Portland Apparel Services specializes in block development and stresses the importance of developing your blocks according to your end consumer. Blocks are the basic foundation patterns that create a company's unique signature through fit, styling, sizing and quality of the finished product. Blocks are a start-up investment, like a computer, that will save you time and money in the long run. Starting from a proven block eliminates costly alterations and numerous prototypes of a new design because you have something proven to start from. If your block works and fits well, then any new design taken from it should fit well too. By developing basic blocks that fit and perform, you will give your product a consistent quality that will build your customers trust and keep them coming back for more.

Portland Apparel Services knows that if you are designing for a specific activity, you must take into account how the body develops and what kind of range of motion is needed to perform this activity at the highest levels. These unique differences have to be incorporated into your patterns. If a pattern company offers to "just use our generic blocks" you might end up with something that will not fit your target market. If you use a company's generic blocks, make sure to check the fit and performance of them before having designs drafted using them. They might charge you for it, but you will recoup the cost by avoiding future pattern alterations.

Portland Apparel Services offers a unique service to our customers. When you have your blocks graded on our system, your grade will transfer to every design that can be made off this block. This eliminates the need to grade every new design and also standardizes your sizing across your product line. Blocks are something that you can use for years and many seasons to come. Imagine how much you will save by avoiding the repeated cost of grading every new design.

Remember, poor fit is the average customer's greatest complaint and reason for not buying a particular brand, no matter how cute the design is. Let Portland Apparel Services start you off in the right direction. We would be happy to work up an estimate and answer any questions for you.