Vintage-Inspired Neoprene Surfing Wetsuit in Genuine Leather with Covered Buttons

Vintage-Inspired Neoprene Surfing Wetsuit in Genuine Leather with Covered Buttons

A Shopify DTC Brand approached us to develop a vintage-inspired neoprene surfing wetsuit around a single idea: covered buttons, executed in genuine leather. The capsule was destined for Kenya and needed vintage-inspired finishing that reads designer on the rail while staying repeatable in bulk. This case study records the brief, the specification and the delivery.

The challenge

• Decoration durability failed after two washes
• Fabric hand feel changed between production runs
• Unit costs were too high for a boutique price point

What we specified

How it was built

1. Reference garments and moodboards were translated into a measurement spec, not just photos.
2. Genuine Leather was confirmed with lab dips and a hand-feel approval before grading.
3. The neoprene surfing wetsuit was prototyped on the fit model, then revised twice before pre-production.
4. Covered Buttons was applied in a controlled process to keep every piece consistent.
5. Bulk ran with in-line inspection; a photo report was shared before shipment.

Result

• 1,500 pieces delivered inside the 8-week window.
• Unit cost held within 2.0% of the approved quotation.
• The a Shopify DTC Brand launched on schedule and reordered the same specification next season.

What we would repeat

Approve the hand feel on the actual bulk fabric — proto cloth always behaves differently.

Planning a similar capsule?

Send us your tech pack or even a rough sketch — we will come back with fabric options, a costed sample plan and a realistic production calendar.