Designers, Here’s Why Your Mood Boards Aren’t Translating into Product
Jul 4, 2025
3
min reading
These days, inspiration is everywhere. Designers are building rich, layered mood boards on Pinterest, saving textures on Instagram, and even using AI to visualize full collections.
But there’s one problem: most of those beautiful materials never actually make it into production.
They’re ghost fabrics—unavailable, untraceable, or just completely out of reach.
And if you’ve ever tried turning a digital dream into a physical sample, you know the frustration. You fall in love with a fabric only to find out it doesn’t exist at scale, can’t be ethically sourced, or doesn’t meet performance needs.
Suddenly, your vision gets stuck in limbo. Mood Boards are meant to spark ideas, not stall them.
And this goes beyond a minor inconvenience. It creates real challenges for designers working to build responsibly and streamline their process. Because the truth is: you can’t build a future-facing collection on fantasy.
If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Keep reading to see where things tend to go off track, and how starting differently can change everything.
From Inspiration to Execution: Where the Process Breaks
For a long time, fashion followed a pretty standard creative flow: build the vision, sketch the pieces, then scramble to find materials that sort of match. That might have worked before, but today’s supply chain realities—and the pressure for traceability—have changed the game.
Designers are expected to produce standout work on tight timelines, often without sourcing support. So they gather inspiration from all over the internet, only to hit a wall when it’s time to actually source the materials. It’s no wonder collections get delayed or watered down in the process.
Vogue Business cuts through the noise, pointing out that traceability challenges in fashion have less to do with complexity—and more to do with resistance to change.
“The fashion industry keeps saying it’s harder to [track the product’s life cycle through the supply chain], and I think that’s an excuse,” says sustainability expert Lindsay Dahl. “The steps from the cotton field to finished products on shelves—these are processes that are just as complicated in other industries.”
This reinforces a growing truth: designers who don’t start with traceable materials are left designing in the dark, relying on guesswork, delays, and last-minute substitutions.
The frustration goes deeper, it's a barrier to sustainable designing. The good news? A smarter production strategy can change that. Keep reading to find out.
What Happens When You Start with Materials Instead
While many designers get stuck in the inspiration phase—lost in moodboards and unattainable references—those who move forward often start with the fabric itself.
Having a material in hand unlocks a different kind of creativity: one that’s tactile, focused, and grounded in what’s actually possible in production.
Nino Via also reinforces this approach in another video of his, emphasizing that designers should use fabrics as a starting point for inspiration—not an afterthought.
At first, starting with materials might feel restrictive. In reality, it unlocks clarity, confidence, and designs that balance creativity with purpose.
Nino Via, fashion industry expert and design coach, put it this way in one of his YouTube videos on his chanel:
“Where do you start? You could divide the industry into two areas that coexist—one is the creative aspect and the other is the business aspect. And the two have to work together.”
And this shift in mindset—and in production habits—isn’t just a creative evolution; it’s becoming a critical response to the growing sustainability demands facing the fashion industry today.
Compliance and traceability are no longer optional, even for small and mid-sized brands.
In fact, industry leaders are sounding the alarm: the Global Fashion Agenda reported that over 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage.
That means the earliest decision (like the materials the designer chooses) has some of the most lasting consequences. And buyers are paying closer attention to this, and asking harder questions:
Is this fabric traceable?
Is it scalable?
Does it meet impact requirements?
And when those questions reach your inbox, showroom, or social feed, having clear answers about your materials isn’t just good practice—it’s a business necessity.
Designer Leo Kostantinis reflected on this evolution from his early days:
“When I was starting out, design felt like pure art. I’d focus on making things pretty — balancing colors, perfecting typography, and obsessing over the tiniest details. What I didn’t realize was that design is fundamentally about solving problems.”
So, what does all of this have to do with starting your design process with fabric? In short: everything.
Because when you begin with materials that are already certified, traceable, and scalable, you’re reducing risk, gaining production clarity, and aligning your vision with what’s both creative and commercially viable.
And more importantly, you’re embedding responsibility into the very foundation of your work, even before the first sketch is even drawn.
As Indré Rockefeller put it at the launch of The Circularity Project, “80–90% of a garment’s carbon footprint is determined at the design stage.”
That makes fabric choice not just an aesthetic decision, but a sustainability strategy. By starting smart, designers can shape outcomes that are both less impactful and more future-fit.
Because when it starts better — it can go better all the way through.
This Isn’t About Playing It Safe—It’s About Playing It Smart
When designers start from a material-first place, everything changes:
Collections are grounded in real, ready-to-use materials, which means fewer production delays.
Sampling becomes more strategic. You don’t waste time developing options that can’t scale.
Waste is reduced early. You avoid chasing unavailable fabrics or creating prototypes that can’t move forward.
Sourcing becomes part of the creative process, not a logistical nightmare.
Your materials become part of your story, giving your brand transparency from day one.
And perhaps most importantly? You don’t get stuck moodboarding a version of your collection that’ll never see the light of day.
Where World Collective Comes In
At World Collective, we’re building the kind of sourcing experience we wish we had years ago. One that saves time, reduces uncertainty, and connects designers to materials they can actually use.
We’re not just a Marketplace—we’re a sourcing Ecosystem.
Our platform gives you access to certified, low-impact, and scalable materials before you even start sketching. You can:
Filter by certifications like GOTS, OEKO-TEX®, and regenerative standards
Explore transparent supplier profiles and production timelines
Browse by availability, impact metrics, and minimums
Source verified fabrics directly into your workflow
Traceability works best when it shapes the creative process from the very start—not as an afterthought.
And we’re not alone in this thinking. As Business of Fashion points out, most traceability tools today are reactive—focused on compliance, not creativity.
We’re flipping the model. At World Collective, traceability begins before the sketch.
Low-Impact Materials to Start Designing With
Here are a few examples from our platform that are ready to source now—each one certified, verified, and scaled for production:
These aren’t just beautiful fabrics—they’re real, traceable, and ready to roll. No ghost materials here. Just certified, low-impact options that meet the moment and move your designs forward.
Graphic, grounded, and globally certified. This bold black-and-white weave is made with 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and comes in at a sturdy 219 gsm. It brings tradition and sustainability together—great for when you want your piece to stand out and stand for something.
Soft, stretchy, and solution-ready. This single jersey knit is made from 100% CleanBamboo® Lyocell—an MMCF fabric made in a closed-loop system. With 200 gsm of clean drape, it’s a dream for elevated basics and breathable layers that feel as good as they look.
Wool look, minimal footprint. This 100% Lyocell interlock knit offers a smooth, structured alternative that’s fully plant-based. At 220 gsm, it’s substantial without being heavy, and works beautifully for soft tailoring or elevated essentials.
Earthy but elevated. This 55% Lyocell and 45% Hemp blend offers that raw, natural texture with a modern softness. At 205 gsm, it’s breathable, biodegradable, and backed by fibers that are as low-impact as they come. Think refined minimalism with a sustainable edge.
Clean lines, soft hand, and an easy neutral tone. This hand woven 100% cotton fabric (135 gsm) may not be certified organic,but its small-batch production and timeless look make it a solid choice for conscious, artisan-led collections. A quiet staple with a low footprint.
Curious how to start designing with these?
→ Browse Certified Materials
→ Request Swatches
→ Start Your Sourcing Journey
A Smarter Starting Point
So the next time you’re building a moodboard, ask yourself:
Can I actually source this?
Is this material traceable and scalable?
Am I designing for production—or just for the page?
Click here to read more about the key questions you should be asking when it comes to sourcing and production in fashion design , and get the insights you need to source smarter and more sustainably.
Let go of ghost fabrics. Start with verified, future-ready materials and build a collection designed to succeed—ethically, creatively, and commercially.
That’s the future we’re building at World Collective.
Ready to design something real?
✅ Start with verified materials
✅ Connect with suppliers who actually reply
✅ Build the collection you can produce
→ Join World Collective
Written by Simone Ljung
Edited by Maria Eugênia Lima & Júlia Vilaça
