Fashion for Child Avatars

[LadyWhiteWolf Shieldmaiden]

Yes, I do make clothing, and have for the past 2 years under the label of East Bend Shoppe.  Amongst other things I am a Munkin Designer - leading me to branch out into making habitats for breedables; which in turn led me to becoming a writer for a new SL breedable magazine. 

Anyway, back on topic, I was recently approached to make children's clothing; not to be confused with toddler apparel, but for older children.  Mesh is foreign to me, and unless you have a particular viewer, in most cases it is difficult to see anything 'mesh'; for me anyway. My Shop caters to those wishing formal to fantasy. 

Perusing through Marketplace, in an effort to research, I found very little in the way of child avatar clothing.  There seems to be a gap between toddler and teen.  East Bend Shoppe will now endeavor to bring out a line of child apparel for both boys and girls. 

I have noticed more and more mesh coming into SL for just about everything.  The question then becomes, is it a matter of personal preference, or these times they are a changing?

 

[Marigold Devin]

Times are always a-changin', LadyWhiteWolf, but you don't need to feel compelled to branch out into mesh manufacturing just yet.  Explore that gap in the market, create boys and girls clothing, sell it, and for sure your regular customers, if mesh-preferring, will start to ask you if you have mesh.  Also, of course, create a group, and ask what your regular customers would prefer.  Sales tend to dictate what type of market you need to be pleasing.

Personally, I am still in the non-mesh camp. My favourite stores are starting to dabble with mesh, but mostly create for non-mesh viewers.  I log in 50% of the time with my old faithful non-mesh Phoenix viewer, because that is like my favourite handbag, I know where all the pockets are :matte-motes-big-grin-wink: and it's relatively rare that I find someone wearing mesh clothing that I am unable to view. 

I'm sure the folks who are actually manufacturing mesh clothing will respond shortly to your enquiry, but your gap in the market age group may not be visitors to these forums, hence my paragraphs above.

Edited to add:

Currently the "problem" with mesh clothing is that people are having to adjust their avatar to fit - one size doesn't fit all, not like the non-mesh clothing. So if you currently upload boys and girls clothing of, say, ages 7-13, you might find it will fit some avs and not others. Just like in real life, a 10 year old in SL may vary greatly in size/dimensions to a 10 year old in RL, although there is an average size, and with mesh, I don't think an average size would cover it.

[Spica Inventor]

The Pheonix viewer sees meshes now. Its been that way for like 6 months I think. ;-)

[Amethyst Jetaime]

I have only bought a few pieces personally because they happen to fit well without altering my shape.  However, until the deformer is available and proven to work, I'm not going to be investing in mesh anytime soon. I am an adult avatar, I imagine that the age group you are targeting has a pretty wide range of body types and it will be difficult to offer enough sizes to fit most. I'd stick with regular clothes for now if I were you and perhaps as you have time create mesh against the day when the deformer is available and you won't need too offer many sizes.

[Marigold Devin]

I know.

Not the version I'm choosing to use though. :matte-motes-big-grin-squint:

[Morgaine Christensen]

Checking out mesh to see if it might enhance what you create is a fabulous idea...you may find you do not like it and do not wish to use it. 

I have been dabbling with some mesh building elements; thus far, I am not that impressed.  Mesh is generally too prim weighty for me....it looks good, but is about it...doesn't really add to the user experience any more than sculpts do.  As far as mesh for clothing, so far, all I have seen produced in relationship to clothing looks the same. Why do I want to look like everyone else?

Until the deformer is in place and actually works, I am not interesting in even exploring mesh clothing.  Even with mesh enabled viewers, mesh doesn't always render correctly (no it is not my machine or internet.) for me and others. I don't wish to be like the crowd and redo my shape to fit what some designer may think is correct. 

I certainly would poll my customer base and get their ideas and opinions on what they are looking for in designs and clothing.  You current client base may not be interested in this unfullfilled niche  so you may need to go outside your client base and poll them. Contact come of the Child AV type groups (probably hundreds out there) for their ideas and opinions what they see as missing.

Good luck on your new venture!