To bring this capsule collection to life, I began by selecting Aerie as my brand inspiration because of its approachable, body-positive messaging and soft, comfortable aesthetic. I analyzed Aerie’s typical color palette, fabric choices, and product styling to ensure my designs would align with their brand identity while still allowing room for my own creative input.

The foundation of the collection was built using the twelve original patterns I created in Project #3, which were digitally developed and refined in Adobe Illustrator. These patterns were designed to be bold yet versatile, and I carefully applied them across multiple garment types to ensure cohesion throughout the collection.

In Adobe Photoshop, I enhanced these designs by creating realistic mock-ups of the garments. I layered my patterns onto flat technical drawings, adjusted textures, and used color overlays to match Aerie’s seasonal tones, such as blush, sage, chestnut, and lavender. Photoshop allowed me to experiment with how my patterns would appear on different fabric types and in different lighting environments, ensuring the final designs looked polished and visually consistent.

Next, I moved into product development, using Illustrator to sketch eight core styles, including fleece tops, biker shorts, quilted vests, sweatpants, and bras—each offered in three colorways, totaling 24 garments. I ensured each piece had functional, wearable silhouettes that fit Aerie’s target market of young, active, and comfort-seeking consumers. Every design was labeled with essential product details like fabric content, size range, MSRP, wholesale cost, and delivery date.

Once the collection was finalized, I formatted it into a professional 10+ page digital presentation (8.5" x 11" landscape), complete with a custom logo, branded line sheets, and merchandising visuals. This document was used to “walk” my audience through the line during a live Zoom presentation, where I assumed the role of a sales representative and spoke to the target market, pricing strategy, brand alignment, design inspiration, and material choices.

Overall, this process allowed me to act as designer, merchandiser, and sales rep while building a cohesive, brand-appropriate activewear line that reflected both Aerie’s values and my own creative direction.