383 Design Studio

383 Design Studio http://www.383designstudionyc.com Check us out for weekly info-bytes on the NY fashion scene, events, art, & digital design.

What do you get when you combine a passion for fashion with "geeking out" on digital design software? 383 Design Studio, a company with over 20 years of fashion industry experience, a passion for digital design, and a love for sharing both with others.

09/16/2026

Before you pay for another sample, ask yourself, “Could I answer some of these questions in 3D first?”

Proportion, print placement, fabric behavior, fit. There’s a LOT you can do in 3D before you request another sample.

And for a small brand, that can mean less back and forth and fewer expensive surprises.

In this week’s YouTube video, I’m revisit my old CLO3D vs. Browzwear comparison video, but this time I’m focused on how 3d actually makes sense in a modern product development workflow.

Check out this clip, then head to the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.

A bigger collection doesn’t always mean a better business.More styles = more cost, more inventory and more pressure to s...
09/16/2026

A bigger collection doesn’t always mean a better business.

More styles = more cost, more inventory and more pressure to sell.

The goal is to build a collection where every product has a purpose. That, friends, is merchandising.

Want to strengthen that side of your brand?
Check out 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱: 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, our online business course taught by designer, merchant and From Pencil to Production judge, .appleton.

Check it out now in the 383 Digital Fashion Design Academy.

A few years ago, I made a video comparing CLO3D and Browzwear, asking which 3D fashion software designers should learn. ...
09/12/2026

A few years ago, I made a video comparing CLO3D and Browzwear, asking which 3D fashion software designers should learn. It became one of the most-watched videos on my channel.

But that was 2022, and a LOT has changed since then.

Both CLO and Browzwear have evolved, and now AI has completely changed the conversation around fashion visualization.

So I decided it was time to update this video but ask a new question: would I still recommend CLO3D to an independent designer in 2026?

I’m also getting into one part of the AI vs. 3D conversation that I think designers may be overlooking.

Watch it now on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.

09/09/2026

What a PRE-finale episode!

The suspense of who will Christian save is finally over (and didn’t we all kind of know already who he was going to save 🙄?)

And there are some great people in the finale! Special shoutout to Bi Pham! I am not at all surprised, my friend!

(And sidebar: who else thinks he’s taking it all!)

But true to Project Runway, (we gon’ kill ourselves this season with these damn cliffhangers) we’re left wondering who’s getting chosen for that 4th spot.

Give you one guess!😏

09/08/2026

Here’s another question to add to your product development process: What job does this product have in my collection?

Every style doesn’t need to accomplish the same thing.

One product might bring new customers into your brand. Another might generate a stronger margin, encourage an additional purchase, create buzz, or give existing customers a reason to come back.

What matters is knowing why it belongs in the assortment.

Before you add another design to your next collection, look at what you already have and ask yourself, “What’s missing, and what does the business actually need?

That’s merchandising, and it’s a skill independent designers need just as much as design.

📌 Save this for your next collection planning session.

Fashion technology has changed what it takes to move a design from idea to production.Today, designers have access to to...
09/05/2026

Fashion technology has changed what it takes to move a design from idea to production.

Today, designers have access to tools for sketching, 3D design, technical communication, product development and more. But the real challenge is understanding 𝘩𝘰𝘸 all of those pieces fit together.

If you’ve been learning Illustrator, CLO3D, tech packs or other fashion technology and wondering how it all connects, my latest YouTube video will help you see the bigger picture.

Watch it now on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.

09/02/2026

The best part of episode 8 was the beginning when Bi Pham won the unconventional challenge!!🥳🎉🥳🎉

That and the designers dancing! 😂

The challenge, though, I was just kind of meh about. The designs weren’t that exciting to me, which I hate saying because I’m sure they put a lot of effort into them and at this point of the competition, I’m sure they’re tired. (And I don’t want to take away from Jude. The tailoring was impeccable but the quiet beauty is sometimes harder to appreciate on the runway.)

But of course, the cliffhanger🙄 is what everyone is talking about: who will Christian save?

09/01/2026

Before you ask AI to create a tech pack, make sure you can answer these questions:

✔️ How is the garment constructed?
✔️ What fabrics and trims are being used?
✔️ What measurements matter for fit?
✔️ What details still need to be resolved?
✔️ What does the manufacturer actually need to know?

Then use AI to help organize, structure, and speed up the documentation.

The better the product development decisions, the better the AI output.

AI should 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 the process, not replace the thinking behind it.

📌 Save this for your next tech pack.

Finished your tech pack? That doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to send it to a manufacturer.A tech pack is an imp...
08/29/2026

Finished your tech pack? That doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to send it to a manufacturer.

A tech pack is an important part of the handoff, but it isn’t the entire handoff. Your manufacturer may still be missing what they need to actually move your product forward.

So before you hit send, ask yourself, "Is my tech pack finished, or is my manufacturer handoff actually ready?"

In the final video of my Tech Pack series, I’m breaking down the difference.

Watch it now on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.

I'm going LIVE today, and this one is worth leaving Instagram for. and I are having a candid, no-fluff conversation abou...
08/27/2026

I'm going LIVE today, and this one is worth leaving Instagram for.

and I are having a candid, no-fluff conversation about AI, 3D, technical design, sample development, manufacturing, and what we’re actually seeing fashion brands get wrong right now.

Between us, that’s 60+ years of industry experience, and we’re bringing the real-world perspective.

If you’re building a fashion brand, come join us live and bring your questions.

📍 LinkedIn Live
⏰ TODAY, Thursday August 27th at 11AM ET/9AM PT.

Tap the link in my bio to join us.

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