From Sketch to Sample: The Product Development Journey
The product development process is where most fashion brands stumble. Bhavna walks you through every stage from initial sketch to production-ready sample.
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Show Notes
Intro
I’m Bhavna Rishi, founder of BuildTheDreamBrand, and for over 20 years I’ve been helping founders, artists and fashion startups design, launch and scale brands – from museums like the V&A, Chatsworth House and the British Museum, to first-time founders who started with nothing but an idea and a sketch.
And in this episode of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of Building the Brand, I want to walk you through the product development journey from your first sketch all the way to a production-ready sample.
Episode Summary
Product development is the bridge between your idea and a real, sellable product. But it is also where things go wrong most often. Bhavna breaks down each step, explains what a tech pack is, how sampling works and how to avoid the costly mistakes that derail most first-time founders.
Show Notes
- The complete product development timeline from concept to sample
- What a tech pack is and why it is essential for every product
- How to brief a manufacturer so they deliver what you actually want
- Understanding fabric sourcing, colour matching and print techniques
- The sampling process explained: first sample, fit sample, production sample
- How many rounds of sampling to expect and budget for
- Common product development disasters and how to prevent them
- The role of a production manager and when you need one
- How Bhavna managed product development for the V&A Museum