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Finding the right print for a collection means looking beyond the motif. Scale, repeat and colour all affect how a design works on the finished product. And when you’re buying exclusive prints online, timing matters too. A print you shortlist today could sell before you come back to it.
This guide covers how to source exclusive surface pattern designs for fashion and homeware, from writing a print brief and comparing studio collections to checking artwork for production and securing your chosen design.
The Design Agent brings together over 100,000 exclusive designs from independent print studios worldwide in one password-protected marketplace for verified professional buyers.
What does it mean to buy an exclusive print design?
Every print on The Design Agent is sold exclusively. Once you purchase a design, it’s removed from our catalogue and is no longer available for another buyer to purchase. If your company uses its own copyright form, send it over and we’ll pass it on to the studio you bought from.
Prints are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Use a shortlist to compare your favourites, then secure your chosen print once you know it fits your brief.
Start with a clear textile print sourcing brief
A focused brief makes it easier to narrow down the catalogue and compare prints that could work for your range. Before you search, define the following.
Product category. Are you sourcing for womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, homeware, interiors or accessories? The same motif can read very differently on a shirt and a duvet cover.
Layout. Decide whether you need an all-over repeat, an engineered placement or a border print.
Scale. Think about whether a ditsy, mid-scale or oversized design will suit the finished product.
Palette and ground. List the colours you need and whether you’re looking for a light, dark or tonal ground.
Technique. Consider whether a painterly, digital, photographic or embroidery-effect print suits your product and production method.
Season and timing. Note the season you’re buying for and when you need the artwork.
Browse exclusive textile prints across independent studios
On The Design Agent, you can browse designs from multiple independent print studios in one place and use advanced search to narrow the catalogue around your brief. Browse exclusive print designs.
Build your shortlist across studios. Comparing three florals at different scales, for example, can help you see which one gives your range the strongest point of difference.
If you’re still shaping your brief, explore the TDA trend reports, including our A/W 27/28 print trends from Paris.
Check scale, repeat and placement before you buy
A print can look beautiful on screen and still feel out of place in your range. Before you add it to your shortlist, picture it on the finished product.
Scale on the product. Imagine the motifs at their intended size on a bodice, sleeve or cushion front. A large floral might make a statement across a dress and lose its impact on a narrow sleeve.
Repeat and placement. Look at where key motifs fall across seams and panels. For an engineered placement, consider how it lines up with the cut of the garment.
Colourway flexibility. Consider how the colours will read on your chosen fabrics and sit alongside the rest of the range.
Potential across categories. A print sourced for womenswear might also work on accessories, childrenswear or homeware, giving you more ways to use the same design.
Use the interchangeable product mockups on The Design Agent to see how the same print looks across different products and narrow down your shortlist.
Secure your hero print first
Once your team has reviewed the shortlist, prioritise the print that anchors the range. If you’re choosing between a hero design and a supporting print, secure the hero first. It will usually be harder to replace if it sells.
When to request a personalised print pull
If you’re working to a tight deadline, sourcing for a new category or looking for a fresh take on a brief, a personalised print pull can save you the first round of searching.
Share your product category, colour palette, season and any visual references. A print agent at The Design Agent will curate a focused selection of exclusive prints for you to review. You can also use one brief to explore a print direction across multiple product categories.
Request a personalised print pull.
If you’d like to talk through trends, colour or product categories first, book a print consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Where can fashion and homeware buyers buy exclusive prints online?
Verified professional buyers can shop over 100,000 exclusive prints from independent studios on The Design Agent. The password-protected marketplace includes advanced search, product mockups and the option to request a personalised print pull.
Can another buyer purchase a print I’ve shortlisted?
Yes. A shortlist helps you compare designs. A print is secured once you purchase it and is then removed from the catalogue.
What is a print pull?
A print pull is a selection of designs personally curated by a print agent. On The Design Agent, the agent uses your brief to find exclusive prints that suit your product category, colour palette and season.
Who can buy prints on The Design Agent?
The Design Agent is for verified professional buyers across fashion, homeware, textiles and related sectors. Apply for a buyer account.
Source exclusive prints on The Design Agent
Start with a clear brief, compare designs across studios and check how each print will work on your finished product. Once you’ve found the right print for your collection, secure it while it’s available.
Apply for a buyer account to browse the full catalogue, or request a personalised print pull and we’ll put together a selection based on your brief.
