The truth about running a fashion brand…

Sometimes my design videos make it to the wrong side of the internet and then I get randoms accusing me of running a fast fashion brand.

Let me explain to you why this is WILDLY frustrating, using the Popflex Y2K Cargo Pants as an example.

SHOP Y2K CARGO PANTS

First, guess how many prototypes this one design required to get the perfect baggy, fitted look. Keep in mind that the longer something takes to design, the more it costs! Because of this, most fashion companies allow their design team a maximum of 3 prototypes to get it right.

HOWEVER… less than 3 prototypes is totally unrealistic, especially if your goal is to be the best fitting women’s apparel brand (hi, it’s me!). At Popflex, there is no limit. We do as many prototypes as it takes.

It’s also common for fashion companies to sample only one size (usually a small), and then they grade up and down. Essentially, they are guesstimate sizing based on a single sample instead of testing every size on actual humans. This is why some things just fit super weird!

But at Popflex, every single size is tested on real women of all different sizes. Again, this costs more money. So why do I operate this way?

To me, the most important thing about running a fashion company is making clothes that fit CONSISTENTLY well.

So, was going through literally hundreds of prototypes worth it for the Y2K Cargo Pant?

Yeah, because I only release what I love. BUT ALSO…

SHOP Y2K CARGO PANTS

They ended up going viral, sold out multiple times, and continue to be one of my top-selling designs. Turns out testing real clothes on real people is the way because wellll that’s how the real world works!

So how many prototypes did it take to make the Popflex Y2K Cargo Pant? Too many to be financially responsible, according to other fashion brands. But everything turned out fine… JUST TOOK A WHOLE THREE YEARS.