Fabric of Change: Morni’s collaboration with Zhinh
This case study delves into the collaboration between the artist Zhinh and Morni, highlighting the production of a unique line of corset tops and silk skirts. The study outlines how Morni facilitated the creation of high-quality, ethically made garments, enabling real-time feedback and adjustments through their innovative collaborative tools. This resulted in bespoke pieces that not only aligns with modern sustainability standards but also remain true to Zhinh's artistic vision, illustrating the tangible benefits of combining creativity with conscious production practices.
Background
Zhinh, an artist known for her hand-dyed fabrics and a commitment to sustainable fashion, faced challenges in scaling her product line to include embroidered garments and natural fabrics sourced from Asia. Based in the USA and without direct contacts in Asia, Zhinh needed a trusted partner who could ensure high-quality materials and craftsmanship.
Challenge
Zhinh aimed to expand her fashion line to include corset tops with unique, empowering artwork and pure silk skirts, incorporating sustainable practices and materials from Asia. She wanted to have a partner who could understand and translate her designs onto natural, eco-friendly fabrics.
Morni's team engaged closely with Zhinh to ensure a shared vision and understanding of the brand’s values and aesthetic preferences. Here’s a summary of the main requirements presented by Zhinh:
- Sourcing high-quality, trusted, sustainable fabrics from Asia.
- Maintaining her brand identity by staying true to her color language and designs
- Providing visibility and control over the production process from a distance so she could ensure correct and ethical production of her pieces
- Having a streamlined communication process for fulfilling future orders
- Have costs in line with her current offerings
Morni facilitated this collaboration through their design houses, Morni Studios and Color Coded Crime, each specializing in their material library and embroidery techniques.
Material Selection
The overall requirements for the materials were - natural, cruelty-free, resilient.
Corset Tops: Choose a fabric thats sturdy but soft, and can hold the intricate embroidery well. Morni’s Pick - Bamboo Pique
Skirts: A fabric that’s lightweight, flowy, and cruelty-free. Morni’s Pick - Ahimsa (Peace) Silk
Based on the materials, Morni engaged with Morni Studios for the corset top production, and Color Coded Crime for the skirts.
Morni’s Approach
Design Process
1. Design Sharing and Initial Review: Zhinh presented her sketches to Morni’s design teams at Morni Studios and Color Coded Crime, where the initial concepts were thoroughly evaluated against sustainability benchmarks and production capabilities.
2. Size and Placement Optimization: To ensure the final products would meet customer expectations for fit and style, both design houses worked closely with Zhinh to refine the sizing specifications. This process was crucial to adapt the designs to a broader market while maintaining the uniqueness of each piece.
3. Color Selection and Artwork Placement: One of the most critical steps in the design phase was selecting the right colors and determining the exact placement of the embroidery and artwork. Zhinh and the Morni team opted for colors that not only resonated with the natural fabric's properties but also complemented the overall aesthetic of the collection. Using a combination of digital rendering tools and physical sample embroideries to visualize and tweak the artwork placement on the garments, ensuring that each piece conveyed Zhinh's intended narrative and visual impact.
4. Feedback and Adjustments: Leveraging Morni's collaborative tools, Zhinh was kept in the loop throughout the design refinement process, allowing for real-time feedback and necessary adjustments. This transparency and ongoing communication ensured that the design intentions were perfectly aligned with production capabilities, avoiding common pitfalls in garment production such as misalignment of design elements or color mismatches.
