Abercrombie Kids
At Abercrombie Kids, 'Made to Play' was the driving force behind all designs. As a designer, I focused on creating trendy yet functional clothing that allowed kids to be kids. Most of my time was dedicated to the girls' woven categories, where my responsibilities expanded from woven tops and shirting to dresses, skirts, matching sets, and jumpsuits. The video below highlights my favorite and most impactful season of product.
Playing in Style
Designing wovens for children’s apparel requires careful consideration of fabric and pattern choices. With no stretch to provide built-in ease, the fabrics must be soft yet durable. Seams are reinforced, and closures are designed to be kid-friendly.
The Abercrombie girl is highly engaged in fashion, with a personal style influenced by her older sister or mom, who may be shopping alongside her. Every piece I designed upheld the 'Made to Play' ethos, while staying aligned with the teen and women’s trends that our girl looks up to.
All photos are of product I designed and are courtesy of Abercrombie and Fitch.
Process
I began each delivery with black-and-white renderings, carefully crafting each concept. These ideations were clearly communicated to cross-functional teams through inspirational photos, defined blocks, and fabric selections. This approach also provided direction for our CAD team in developing key prints for the season.
The Summer Cami
The Summer cami was one of our top-performing fashion pieces. Each warm-weather delivery relied heavily on its success. Its intricate design details added elevated value compared to competitors, while playful prints were developed in collaboration with a talented team of CAD artists. The designs were also grounded in a foundation of inspiration from aspirational brands.
The Holiday Jumpsuit
Another key item for the wovens business was a holiday party look that offered the comfort kids crave during a selling season dominated by fleece and cozy categories. This holiday jumpsuit became a success due to its elastic neckline and waist details, which provided ease and a versatile fit. The buttery-soft rayon fabric and the exciting yet wearable print made it seasonally appropriate while maintaining a timeless quality that resonated with moms.
Chase Utility Jumpsuit
"At Abercrombie, I often worked within a chase calendar, allowing us the flexibility to create last-minute additions that responded directly to the most relevant trends. The utility jumpsuit, a key item for Fall 2017, became a standout just in time to be included in our Back-to-School collection. This adaptive design approach helped prevent overdevelopment early in the line-building process, enabling more strategic planning and budgeting around deliveries and production with our factories.
WGSN Feature
Embroidery and patterns in wovens were a great way to add texture and unify palettes across in-store presentations. This particular design is one of my favorites, as it was a perfect example of a standout piece. It was featured with a special callout on the global trend platform, WGSN.