If you create a totally new design and have any hope of producing a pattern for sharing (or even loftier goals of producing the garment for sale), you definitely need to do some type of fit testing. And not just on one person of the particular size you've first made; no, there should be many people trying on the garment. The same "size" person can still be a completely differently shaped person from one to the next. This is more and more critical the more fitted the garment. Especially important is fit-testing bras! As you know from my previous posts, I've been working on my own bra patterns for awhile now, and I have a non-wire pattern that I'm pretty happy about. I sewed the garment in both a solid matte jersey and a sheer lace, both of which were pleasing in fit, support, looks, and comfort.
But my evaluation, I thought, was a bit tainted by the focus I'd put on developing the garment. In other words, I feared I'd been "staring at it too long to truly SEE it anymore." I wanted someone else's feedback. And who better to ask to evaluate my bras than the professional team of fitters at my former bra store!
So, I left the bras (and a swim bottom I developed to hug the rear and STAY in place while being active) with the ladies at the store, along with a survey form to give a little guidance to their notes for me. There were options to rate different parts of the fit, as well as more open-ended questions that allowed them to add their own thoughts. After a couple weeks, I returned to pick up the garments and the notes. And what priceless information I had from the surveys! It was fantastic to get feedback from people who just put the garment on without any preconceived notions or thoughts. No knowledge of the three, four, five previous attempts at this garment. No blinders to hide flaws or find ones that don't exist. Furthermore, there are a variety of body types at the store, and having comments from women of different shapes helped me understand if the garments were narrow in focus or could fit a wide range of women. Details such as determining the best length for the straps could be informed by comparing the comments from the petite fitter and the taller one. This kind of information can only be found through this kind of research!
It was a great experience, and one I recommend. If you're a pattern maker, seamstress, and/or designer, I highly encourage you to experience letting someone else evaluate your product as often as possible. It can be a little terrifying to give someone else the opportunity to critique something you've worked so hard to produce, but the feedback you'll get will help you not only on the product you test, but also on future products. You'll have knowledge of fit and end-consumer thought that will make you just that much sharper!