Great designs need great tools. Whether you’re sketching your first concept or finalizing a production-ready file, using the right design software can level up your entire creative process. Here’s a breakdown of the top tools every fashion designer should have in their kit.

Adobe Illustrator: The Industry Standard

This is the go-to for professional flat sketches, technical drawings, and vector designs. It’s precise, scalable, and widely used by top brands around the world.

Pro tip: Use layers to organize trims, stitching, and notes for cleaner production files.

Adobe Photoshop: Visualize Like a Pro

Perfect for adding realism to your designs—whether you’re working with fabric textures, mockups, or moodboards. Combine it with Illustrator for a seamless creative workflow.

Pro tip: Use Photoshop to bring depth to your presentations and design ideas.

Procreate: Sketch Anywhere, Anytime

This iPad app is made for creative freedom. It’s fast, intuitive, and perfect for early-stage brainstorming and sketching on the go.

Pro tip: Export sketches from Procreate to Illustrator to turn raw ideas into technical flats.

Canva: Quick Moodboards & Presentations

Need clean, professional presentations without the learning curve? Canva is your answer. Ideal for creating polished moodboards for clients or manufacturers in minutes.

Pro tip: Use templates to speed up your workflow without sacrificing quality.

CLO3D: Render Before You Produce

Bring your garments to life before you even sample them. CLO3D lets you create 3D digital prototypes that help you reduce waste, test fit, and improve design precision.

Pro tip: A must-have if you want to visualize fit and movement without physical samples.

Ready to Start Designing Like a Pro?

At THEBRANDARCHIVE, we give you the tools to create like the best. From vector mockup templates to tech pack guides, our resources are built to plug directly into your design process—whether you use Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, or Canva.