Answers to your gPants design questions.
“Mommy, where do gPants come from?”
No need to hold your breath and pray for a change of subject, we’ve got this one covered. Mimi, our Director of gPants Design and Development, gives a little insight into the creation of our gPants. It’s not quite as complex as the birds and the bees, but it is about life.
“For Fall 2013, I was inspired by the life around me, by the simple things that are around us all day, and I think the collection is a statement of an appreciation for those things. At the time of this creative process (about a year ago), we were being encouraged to see things from a different perspective in our work at g. I encompassed this in my work by slowing down. Life can make us busy, I needed to frame life differently and as I did this, I grew to appreciate the small things more.
The introduction of vegetables into babies’ diets is a fun time. Every child has their favorite, and I have so many good memories of this time with my children. I am a self admitted ‘foodie’. I love growing a few vegetables, and a lot of herbs and flowers, with my kids each summer. I am a big fan of vegetables, my kids can attest to that.
I’ve always liked the lotus flower and the history and symbolism that it has had throughout time and in several different cultures. The lotus flower is a beauty and it’s symbolism to life seemed like an excellent fit. I was inspired to keep the print simple and was drawn to a ‘block print’ theme for the pant. The lotus flower is hand-stitched, simple and beautiful, and a reflection to the appreciation for modesty.”
Where are the camo gPants?
If we could produce every gPant idea that came to our minds, or to the minds of the crafty customers in our community, we would be up to our eyeballs in diaper covers (and out of business)! And given that the design team has to work a year out, it means we rely on their intuitive and skilled fashion forecasting. So how on earth does the design team hone in on what will actually make it to production?
“The design process can be a lot of fun, but it is hard work. Each week we meet as a team and review and rework the designs until we’ve tweaked it just so that it feels g. There are a lot of pencil sketches and computer art generated in an effort to make it g. Sometimes the color, or the scale, or the density of a print needs revision. Other times we work from the ground up on prints and start with a few words or concepts on paper to develop a print of our own. We look to what is happening in the fashion market when it comes to color, technology and fabrications. When I am creating the design I have a litany of questions that go through my head. Is it baby feeling? Is it soft? Is it for boy or girl? Is the scale appropriate? Is it cute? And the list goes on.”
Water, Wind and Wow!
If you’ve been around a while you’re probably familiar with our pattern of spring and fall releases (with a smattering of special occasion gPants in the in-between). So what’s coming down the pipe?
“The spring line is so great. I can’t wait until you see it. To summarize the spring line in 3 words: Water, Wind and Wow! I think you will love it! Here are a few pictures of some of the inspiration boards that I created to kick of the design process for Fall 2013.”
Re-producing fan favorites.
gCycle. Game Day. gDarling. gCamper. Girly girl ruffle. Some of our designs have definitely gone down in the record books as collectibles. Will they ever come back?
“There may be some old favorites that return with a new spin or a new hue, but re-producing a product in the exact design that it was originally created in, oh, 2009 for instance, is a big gamble for us. We have large production minimums that we have to meet, and we want to use that as an opportunity to put something fresh and fun on the market.” – Karen, product manager.
What other questions might you have about our designs? Ask away in the comments section below.
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