-looking floral print in Photoshop and then added black stripes. Voilà; Lupita’s look for less… or rather looks!

You can use MyWear® to recreate lots of celebrity looks for a tiny fraction of the cost. Or, you can unleash your creativity and create the pieces you’d like to wear on the red carpet. As always, tweet us your designs at @LunchMyWear!

MyWear My Way: Nicole Richie’s Bevy of Blossoms & Stripes

Spring is just around the corner and, if you’re anything like me, you’re busy lobbying and bribing all the groundhogs out there with bark and apples in the hope we can get this show on the road! Late January seems to set off an internal alarm in most of us that says we’ve officially had it with winter and are ready to embrace warm weather… and the fun, poppy fashion that goes along with it! When I came across this stunner Nicole Richie wore on a red carpet I knew I needed it in my life. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate spring than with a combination of delicate blossoms and bright, sporty stripes.

Because the real deal is out of the question, as this is probably thousands of dollars, I made my own interpretation via LaunchMyWear!

I started by creating a stripe pattern in Photoshop:

Next, I found floral patterns to work off, adding flowers by copying and pasting layers in Photoshop. I made a second layer of the design and flipped horizontally to create a floral peter pan collar:

Finally, I uploaded the files to LaunchMyWear and applied the floral print to the collar and the stripes to the skirt and hemline only. I kept the top bright white.

After publishing my dress, it’s ready for purchase. Not only for myself, but anyone who wants to buy or customize their own on MyWearStore.com! Now, please, Spring… hurry up!

MyWearStore.com: Custom Fashion at Affordable Prices

Have you heard the news? We’re very proud to announce the launch of our new marketplace, MyWearStore.com!

MyWearStore is the world’s first and only collection of completely customizable apparel and accessories, designed by a talented community of independent LaunchMyWear artists and designers. Our marketplace allows customers to discover new, emerging artists, designers, and trends – all at affordable prices. Customers have the option of personalizing every aspect of their order, from size and fabric, all the way down to the actual design itself. In turn, independent artists and designers are able to sell their own lines of apparel and accessories, under their own labels and with no minimum order quantities. We believe this is the future of art and fashion: an ecosystem of innovation, on-demand production, and full customization.

Once upon a time, having an up and coming designer make you a one-of-a-kind piece in your measurements and choice of fabric meant you were insanely wealthy. Now, with MyWearStore, you can have exactly that, at less than department store prices. We live in the future, guys!

I thought we’d use this as an opportunity to showcase some of our artists’ work, so, without further ado, here are some collections brought to you by the incredibly creative people that make MyWear possible:

I’ll start with one of my personal favorites, the folky designs of Ms. Ranka Stevic. Ranka uses patterns and prints that I would normally associate with embroidery, but updates them with modern colors and sharp angles. This marriage of tradition and modern design feels both familiar and fresh.

One of our earliest supporters and favorite designers has been Inspired Fashion. Inspired offers a huge range of unique apparel, with a positive message to boot.

I’m also a huge fan of these trippy designs from Fashion4U:

YSO Serious fashion has some seriously unique graphic tees:

Last but not least, my favorite, Reality Inc., brings technicolor pop art to the table, combining satire, modern art, and a Warhol-esque approach in his designs.

We’re expanding our marketplace constantly with new designers and a huge range of products in the pipeline. Those of you interested in creating your own line can register on LaunchMyWear.com. Those looking to support the artist community and snag your own one-of-a-kind pieces can visit MyWearStore.com.

Happy shopping!

The Ultimate Souvenir: Create Apparel from Vacation Photos with MyWear®

I’m currently writing this on my phone, somewhere between Taichung and Taoyaun. I tagged along on my husband’s business trip to Taiwan this week, and as I ride the high speed rail back to the airport, and on the way back to my home in Oregon, I can’t help but feel nostalgic already.

Taiwan was beautiful, with vivid tastes and sounds, and a culture rich in tradition. It would be difficult to communicate the feelings that come about when stepping into one of the striking temples filled with ornate statues and the scent of incense. Similarly hard to capture is the sensation of walking up the steps of an old Taiwanese mansion and feeling the warm breeze as you hold a railing that’s been touched by countless people before you, dating back to before the industrial revolution.

I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to showcase just how personal you can make a LaunchMyWear piece. Not only are you given the opportunity to personalize your fabric or customize your size, you’re able to create a truly one-of-a-kind piece from experiences, just as you want to remember them.

As I mentioned, I was really taken with the temples and an old mansion we visited Lu Kang. The architectural details and fabrics were so beautiful, and so different than anything I see regularly in the States. I would point at a gorgeous hand-carved wood plank or embroidered sash and exclaim to my husband, “If we were independently wealthy, I’d want to do this in our house!” or “I WISH they still made fabric like that!”.

Then, I realized: I work for the best custom clothing company ever. What am I doing? I can make a dress inspired by my trip… I can even make a shirt using the actual photos from Taiwan! So, that is exactly what I did! Using a process similarly to the one here, I was able to take the photos of stunning, priceless antiques and artifacts and turn them into the perfect custom pieces to remember my trip by!

First, I created a print using the flowers featured on one of the goddess’ robes in the temple. I updated it with a clean background.

For my second design, I used the tiles from the mansion to create a trim and extended the holes in the tiles upwards to create polka dots.

And there you have it! Two distinctly personal tank tops from my trip… without the hassle of stuffing souvenirs in my luggage, made possible with LaunchMyWear!