A CLO-centered pattern-grading workflow for a micro-label
- Use CLO to draft or develop patterns, build a graded size range, and review the garment before sewing.
- Use CLO’s 2D and 3D views together to check pattern changes and size-specific presentation.
- For specialized factory requirements such as marker making, confirm the handoff process with your production partner.
- Test CLO with the same base pattern and size chart you expect to use in production.
For a small apparel label, CLO brings pattern development, grading, and garment visualization into one workflow. Its pattern tools support drafting and graded size tables, while its 2D and 3D views help designers review pattern and garment changes before sewing. Other apparel CAD systems, including TUKAcad, Modaris, Optitex, and Gerber AccuMark, also serve pattern-development and production workflows; the right production handoff still depends on the requirements of your supplier.
Use a consistent base pattern and size chart to evaluate how CLO fits your design-review process, then confirm that the resulting files and production details meet your supplier’s needs.
Data table · Scroll horizontally to see all columns. Arrow keys work when focused.
| CLO workflow | What it supports | Why it matters to a small studio |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern drafting | Measurement- or sketch-based pattern creation | Start a style within the same environment used for garment review. |
| Grading | Size tables and graded patterns | Develop a size range and inspect the resulting pattern pieces. |
| 2D and 3D review | Pattern editing alongside garment simulation | Review the pattern and its visual effect before arranging a sewn sample. |
| File exchange | Common 3D formats including OBJ, FBX, and glTF | Move compatible 3D assets between CLO and other tools when needed. |
Compare the work you need to finish
A base size is only the starting point. The work includes defining a measurement chart, extending the pattern to the planned sizes, inspecting the resulting pieces, and preparing the files and production details your supplier needs.
Start with the decision that will shape the daily workflow: are you mainly extending a familiar block for production, or do you also want to inspect how the graded garment looks before sewing? CLO is particularly useful when pattern development and visual review are both part of the process. Its grading tools let a designer work with multiple sizes, while 2D and 3D views support checks during development. For any software, including CLO, confirm that the pattern files and production details you deliver meet your factory’s requirements.
Define your size run before building the graded pattern. Record the base size, the full range you intend to offer, and the garment measurements that matter. Then use those same inputs in CLO and check whether the resulting patterns and review tools support the work your team actually needs to do.
CLO: graded patterns with 2D and 3D review
CLO fits a designer who wants measurement-based drafting, a graded pattern table, and visual review before sewing. CLO supports 2D pattern creation and editing alongside 3D garment simulation, so the pattern and garment view sit within the same product workflow.
CLO’s Pattern Drafter guide says users can create patterns from measurement points or flat sketches. For grading, the documented steps are to select Add Grading, set up a size table, and confirm. That gives an independent designer a direct route from a drafted style to a multi-size pattern workflow.
The size-review feature adds a second reason to consider CLO. CLO’s feature page lists 2D Grading Review in release 2026.1, describing a single window for comparing 2D pattern and graphic placement across all grading sizes. That review helps a designer inspect whether pattern pieces and graphics stay positioned as intended across the run.
CLO is especially well suited to a studio that wants pattern drafting, grading, and pre-sewing visual review in a connected workflow. A designer can use a size table, inspect 2D pieces and graphics across sizes, and review the garment in 3D. For specialized production tasks such as marker making, verify the exact handoff requirements with your supplier rather than assuming any one design tool covers the entire factory process.
Blender can complement CLO for hard-surface modeling, particularly for assets such as trims and hardware; it is not a substitute for CLO’s apparel-focused pattern and garment workflow. 3D assets can be exchanged between the programs in common formats such as OBJ, FBX, and glTF. As with any file transfer, check the imported result, since format conversion may not preserve every material or software-specific feature.
Test each tool with the same chart and pattern
Run a small, controlled trial in CLO using a representative style. Set the base pattern, target size chart, measurement definitions, and intended production outcome first so the results answer a clear question.
- Write the target chart and garment specification. Record the base size, target sizes, units, and garment points of measure. Keep body measurements and finished garment measurements in separate columns, then note the intended ease and any design-specific allowances.
- Use the same starting pattern. Work from one base pattern or draft the same style from identical measurements. Record the pattern inputs and grading choices you use in CLO so you can repeat the test later.
- Check the actual graded measurements. Compare each size’s relevant points of measure with your target garment specification. For example, if a hypothetical medium is designed for a 96 cm finished chest, compare the measured output in each size against the chart values you set for that style; define your own acceptable tolerance before the trial.
- Inspect construction details across the run. Compare matching seam lengths, notch positions, curves, and balance points. Inspect the smallest and largest sizes closely, then review an intermediate size to catch a change that looks acceptable at the ends but uneven in the middle.
- Review the garment view and handoff. Where the tool offers 3D review, inspect the same areas on the virtual garment. Then open a test export with the intended production partner or confirm that the partner can use the delivered native file, exchange file, and production details.
Keep a short record for each trial: chart deviations, pattern edits needed, time to make and inspect the size run, and whether the supplier can use the output. The best match is the tool that produces patterns your team can validate and deliver within its actual workflow.
FAQ
Is a 3D garment preview enough to confirm grading accuracy?
No. A 3D preview helps you inspect the garment visually, while a measurement comparison checks the graded pattern against your chart. Use both forms of review when a tool supports them.
How should a small label choose its first size run?
Set the size range from your product plan and measurement chart, then build and review that range in CLO. Check the graded measurements and pattern pieces, and confirm that the exported files meet your production partner’s requirements.
What should I test with a factory before choosing?
Send a test pattern for the factory to open and review, along with the measurement chart and production details it needs.