In the world of fashion, if you can dream it, you can create it. Before your favorite item wound up in your closet—whether it's the cute bucket hat you just wore to the beach, the pretty dress you're saving for date night, or the It shoe of the season—it was conceptualized by a designer. And if you talk to just about any designer, you'll discover they're likely doing everything from ideation to production with Adobe Illustrator.
Illustrator has established itself as a game-changer in the fashion and graphic design industries, offering cutting-edge features that optimize the creative process. From the Mockup Tool to the Dimension Tool, designers can develop mood boards, create signature patterns, integrate their designs into fashion sketches, and seamlessly bring their visions to life, no matter their skill level.
We caught up with Cassey Ho, the founder, CEO, and head designer of Blogilates and Popflex to learn how she uses Illustrator to take her graphic and product designs to the next level. Adobe tools have transformed her workflow, and she's bringing us along on her design journey to see just how valuable they can be.
As an influencer and the founder, CEO, and head designer of Blogilates and Popflex, I'm sure design programs are an important asset to your job. Can you tell me about what led you to using the design tools you’re using today?
Cassey Ho: I first started using Adobe Illustrator when I was an intern for an independent fashion designer back in college! She taught me all about vectors, drawing CADs (computer-aided designs), and how to make a line sheet—things I still do in my work today. [Adobe Illustrator's] powerful creative tools save me and my team time and allow me to focus on the fun stuff—conceptualizing and creating new amazing designs.
How do tools like Adobe Illustrator support you in your creative process?
A lot of time is spent creating the perfect print, so I can see us using Text to Pattern as a fun way to begin feeling out what we're going for—almost like a brainstorming jump-start! I can create a mood board of patterns and colors at the speed of my imagination. Then I can perfect the design and use Illustrator to put the pattern into a fashion silhouette I've outlined. Et voilà, I have a product sketch to go to production.
Adobe Illustrator is designed to empower creators across various industries, whether they're pro designers or new to the space. How do these tools help you design for Blogilates and Popflex?
Illustrator supports all stages of my process, from laying out a silhouette to designing patterns, choosing color palettes, and marketing my fashion products. For example, Text to Pattern is like a fun game I get to play! It's also a great way to jump-start the process of creating what I see in my head quickly. Once I land on a set of patterns, I can use the Dimension Tool to size out the fashion pieces, then promote the final product. Marketing and branding are a representation of who I am and my work. The simplicity of replicating my patterns and designs within marketing materials ensures a seamless experience for my community. On Instagram, I enjoy posting sketches of my products, showcasing the variety of colors and patterns.
Can you share a specific experience on how recent design tools have helped you and your team?
I have a feeling prints are going to come back in a big way in 2025, so I want to try it on some key styles I have planned for next year. I recently did a poll on Instagram, working with my community to come up with print ideas. I'll be taking the top ideas, using Text to Pattern to create prints, and making an actual sample for everyone to vote on. Excited to see what they'll choose!
What's the one Adobe Illustrator feature you can't live without?
I mean, this is so basic, but being able to draw CADs with vectors is foundational in the product development process. This CAD evolves throughout the development journey and is essential in communicating design changes clearly with everyone involved—fashion designers, technical designers, the production team, etc.
What design advice would you give other entrepreneurs, and why should they explore Adobe Illustrator’s design tools?
Whatever business you're starting, make sure you're solving a problem you are genuinely passionate about solving. I also think that in the beginning, it's important to know how to do everything yourself so that as you grow, you can lead with experience and perspective. I remember using Adobe Illustrator to design everything myself, from logos to clothes to website banners to actual printed postcards. These days, I am lucky to be surrounded by a team of (mostly) women who know how to use Adobe Illustrator way better than I do, and I love learning from them every day!