383 Design Studio

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383 Design Studio http://www.383designstudionyc.com Check us out for weekly info-bytes on the NY fashion scene, events, art, & digital design.

What do you get when you combine a passion for fashion with "geeking out" on digital design software? 383 Design Studio, a company with over 20 years of fashion industry experience, a passion for digital design, and a love for sharing both with others.

10/20/2026

Last week, I got to witness my student and friend, Bi Pham, put on his first fashion show. It was equally as exciting for me as I know it was for him (with much less pressure, of course.)

I was so excited, I was inspired to create an upcycled skirt to wear. It was an . . . interesting experience. Sewing an upcycled garment is a different experience than starting from scratch and has its own set of challenges, many of which I wasn’t anticipating. To say that this quick video is an abbreviated view of the whole process would be an understatement.

Shoutout to my husband, NJ Video Production Company, who documented my journey from beginning to end, including my trip to Michaels to get a bobbin winder after I realized that the one on my vintage Singer no longer worked (and I was not trying to wind another bobbin by hand.)

I definitely learned a lot and have much more respect for designers who work exclusively with upcycled garments and have the foresight to create something beautiful. It’s really a skill that has to be honed and practiced, and it requires quite a bit of patience.

In the end, I wasn’t mad at my final skirt. I think I did pretty good for my first upcycled project. I may even wear it out a few more times:)

Special thanks to CultureCon ® for the inspiration and to my cat, Tigris, for always coming in to inspect the work 😊

“That’s not what I meant” can get expensive. 🫤Recently, a designer told me the print looked too large in an AI rendering...
10/10/2026

“That’s not what I meant” can get expensive. 🫤

Recently, a designer told me the print looked too large in an AI rendering I’d created from their Illustrator sketch… except I’d matched the scale on their CAD.

The person working from your sketch can’t see the version in your head. And if your CAD doesn’t show what you actually want, you may end up paying to fix it later.

In this week’s YouTube video, I’m sharing real examples and what to check before handing off your work.

Watch it now on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.

For years, I believed every fashion designer should learn Adobe Illustrator. But in 2026, . . . I'm not so sure.With so ...
10/03/2026

For years, I believed every fashion designer should learn Adobe Illustrator. But in 2026, . . . I'm not so sure.

With so many new ways to design, visualize, and even generate fashion ideas, Illustrator has to earn its place in a designer’s workflow just like any other tool.

So, . . . does it?

After 28 years of using Illustrator, I’m sharing my thoughts about it in my latest YouTube video, and my answer is probably a little more nuanced than you'd expect. 👀

Watch it now on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel. And let me know in the comments if you're currently using Illustrator, has its role in your workflow changed?

Every good design does NOT need to make it into production. As a fashion entrepreneur, sometimes the smartest move is cu...
09/26/2026

Every good design does NOT need to make it into production. As a fashion entrepreneur, sometimes the smartest move is cutting a style you love.

This is when you have to take off the creative hat and put on your merchandising hat. It's not always easy to do, but there are 3 things that will help you make some strategic decisions about your collection.

That’s what I’m talking about in this week’s YouTube video. If you’re trying to decide which styles should stay in your line and which should go, this is a great video for you to check out.

Watch it now on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.

3D, patternmaking, tech packs, AI . . .and a strong opinion about vertical mice. 😂CAD Chats with premieres TODAY.We tal...
09/24/2026

3D, patternmaking, tech packs, AI . . .and a strong opinion about vertical mice. 😂

CAD Chats with premieres TODAY.

We talk about the connection between 3D and real-world garment development, why construction knowledge still matters, what comes after the digital garment is finished, pattern ownership and where AI fits into the process.

We’re also debuting CAD Confessions, where Jade had to choose between terrible patterns and terrible tech packs, physical samples and digital twins, and decide whether AI is an assistant, collaborator or troublemaker.

🎙️ Today at 6:30 PM ET on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.

Our conversation is pre-recorded, but I’ll be live in the chat throughout the premiere, so bring your questions and come hang out with me:)

09/23/2026

“Finishing the 3D garment doesn’t necessarily mean you have finished developing the product.”

That's a direct quote from during our conversation for this month’s CAD Chats, and it’s one of the many important jewels she dropped.

A garment can look fantastic in 3D and still need production-ready patterns, construction details, measurements, tolerances and clear factory instructions.

We also get into tech packs, pattern ownership and why a brand’s technical knowledge matters over time.

Make sure you tune in tomorrow at 6:30PM ET on the 383 Design Studion YouTube channel to hear the full conversation.

Our conversation was pre-recorded due to time differences, but I'll be live in the chat during the premiere.

09/22/2026

Season 22 of Project Runway was quite an interesting one to say the least, and I’m not sure if I’ll continue tuning in.

What I can say is that I am super proud of both of my former students Bi Pham and Bryan Barrientos as well as @
a___potts.

And special shoutout to the rest of the designers who participated in this season. It was a pretty wild ride, and despite how the season went and all the many cliffhangers and simulated drama, y’all kept up thoroughly entertained!

What happens when traditional fashion craft meets 3D and AI? 👀That’s where we’re going in this month’s CAD Chats with , ...
09/21/2026

What happens when traditional fashion craft meets 3D and AI? 👀

That’s where we’re going in this month’s CAD Chats with , founder of Atelier WCMF.

Jade brings 20+ years of experience across fashion design, pattern cutting, tailoring, technical development and product development, and today she combines that foundation with CLO3D and AI.

We get into 3D, garment construction, tech packs, pattern ownership, AI and what designers still need to understand as our tools get smarter.

And this month we’re adding something new: CAD Confessions. 😄

🎙️ Join me LIVE this Thursday, September 24th at 6:30PM ET on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.
Thursday at 6:30 PM ET

* Our interview was pre-recorded due to time differences, but I'll be live in the chat during the premiere, so come watch with me and bring your questions.

Fashion technology is about more than learning software.The real value is in how those tools help you make better decisi...
09/19/2026

Fashion technology is about more than learning software.

The real value is in how those tools help you make better decisions, communicate more clearly, and build the business around the product.

For independent designers, that can mean a lot more leverage without needing a large team.

And sometimes the most useful technology isn’t the newest tool. It’s the one that helps you avoid an expensive mistake or make a smarter decision earlier.

That’s what I’m getting into in this week's YouTube video. Watch it now on the 383 Design Studio YouTube channel.

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