This is likely going to be a bit of a challenge as the gals and guys are used to using entirely different systems of "measurement" (if one can call "standard sizes" (ha!) standard). Perhaps a wide enough range of sizes that you catch the bulk of the intersection of sizes and list both "standards" or offer guidance in the way that Macabi does with their skirts. Yes, you'll miss the women's size 0 and the guy with a 50" waist, but both are rare. It's about market. Cutting the size off at a 38-inch waist will cut a heck of a lot of guys out of the picture.KellyRain wrote:1. Sizing. Yes. I think have a wide range of sizes is critical. We have already incorporated that into our design ideas. We want something universal.
If small plaids (tartans) cause angst in your local domain, then yes, avoiding those makes commercial sense. However, the enlarged ones sound intriguing, and with a large enough spread it might be possible to include black in between the colours to really bring them out. As far as fabric goes, it might be easier to print this instead of weaving it. Modern dyes are quite good.2. Plaid. Yes!!! Yohji Yamamoto took a very simple red tartan block, magnified it by about 100 times and put them on black skirts. It made an amazing tartan that could be dressy.
We are also looking at non-ethnic inspired checks. In Tokyo a check skirt looks like a Japanese school girl since nearly every school has their own tartan here. Any small tartan on a guy is 100% out of the question without inviting a negative response. So we are looking at larger tartans in unconventional colors.
In this hypothetical realm, I'd avoid both extremely "feminine" and extremely "masculine" styles. The extremely "masculine" styles tend to scream, "It's a MAN'S skirt, dammit!", instead of quietly saying, "Yes, it's a skirt. Get over it," They overpower. Extremely "feminine" styles (flounces, &c.) could well be eschewed by both men and women because they're obsolete in the West and would put the guys off. Pockets are a good idea, likely concealed ones, so long as they don't detract from the lines of the garment when overstuffed (which guys do all the time). Both guys and gals will use pockets if they're available.