>>8848283Now we could go through the whole history of fashion packs, but let’s just simplify it and say that at some point within the past 30 years Mattel figured it would be cheaper or easier to print textures and details rather than source fabrics and trim. Why 30 years? Well, I have outfits from the 90s and you can see the same sort of printed fabrics starting to emerge.
What I’m seeing in recent fashion packs from Mattel are 3 different fabrics: a matte knit fabric that is usually printed, a shiny knit fabric that is also printed, and a woven twill that is used for bottoms that I believe is printed. If you’ve ever worked for a clothing design/manufacturer, or have even sewn anything, you know that sourcing fabrics can be a pain in the ass. My theory is that Mattel has cut out that step by taking advantage of the printing technology available and sending more time in creating printable details rather than sourcing fabrics and trims for the outfits.
From a manufacturing standpoint, this makes financial sense if they want to keep their profits high and production costs low while not raising the prices of things. But my opinion is that it lets down that great textural element when you have multiple fabrics and trims in play.
