THE BUSINESS OF APPAREL AESTHETICS: TURNING DESIGN IDEAS INTO SCALABLE PRODUCTS
Fashion has always existed in a delicate balance between artistry and enterprise. Every creative spark must travel through a complex system that transforms imagination into products that people crave, buy, and ultimately identify with. Few professionals exemplify this alchemy as clearly as Bharat Pratap Singh, who joined the Good to Great podcast with hosts Tamara Hejja and Timea Hejja to unpack how design evolves into a global business engine.
With over 25 years in apparel and textiles, Bharat’s portfolio spans collaborations with Zara, H&M, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Uniqlo. As Creative Director at BEXIMCO Limited, he helped build YELLOW - the company’s flagship retail brand in Bangladesh and Pakistan-showing how creativity can scale across borders. Beyond the industry floor, Bharat has served as a guest lecturer at NIFT, NID, and Pearl Academy, mentoring young designers on the importance of pairing aesthetics with strategy.
The conversation offered a masterclass on how ideas become apparel, how global markets diverge and converge, and how technology and sustainability are reshaping fashion’s future.
Where Creativity Begins: The Spark Behind Design
Bharat describes inspiration as both unpredictable and omnipresent:
“Creative spark is a moment when you come up with new ideas and innovative thinking… It could come from activities like traveling, art shows, cinema, literature, photography, even food or music.”
Fashion thrives not on logic alone but on sensibility-the designer’s capacity to absorb life, interpret culture, and translate it into form. For Bharat, inspiration may rise from the grandeur of an art exhibition, the intimacy of literature, or even the texture of a fabric encountered during travel.
Yet, he emphasizes that inspiration must pair with sensitivity and observation. Creativity emerges when perception meets imagination.
From Concept to Consumer: The Lifecycle of a Garment
The journey from a designer’s sketchbook to a customer’s closet is both artistic and meticulously systematic. Bharat outlined a clear progression:
Trend Research: Scanning catwalks, cultural shifts, social media, and even geopolitical events.
Mood Boards: Visual frameworks aligning color, texture, and theme.
Fabric & Trim Selection: Curating tactile identity-not just visual form.
Sketches & 3D Visualization: Using tools like Clo and Browzwear to bring concepts alive.
Prototyping & Refinement: Iterative sampling shaped by client and market feedback.
Production & Distribution: Ensuring quality and timely delivery across global retail networks.
This disciplined approach turns abstract ideas into market-ready solutions.
Barbiecore: Anticipating Cultural Waves
When the 2023 Barbie film reignited global nostalgia, Bharat foresaw its ripple effect:
“Pink became a very significant element of design… We created a color board, fabric stories, and styling boards-and the response was overwhelmingly positive.”
His teams crafted different expressions of pink for varied audiences-neon for youthful energy, soft blush for sophistication-demonstrating how a cultural moment can influence fabrics, trims, merchandising, and even brand experiences.
Craftcore: Returning to Heritage and Human Touch
If Barbiecore was fueled by cinema, Craftcore grew from cultural introspection. Post-pandemic consumers sought authenticity, gravitating toward crochet, embroidery, patchwork, quilting, and handmade finishes.
“It reflects a cultural shift towards sustainability… a unique appreciation of the human touch.”
Craftcore blends nostalgia with modernity, proving that tradition and innovation can coexist in meaningful ways.
Technology: The Quiet Revolution Redefining Fashion
Technology, Bharat notes, has become inseparable from aesthetics and business efficiency:
“Technology streamlines design and production processes, making it sustainable and cost-effective.”
Three shifts are transforming the industry:
1. 3D Sampling
Reducing waste and accelerating approvals through lifelike digital prototypes.
2. Performance Fabrics
Breathability, moisture management, and thermal regulation-features once reserved for sportswear-now define everyday apparel.
3. Sustainable Fiber Innovations
From regenerative cotton to recycled polyester, global research is rewriting the fiber ecosystem for a more responsible future.
Designing for a Diverse World
Working across the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia taught Bharat that fashion is never one-size-fits-all.
Physiographic differences shape silhouettes.
Cultural aesthetics influence colors and motifs.
Climate differences dictate fabric selection and seasonal calendars.
“Something that sells in the Middle East may not sell in Japan… Each region has its own unique identity and needs.”
Success lies in balancing global cohesion with local nuance-a skill perfected by brands like Zara and H&M.
When Great Designs Don’t Succeed
Not every innovative concept wins. Bharat acknowledges the industry’s uncertainty:
“Sometimes ideas are really good, but customers don’t respond. Other times, something unexpected does very well.”
Outcomes hinge on timing, supply-chain agility, and cultural resonance. Winning brands excel at forecasting, speed, and consistency.
Standing Out in a Crowded Industry
Bharat believes three pillars drive competitive advantage:
Innovation in design, manufacturing, and storytelling
Sustainability as a core value
Speed and responsiveness to market shifts
“In an ever-changing world, innovation combined with sustainable initiatives is what keeps a brand ahead.”
Sustainability: Fashion’s Non-Negotiable Future
Of all the insights, Bharat’s urgency around sustainability resonated most:
“Sustainability is a responsibility of all global citizens of the planet.”
Fashion, one of the world’s most resource-intensive industries, must evolve. At BEXIMCO, this commitment has translated into:
Leveraging recycled and responsible fibers
Adopting energy-efficient production
Encouraging conscious consumption through design storytelling
Sustainability is no longer a trend-it is fashion’s new foundation.
Fashion as Culture, Commerce, and Collective Care
The Good to Great podcast illuminated how fashion sits at the crossroads of creativity, culture, business, and environmental stewardship. Bharat’s journey-especially at BEXIMCO-shows that turning inspiration into scalable impact requires research, technology, cultural intelligence, and a deep respect for the planet.
His philosophy offers a guiding compass for designers, brands, and consumers alike: stay inspired, move fast, innovate fearlessly, and tread responsibly.
In the end, fashion is not merely about what we wear-it is about what we value.