Initial Sketches for Cork Prototype Designs

Every Etch Tailor cork design begins with an idea that is fully thought out and is entirely perfect in it's first iteration.

But since we are a brand that needs a constant stream of content to shovel into the mouth of the never satisfied monster that is social media, we then take our fully thought out idea and sketch it out in a design notebook (making sure to draw it in such a way that is photogenic and perfect but also looks like unplanned genius #designinspiration).

We then take our hand drawn design sketch and re-draw the panels in 2d format with X/Y measurements to scale.  A bit of math is involved to make sure the 2d pattern measurements will assemble correctly when seam allowances are taken into consideration.

 

Then we take the cork fabric pattern with it's measurements and re-create each panel in design software in a scalable vector format. While we still hand cut many of our panels, smaller or more intricate pieces can be sent to a XY plotter cutter or CNC laser cutter with repeatable precision.

After the vector file of the prototype design is complete, we begin cutting and sewing each panel while hoping we didn't screw up during the design phase.

While cutting and sewing the cork fabric panels into a final prototype assembly, we note each step of the process so that it can be repeated or re-evaluated for future prototype assemblies.

And the design process is concluded.

Until we test the prototype and find things we don't like and then start at the top and redesign it from scratch to make it even better for you.

Impressive, we know.