get more fabrics
anonymous
shared this idea
we’re aiming to do our next fabric update on november 18. we will be sending out to our email newsletter.
9 comments
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AdminFan Bi
(Chief Shirt, blanklabel)
commented
@staceyk thanks for asking, you can sign up for our newsletter at the top of most of our pages including this one - http://hello.blank-label.com/how-it-works/
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Stacey K
commented
Where can I sign up for this email newsletter?
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AdminFan Bi
(Chief Shirt, blanklabel)
commented
@harrygold yep totally agree. this is something we're behind on. look out the end of October, you'll be seeing a much more extensive selection!
@jeff that's a good question. we buy fabrics on inventory, so once the fabrics are out, we take them off the site and then add new ones. we try to have the staples as a base always.
@danny5891 we're sorry that you keep checking back and disappointed by an absolute lack of new fabrics. that's pretty lame of us. end of October, it'll be awesome!
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danny5891
commented
come on Fan Bi i've been waiting for new fabrics nearly two months! i want to order more shirts but want to see more fabrics!
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Jeff
commented
You've added more fabrics, but you've taken the old ones away! Why is that? I have a bunch of shirts now that aren't fabric options on your site anymore. Adding more choice is always goo, but will you have a set base and then add to that?
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harrygold
commented
I've been to a few of your competitor sites and you're definitely lacking some depth in fabrics. You guys need to catch up here. I like your interface enough that I'm not going to bad you too much, but hurry up so I can order something I like!
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AdminFan Bi
(Chief Shirt, blanklabel)
commented
@scalfin we're always working on sourcing new fabrics, better quality fabrics, and researching the best rendering technologies to display the quality of those fabrics.
@ryanclark thx for the extensive feedback man, you're really spot on about identifying the customer. over the last couple of months we've been working really hard on who we really care about, and who in turn really cares about us. and continually going back to what do our customers care about, and building a company around that.
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Scalfin
commented
I'd like to see a more extensive use of weave in design. My favorite shirts are two that are light blue/white and amaranth/white herringbones. They look like normal solid shirts from a distance but have a slight texture from closer up. Personally, I'd like to see stuff like myrtle/white, olive drab/white, Dartmouth green/white, myrtle/periwinkle, celadon/ultranarine, and kelly green/ultramarine herringbones and dense myrtle/sapphire houndstooths.
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Ryan Clarke commented
Fan,
I heard you on the TWIST ALL Ask Jason episode a few weeks ago and wanted to reach out. I was in Shanghai for summer of 08 on a work assignment and can identify with your seizing a great opportunity....I didn't, so kudos to you. I think you are on to something and will offer this advice, for what ever it is worth.
I am a bit of a fashionista when it comes to my clothing (I'm an architect/designer by training) and have a lean+long physique that makes buying shirt particularly painful. I hate store bought shirts because the seldom fit my arms(length) and they are cut for Fat Americans(no disrespect). I've worked in Clothing Retail(Banana Republic) and have had great access to "great looking" that don't fit. My alternative was often the pricey designer stuff(not on an architect's salary) or Zara(hit or miss). So when I discovered Shanghai's Fabric Market with talented tailors mass customizing my clothing willing, I was a kid in a candy store. That said, here are my tips:
1. Change your models and stylist on the landing page.
Why? They are not attractive and even if they were their outfits don't add value. Who is your target buyer: Wall Streeters, Business Consultants or Club Hopping Guidos? It is not clear from the landing page. detail shots are good, but some models are not credible(Work guy). Perception is everything.
2. Choose your best client designed shirts to inspire new users and break their timidity.
I'm confident in my design sensibility/ability but many of your potential customers may not be. For example, if you target the "Wall Streeters" who want to look unique among their peers, they might be good with numbers but not with colors or patterns. Take the guess work out of it and suggest fabrics that go well together. Lower their barrier to clicking: show them other successful results from pairings of fabrics from other customers or from the fashion world. Take a hint from the suit and coat tailors in the Fabric Market and show shots from the latest fashion magazines.
3. Pick ONLY THE BEST FABRICS! Nothing else will do. Again, I'm not sure who your target is yet but I found it very inexpensive to find great fabric in Shanghai so don't skimp. If you don't feel confident doing it, hire someone who is. There were all kinds of foreign fashionistas passing through the Fabric Market when I was there. We often traded secrets on finding the good tailors and best materials & deals. Spend a Weekend in the Market and press some flesh. The EXPO is there now so there will be plenty of tourists.That's it from me for now. Hope this helps. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in China and would like to continue it vicariously through your company. What stopped me from placing an order was the landing images which came off as amateur(to be frank), the selection of fabrics and the UI that doesn't allow me to browse the fabrics first. Comes off like a pushy sales person.
On a positive note I LOVE the UI for the design section: showing the fabrics as they would appear in a real shirt(or close to it). I think your customization options are great, especially for a person like myself but you might consider preset looks based on "styles" you or customers have created. Your UI/UX flow is great...KUDOS! You've probably heard this before but check out www.indochino.com for a smooth interface that reeks of class and polish. They are not really a direct competitor but they are in your space and crushing it....at least they look like they are.Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Really like your idea and hope you crush like crazy. I can email you some pics of my shirts if you want. I'll follow you on twitter to check your progress.
Stay UP!! Keep Crushin'!!
Ryan
