My Bag Mockup

This assignment for the Fashion Industry Essentials online certificate program I'm taking through Parsons School of Design and Teen Vogue was to create a mockup, or prototype, of a bag we designed for an earlier assignment. I designed a round shaped bag with silver tone metal circle handles because I like bags with ring handles, and I thought the circle shape of the bag goes well with the handles. The assignment said to use oaktag (a manila folder-like cardboard paper), light card stock, or muslin to make the mockup. I decided to use muslin because I thought it would work best for the shape of the bag I designed. Also, since I've never made a bag I've designed before, I wanted to practice making it with fabric instead of paper. The bag has a lining layer of fabric to hide the seams and add strength. I used tissue paper to make pattern pieces for the bag exterior and lining because I thought it was similar to the paper used for commercial patterns.

My bag mockup

Another earlier assignment called Production Inputs was to go to a fabric store and make a fabric card listing the quantity, style, and content information of four fabrics that fit one of the Pinterest boards we created earlier in the course. I decided to pick fabrics that fit a Pinterest board I made called "My Story." I think this board shows that my style is eclectic. I tried to pick fabrics that fit the colors of the board. I picked the Chinese brocade because my board showed that I like Asian things. I went to B&J Fabrics in New York City for the assignment. I've never been there before, and it's a really nice store.

My fabric card

Another part of this mockup assignment was to calculate the cost of producing the bag in each of the four fabrics. The production cost grids are below. It only took about 1/8 of a yard of fabric to make the bag. The prices for the sewing machine needles aren't the same for all of the fabrics because I would use different types of needles for the silk charmeuse, brocade, and silk chiffon. The estimated retail prices for all four bags might be a little high since the bag is small, but I think they are still reasonable because they are made out of finer fabrics.

Turquoise Silk Charmeuse Round Handbag
1/8 yard turquoise silk charmeuse	$3.74
2 silver tone metal circle handles	$7.90
Thread	$0.50
Sewing machine needle	$2.29
2 hours @ $9	$18.00
Total production cost	$32.43
20% profit	$6.49
Total cost plus profit	$38.92
Estimated retail price	$39.00

Turquoise Silk/Rayon Chinese Brocade Round Handbag
1/8 yard turquoise silk/rayon Chinese brocade	$2.74
2 silver tone metal circle handles	$7.90
Thread	$0.50
Sewing machine needle	$2.01
2 hours @ $9	$18.00
Total production cost	$31.15
20% profit	$6.23
Total cost plus profit	$37.38
Estimated retail price	$38.00

Lime Green Silk Charmeuse Round Handbag
1/8 yard lime green silk charmeuse	$3.74
2 silver tone metal circle handles	$7.90
Thread	$0.50
Sewing machine needle	$2.29
2 hours @ $9	$18.00
Total production cost	$32.43
20% profit	$6.49
Total cost plus profit	$38.92
Estimated retail price	$39.00

Iridescent Silk Chiffon Round Handbag
1/8 yard iridescent silk chiffon	$7.87
2 silver tone metal circle handles	$7.90
Thread	$0.50
Sewing machine needle	$1.87
2 hours @ $9	$18.00
Total production cost	$36.14
20% profit	$7.23
Total cost plus profit	$43.37
Estimated retail price	$44.00

I learned a lot from this assignment. I definitely see the value in creating a mockup for an accessory because in my case, it allowed me to see how the size of the whole bag and the bag opening, the position of the handles, and the construction process worked out before making the final product.