From Prototype to Collection: How a Northrune Piece Comes to Life

At Northrune, launching a new collection isn’t just about putting together a bunch of products. It’s about careful, deliberate creation—and to understand that let’s dial it back and take a look at what goes into one single product.

Let’s say we’re designing a new style of our best-selling pant, just like we did for the original version. The process starts long before we touch a sewing machine.

Step 1: Finding the Right Fabric

First, we gather swatches from different fabric suppliers. That usually takes about a week, but often the fabric isn’t exactly what we want. We repeat the process 2–3 times until we get the right material. All told, this step alone can take up to three weeks.

Getting the right fabric is crucial—this is what makes the difference between a pant that looks good on a shelf and one that feels amazing to wear.

Step 2: Drafting the Pattern

Once we have the fabric, it’s time to create the cut and pattern. This step takes precision: we measure, test, and figure out exactly how we want the pant to look.

Do we want a more athletic fit? Tapered ankles? Longer inseams? Cargo pockets on the side or the front? A 1-inch drawstring for comfort? Each decision affects the size of the pattern, the stretch of the elastic, and how the pant will move on a person.

Step 3: Sewing Process Design

Before making even one pair, we design the most efficient sewing process. As a company that sews everything in Minnesota, we’re limited by our machines—no waistband machines, no stress point stitching machines that could tear fabric. So we get creative, finding ways to make a product durable, comfortable, and consistent using just our sewing machines.

This step is painstaking. Sometimes it takes 5–12 prototype pairs to get everything right. And remember—we haven’t even started selling yet. Every prototype ensures that the process is healthy for the business, doable day-to-day, and scalable.

Step 4: Styling, Modeling, and Photography

Once the pant works technically, it’s time for visual presentation. The model, photography, lighting, and color palette are just as important as the product itself. A pant might be perfect in hand, but it has to look and feel right on the model.

This step involves editing, critiquing, and making adjustments so the photos capture the quality and fit of the pant. It’s meticulous, but it’s how we show our customers what they’re buying before they ever touch the product.

Step 5: Legal & Launch Prep

Finally, there’s all the legal stuff: tags, trademarks, and compliance. Each product must meet Northrune’s standards before it’s ready to launch.

When you add it all up, creating one product is a massive investment in time, thought, and skill.

We just launched our Spring Collection, which has 10+ products, and every single one went through this same process. From fabric selection to photography, we take the time to make sure every piece meets our standard of function, durability, and style.