Why Good-Quality Convertible Clothing is Difficult to Design, Manufacture and Distribute.

We are now in the age of innovation- We are pushing the limits of technology and everyday you hear of a product or innovation you didn't even think could be possible. Every industry is now merging with some aspect of technology. Manufactures and designers are attempting to find ways to facilitate the consumer's life and get the most use out of every new product. Of course, the fashion industry is just as much  affected by this massive surge in technology and smaller apparel companies along with bigger corporations are adopting a technological approach when designing for the future. 
We've seen many apparel brands attempt convertible clothing, but there are a few reasons why we still don't see them on the shelves of big department stores: Curious to find out why? From the experience of designing and manufacturing our own convertible jacket to bag, the 11:11 Jacket, we'll tell you a little about the challenges convertible clothing faces both in the design and manufacturing process and in the final stages of distribution and customer satisfaction.

A good convertible garment starts with one important factor: The idea can be grand but the way it operates has to be extremely simple. It has to look and feel like what the consumer is already comfortable with. The hardware and elements used to make the conversion have to be simple and subtle as to not completely intimidate the consumer. It is here where many designers go wrong- they think in terms of their unlimited imagination and too much into the future. The final product then becomes something that we love to look at but we have a hard time using or wearing. Unfortunately, we can't look that far into the future, we have to lower the radius a little and take it step by step until more is revealed to us.  

Along with too much ambition comes the need to make things as complex as possible- A dress that turns into 20 different styles is a great idea in theory but when it comes to the use of it, it becomes too complicated for the user. It is also something that is not easy to sell in retail. If, as the designer, you are the only one that can easily convert it to all the different styles and your potential retail partners can't, you will have a very difficult time getting this item into stores. Again, simplicity is key- every single person that gets their hands on your product should be able to easily use it to it's fullest potential. It is much better to have maybe 1 or 2 simple-to-use but effective conversions then a dozen options that are confusing to attain. We'll use the 11:11 Jacket as an example: It has only two conversions but both function well, are easy to transition, and look and feel authentic whether in bag or jacket form. 

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Another aspect of designing good convertible clothing is the use of trims and hardware. Not enough attention is paid to minimizing bulk and weight. If you're using hardware designed for heavy duty luggage for example, it might weigh down your clothing item and turn the consumer away from using it. When designing convertible apparel one should  stick to hardware that is limited to the apparel industry- stay away from heavy duty trims and add only the necessary- Simplicity remember? Same goes for the use of too many large pockets that add bulk. We get it, you're trying to increase functionality but you are risking adding too much bulk and ruin the wearability and aesthetics of a clothing item (especially in women's wear). Your potential customer might shy away from wearing something with too many pockets and additions that jeopardize the flattering aspect of a garment. After all, clothing should make us feel confident, beautiful and maintain a constant level of ease and comfort.  

Image via www.starterbiz.co.za

​Ah.. We've finally come to the most important- the bottom line. Cost is an important key factor for why we still don't see many convertible garments getting mass distribution. A retailer can admire your item for its innovative spirit and interesting design, but if its retail price falls between $350-900, it will be very difficult to sell a significant quantity of it. It is also a higher initial investment on the part of the store, which makes it a more risky product. That being said, it is very expensive to manufacture something that is complex. If your item requires many elements that must be pieced together in a complicated way, the cost will be through the roof especially if it's made in the USA. Striking the right balance of functionality and simplicity will maintain a lower cost and make your product more reachable by the masses, which is every company's goal when launching a product. 

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Learn more about the convertible jacket-to-bag

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