Grading is the part of product development most founders overlook, yet it has the biggest impact on how well your garments fit in real life. It isn’t just a case of scaling a pattern up and down, every measurement follows its own path, and a tiny error in your grade rules can throw off your entire size range. In this quick guide, I break down what grading actually is, how factories often get it wrong, and the simple steps that protect your brand from expensive mistakes.

A garment technologist is the technical backbone of any fashion product. From fit development to construction, grading and quality, they translate creative ideas into garments that can actually be manufactured accurately, consistently and beautifully. If you’re launching or scaling a fashion brand, here’s why this often overlooked role is one of the smartest investments you can make.