Line Development: Ikaria

The ask:

For this class, funded by Cotton Works Inc., each team was tasked with bringing their product development process to life, creating a brand and collection from scratch. Showcasing everything from brand inspiration and consumer profiles to final designs, textiles, and CLO 3D renders, the presentation will dive into the full development journey, including marketing strategies, hangtags, labels, store visuals, and budgets, all presented in a polished and engaging way.

Skills

Adobe

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Collaboration

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Clo 3D

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Microsoft

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Technical Design

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Leadership

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Content Creation

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Adobe • Collaboration • Clo 3D • Microsoft • Technical Design • Leadership • Content Creation •

Process

Concept Development

Inspiration: The creation of Ikaria’s Ambrosia collection began with inspiration from “Granny Bird,” our teammate Lillie’s great-grandmother whose Greek heritage, long life, and adventurous spirit perfectly aligned with Ikaria's ethos. This iterative and narrative-driven approach allowed us to create a collection that is not only luxurious and functional but also meaningful to our team and our target audience.

Target Consumer: For our target consumer we performed a thorough exploration of our a savvy, well-traveled woman aged 55+ with a love for luxury and culture. By diving into every aspect of her lifestyle—from attending exclusive yacht shows to supporting art galleries and traveling to cultural hubs like Italy, France, and Greece—we built a rich consumer profile. This process taught us how to craft a brand identity that resonates deeply with our audience while aligning with luxury and resort aesthetics.

Design and Technical Development

Developing the Ambrosia collection involved balancing creativity with technical precision. Our designs, such as the Plagia top and Marathos bottoms with glass beaded trims, reflect both elegance and versatility. Each piece was created with purpose, featuring details like custom sea turtle buttons and lightweight, breathable fabrics designed for resort wear.

Using CLO 3D software, we visualized each garment in a virtual environment, allowing us to experiment with fit, movement, and details like the cream gold belt seen throughout the collection. This stage highlighted the importance of fabric selection and finishes, ensuring each garment could transition seamlessly from a plane ride to an elegant evening out.

Marketing Plan

The marketing strategy for Ikaria emphasizes an immersive brand experience, from AI-created in-store merchandising to packaging. By designing layouts for our A, B, and C stores—luxury department stores, Four Seasons pop-ups, and airport boutiques—we tailored each retail experience to different aspects of our consumer’s journey. This included creating versatile PR and shopping bags, natural-textured store visuals, and cohesive window displays that embody Ikaria’s essence. The detailed marketing plan taught us how to maintain consistency across touchpoints while adapting to various retail formats to meet consumer expectations and reinforce brand identity.

Concept Video

Outcomes

This project provided invaluable insights into the end-to-end product development process, from conceptualizing a brand identity to delivering a cohesive collection and marketing strategy. Key outcomes included mastering the use of advanced design tools like CLO 3D, creating detailed consumer profiles, and integrating feedback into polished, market-ready products. We gained a deeper understanding of how to align product details—such as color palettes, trims, and fabrics—with consumer lifestyles and brand values.

The most significant learning outcome was developing the ability to create a unified and immersive brand experience across various channels, and present to real industry critics. These skills are essential in the fashion industry, where adaptability, attention to detail, and consumer-centric approaches are critical. This experience has equipped me with the tools to think strategically and execute effectively, ensuring I can contribute meaningfully to any team in a professional product development or marketing environment.

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