There’s a lot more to 3D design than just making eye-catching renders.

Here’s a rundown of the five most in-demand 3D fashion design services, featuring real-life examples from freelance fashion designers – plus tips to help you land your first freelance project.

Top Five 3D Fashion Design Services

1. 3D Rendering

3D rendering involves creating realistic digital visuals of garments that can be used for marketing materials, line sheets, or sales decks. This service is more about the visual and marketing aspect of design, and less about the technical and production side of things.

With CLO, you can show off every detail – like fabric textures, drape, up to the stitching – all without having to make a physical sample. It’s also super useful during the early design process for getting feedback from your team before moving into production.

With 3D rendering services, it’s important to note:

• You’re working from designs the client already has: This means they should provide references, such as sketches, images, or flat drawings. Some clients may also provide the base pattern for the design, and you’ll have to make it more realistic by adding details like fabric texture and embellishments.
• Your focus is on visuals, not production: While the 3D render will look realistic, it doesn’t guarantee production readiness. Production requires additional work on patterns, grading, and fit, which goes beyond rendering.

If a client needs animations (think turntable views that spin the garment around or runway simulations), this can be an add-on service.

Standard Deliverables for 3D Rendering:

• High-Resolution Renders: Front, back, and side views of the garment.
• 3D Animations: Options like turntables or simulated runways with CLO’s customizable avatars.

2. 3D Fashion Design

Designers offering this service help brands develop collections or individual pieces entirely in 3D. That includes brainstorming concepts, silhouettes, and details, all the way to finalizing digital samples.

The process often starts with creating mood boards or sketching initial ideas and evolves into fully realized 3D designs. Using tools like CLO’s material library, designers can test out different fabrics, textures, and colorways – making it easy for clients to visualize how garments will look in multiple variations before creating physical samples.

Unlike rendering, which is mostly about showcasing an existing design, 3D fashion design involves developing the actual design. For example, a client might come in with a rough concept, and the designer takes care of the rest – creating garment designs, refining them based on feedback, and rendering the finished pieces in 3D. Again, while the patterns created during this process could work for prototypes, they often need further refinement to be production-ready.

Standard Deliverables for 3D Fashion Design:

• Moodboards & Sketches: Initial design ideas and visual inspiration.
• High-Resolution Renders: Front, back, and side views of the garment.
• Colorway & Material Variations: Different color and material options for each design.
• 3D Animations: Options like turntables or simulated runways with CLO’s customizable avatars.

3. Digital Patternmaking

Virtual patternmaking allows designers to create, modify, and test patterns entirely in the digital space. Using CLO’s pattern making tools, designers can work with digital fabrics, experiment with pattern adjustments, and simulate how materials will behave – all before cutting any physical fabric.

With this service, designers can take a client’s design and draft the corresponding patterns, making necessary adjustments in terms of fit, silhouette, and fabric behavior. The result is a pattern that’s more refined and ready for physical prototyping or production.

Standard Deliverables for Digital Patternmaking:

• Pattern with Annotations: Digital patterns with marked seam allowances, cut lines, and notches for production.
• High-Resolution Renders: Front, back, and side views of the garment.
• Fit Visualizations: Simulations showing how the pattern fits on a virtual avatar.
• Custom Avatar: Patterns tested on a custom avatar created to match specific body measurements.
• Pattern Marker: Marker layouts for efficient fabric utilization.
• Grading / Graded Patterns: Grading in multiple sizes.

4. 3D Technical Design

3D Technical Design involves providing technical guidance to clients to help manufacturers produce their designs accurately. This service includes making tech packs with all the necessary information like garment measurements, construction details, and fabric specifications. CLO allows designers to generate these documents easily by exporting them into editable Excel files through CLO-SET. 

Another key part of this service is creating virtual prototypes and fitting assessments that help identify and fix potential issues on fit and design earlier on.

Standard Deliverables for 3D Technical Design:

• High-Resolution Renders: Front, back, and side views of the garment showcasing fabric behavior, construction, and fit.
• Tech Packs: Editable production documents including cutter’s must, BOM, measurement specs, and construction callouts.
• Fit Assessment: Updates to virtual prototypes to address design or fit issues.
• Custom Avatars: Digital models tailored to specific body measurements.
• Grading: Grading in multiple sizes.

5. Virtual Fitting & Assessment

While fitting and assessment are typically part of virtual patternmaking and 3D technical design services, some freelancers offer it as a separate service. This service involves simulating how garments fit and drape on customizable 3D avatars in CLO, allowing clients to assess and adjust the fit before creating physical samples.

Clients can bring their current 3D garment files to be assessed in a virtual fitting environment. The designer then identifies any fit issues, makes adjustments, and provides feedback on how the garment moves and fits across different body types.

Standard Deliverables for Virtual Fitting & Assessment:

• Fit Simulation: Show how the garment fits on the avatar using CLO’s Fit Maps.
• Fit Feedback: Notes on what needs to be improved, like fabric drape or tight spots.
• Avatar Adjustments: Changes to the avatar’s body to simulate different body types for a more accurate fit.
• Updated 3D Files: The revised files after fit adjustments are made.

Real-Life Examples From Freelance 3D Fashion Designers

To give you a clearer picture of what freelance 3D design work really looks like in action, I’ve gathered stories directly from freelance 3D designers, including their day-to-day work and deliverables.

3D Design & Digital Patternmaking

Sofía Luzon is a freelance 3D designer specializing in digital patternmaking & design for lingerie and swimwear. Here’s a glimpse of her usual tasks:

“I currently draft all my patterns in CLO, and I’ve integrated 3D fittings as part of my workflow by default. I then grade and export those patterns to DXF to be sent to the manufacturer.

For some brands I’m also in charge of the design, so I start creating my designs directly in CLO. I experiment with different shapes and fabrics, so that I can present my initial ideas to my clients in a much more realistic way than a sketch. 

Once the design is approved, I move on to refining the patterns that I used to create the design ideas in CLO, and do the grading. After that, I make the tech packs.

Sometimes the clients ask for more polished renders for line sheets or pre-order campaigns/crowdfunding, in case they’re a startup. For that, I add all the details to the 3D files I’ve been working with to make the final render or animation look as realistic as possible.”

Sofía collaborates with small to mid-sized brands worldwide and focuses on brands committed to sustainable product development.

Here are the typical deliverables Sofía provides for each project:

• Full tech packs
• Digital patterns & grading (DXF, or Illustrator/PDF, and other requested formats)

And if the clients ask for renders to be used for marketing:

• High-resolution render images showing the garment from all angles (including interior details)
• Turntable animation
• 3D files (OBJ / GLTF)

Check out more of Sofia’s work on her website.

---

3D Design, Development, & Virtual Sampling

Fernanda Martinelli specializes in workwear and outerwear design for small to medium-sized brands. She focuses on concept development, testing, and virtual sampling to help her clients bring their ideas to life.

When asked about her process when working with clients, she shared:

“Before working on 3D for any client, I request tech packs or technical drawings for the specific design or any patterns available for that design. If they don’t have it, then I create the patterns for the 3D model.

I create the 3D model of the garment for the avatar in the required size, and provide snapshots of all views with comments, in the same way you would do for a fitting. If they agree with the comments or have more, I use the feedback to adjust the model according to what’s needed. 

From this step, I moved forward to finalizing the renders in the required views. If necessary, I do a whole revision of the tech pack with the new information we have from the 3D model. For all my projects, I do two rounds of revisions before sending the final file.”

Here are the typical deliverables Fernanda provides for each project:

• 3D model developed on selected avatar size
• Rendered views (front, back, left)
• Animated file of garment on avatar or prop

For fitting assessments:

• Fitting assessment and revisions (using the sample size)
• Assessment presentation including updates

Check out more of Fernanda’s work on her website.

---

3D Fashion Design

Jodi-Ann Fowler is a UK-based designer specializing in women’s lingerie, swimwear, activewear, and bodywear. She works remotely with clients worldwide, ranging from startups to established brands of all sizes, as well as with suppliers.

Here’s an example of one of her recent projects:

“I am working with an activewear client – they create their own patterns in house, which I’ve imported into CLO, stitched as 3D garments, and applied graphics and other design details.

I created a custom avatar so the garments fit reflectively as they would in real life. I’ve also helped them with getting their core fabrics digitised in 3D. These garments are styles which have been running for a while along with completely new styles.”

Here are the typical deliverables Jodi provides for each project:

• Renders (front, back, side views, and detail shots)
• Custom avatars
• CLO files for 3D garments
• CLO-SET library setup and walkthroughs

Check out more of Jodi’s work on her website.

---

3D Product Development

Trudy Gardner is an intimate apparel designer specializing in product development using CLO. She works primarily as an independent contractor for a 3D design agency – collaborating with intimate apparel brands on everything from patternmaking, 3D sampling, tech packs, fittings, to creating photorealistic imagery for e-commerce.

When asked about her usual process, she shared:

“The client provides a style reference such as a sketch or image, which serves as the foundation for the project. I then create a custom avatar to represent the client’s fit standard.

Using the style reference, I develop a pattern and create digital materials to produce a 3D sample of the garment. The 3D sample is reviewed with the client to make any necessary fit or design revisions.

Once the initial 3D sample is approved, I update the tech pack and export the pattern so the factory can create a physical sample. I also attend virtual fittings with the physical garment on a fit model, noting any adjustments required for fit and design.

Based on feedback from the fittings, I update the CLO pattern to address the noted comments and verify that the changes achieve the desired results. The tech pack is also updated, and the revised files are sent back to the factory.

After the base size is approved, I grade the pattern and cross-check the grading on multiple avatars across the brand’s size range to ensure consistency. Once the garment is fully approved, I use the same file to create photorealistic imagery for e-commerce or marketing purposes.”

Here are the typical deliverables Trudy provides for each project:

• Custom avatar 
• Garment simulated on custom avatar
• CLO 3D completed file (ZPRJ)
• Custom fabric files and texture maps (ZFAB)
• Custom trims and accessories (OBJ)
• Turntable renderings in image and video Format

Check out more of Trudy’s work on her website.

---

Tips to Land Your First Freelance 3D Fashion Design Project

1. Build a Niche Portfolio with 3D Design Projects

Create a portfolio that showcases your skills in specific services you’re offering, like 3D rendering, virtual patternmaking, or garment design. If you don’t have much work to show yet, start small by designing a personal project or working with startup brands. 

Focus on quality over quantity and tailor your portfolio to the specific type of work you want to do. A simple PDF portfolio with 2-3 targeted projects works wonders! CLO allows you to experiment with realistic simulations, so include variations like different fabric types, colorways, or detailed animations to demonstrate your capabilities.

P.S. I have a complete guide on how to create the perfect portfolio here!

2. Explore Job Boards for 3D Fashion Design Opportunities 

Keep an eye on specialized job boards to find openings in 3D fashion design. CLO has their own job board, which is a great place to connect with brands already invested in 3D workflows.

3. Highlight 3D Skills on Freelancing Platforms

Sign up on freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr (I personally recommend Upwork) and optimize your profile to attract clients looking for 3D services. Use keywords like “CLO 3D expert,” “3D garment designer,” or “virtual patternmaker” to appear in search results quickly.

Include clear descriptions of the services you offer and examples of past work or mock projects to build credibility. Clients are more likely to hire you when they can easily see how your work fits their needs.

4. Cold Pitch to Potential Freelance Clients

Just because a brand isn’t actively hiring, doesn’t mean they don’t need any help. Find brands or designers that could benefit from your skills and pitch your services. Smaller independent startups are more likely to hire directly, but larger brands sometimes do too.

Tailor each pitch to show how you can solve a specific problem, like speeding up their prototyping or improving garment visuals. Make sure your pitch is so personalized, that if you replaced the brand’s name with another brand, it wouldn’t make sense.

5. Join 3D Fashion Design Communities

Join active forums and groups like CLO’s CONNECT Community, where designers share their work, discuss challenges, and post job opportunities. Engaging in discussions, asking for feedback on your designs, or contributing helpful insights can help you build meaningful connections that might lead to job offers.

Ready to take the next step?

Start experimenting with CLO’s free 14 day trial and bring your 3D fashion designs to life – no strings attached! 
If you want to learn even more, check out CLO Academy for beginner-friendly courses like their Intro to CLO for Basic Apparel Design or Basic Handbag Design. CLO also has Focus Courses on specific apparel like men’s denim jeans, button-down shirts, and more to come!