April 26, 2024
The DESIGN Process
TAKE A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SHANTI AT WHAT A TYPICAL COLLECTION DESIGN PROCESS LOOKS LIKE AT SNAKES AND SHANTI
Designing a collection can take 6-10 months, from vision to final creation.
I begin with a mood board for how I want the clothing to feel, and then I move on to sketches.
I then fly to my second home, Nepal, to meet with my manufacturer, Jimmy. Jimmy runs a small clothing factory in Kathmandu that specialises in Organic cotton, hemp & bamboo fabrics, with plant dying being his passion.
Jimmy and I chat about the designs with the pattern maker, Master. The most suitable fabrics are chosen for each design, and samples are made and altered anywhere from 1 to 6 times to ensure the perfect fit.
I come to the factory daily until we nail the fit, drinking a lot of coffee and laughing a lot.
Jimmy's factory is also his home. It is a beautiful experience to watch someone so passionate living and breathing their work. They all stop to eat lunch together, which I am always invited to. The family feeling here is beautiful.
After a few weeks of sampling, the designs are signed off, and then production starts. Six to eight weeks later, the collection is ready and sent to Australia!
Back in Australia, I created a mood board for the photo shoot. The planning for a photo shoot is a mixture of daydreaming ideas and creating moments that will capture a feeling. This is a long process, but I always take my time with it as I wish for the intention to be pure.
If you're reading this, thank you for being here and part of this journey and my vision.
I see you and I ♡ you :)
Shanti