Versailles Fall/Winter 2024
The Ask
Design a Fall/Winter 2024 sportswear capsule inspired by a geographic location, taking cultural and visual elements and transforming them into textile designs. The final collection would use the custom prints in the activewear, aligned with an existing brand’s aesthetic and market positioning.
Process
Concept Development
I selected Versailles, France, as my inspiration, focusing on its opulence, symmetry, and historical detailing. I chose Versailles because I had recently visited the palace and fell in love with its architecture and details. I created a concept/mood board that explored architecture, gardens, ornamentation, and color palettes associated with the palace and its surroundings.
Symbol & Color Creation
From this research, six key visual motifs were taken, including ornamental flourishes, florals, and architectural details, and were recreated digitally using Adobe Illustrator’s pen tool. I pulled symbols like the fleur-de-lis because it represents the French monarchy. I chose the bow because I felt like it went with the aesthetic that I wanted for my collection
I also developed a six-color palette inspired by Versailles’ muted golds, soft neutrals, and rich natural tones, ensuring versatility across activewear. I pulled these colors from the mood board
Process
Textile Design
Using these motifs and colors, I designed six original repeat patterns, each developed in two distinct colorways, resulting in a total of twelve textile designs. These patterns were created with scalability and product application in mind. After developing each pattern, I checked to make sure that when appiled the pattern would repeat seamlessly and not have harsh lines. When certain designs didn’t work, I would go back to the drawing board. One of the patterns on this board had to be redone because when applied to the clothes, it didn’t look good.
Process
Product Development
I used the textiles to create eight pieces of activewear, including tops, bottoms, outerwear, and accessories. The silhouettes were inspired by the aesthetic of Alo, blending performance wear with elevated, lifestyle-driven design.
Market Research & Merchandising
To ensure brand alignment, I analyzed Alo product offerings, focusing on:
Fabric compositions
Size ranges
Pricing structures
I applied these insights to create line sheets that included realistic material percentages and price points, positioning the collection within the current market.
Skills
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Color theory
Merchandising strategy
Trend Forecasting
Visual storytelling & branding
Concept Development
Key Takeaways
This project strengthened my ability to translate abstract inspiration into commercially viable designs. I gained hands-on experience in textile creation, brand alignment, and product development, while also learning how to balance creativity with market expectations.
One key takeaway was understanding how cohesive storytelling, from concept to final product, can enhance both the visual impact and retail viability of a collection.