My Top 10 Tips to Make a Better Garment

1. Soft fabric isn't enough. A buttery-soft fabric won't save a garment with itchy seams and scratchy labels.

2. Bulky seams are the enemy. If a seam rubs every time someone moves, they'll notice, and not in a good way.

3. Ditch the scratchy neck label. Heat transfers or tear-away labels are a small change that makes a big difference.

4. Seams are terrible! Where you place them matters. Keep high-friction areas in mind when you're designing.

5. Waistbands shouldn't feel like a death grip. I hate when they dig into my stomach and your customer does too.

6. TEST. YOUR. CLOSURES. A badly placed or cheaply made closure can ruin your garment. Ask me how I know.

7. Design for real life. People sit. Reach. Bend. Test your garment doing more than just standing in front of a mirror.

8. Don't forget temperature. If someone's overheating after ten minutes, they're probably not wearing it again.

9. Wash it!!! Some fabrics become completely different after one wash. Always test the finished garment.

10. Let other people break it, wear it, and test it. Fresh eyes (and different bodies) will catch things you never noticed.