From Sketch to Sample: Inside My Design Process

Every Stitched design begins as a spark—often a memory of a game or a pattern that speaks to our heritage—and then transforms through trial, error and collaboration. Here’s how I turn ideas into wearable fanwear:

1. Research & Inspiration

I revisit basketball footage, pore over tournament programmes and listen to fan stories. That context shapes the narrative of each tee. The is a lot of Goggle and IG research involved lol

2. Sketch + Digital Fusion

I rough-sketch key motifs in pencil and then build the full artwork in Photoshop. Real-world photos from Envato help me layer authentic textures.

3. Prototyping with Dijgo & Habi

Working with Dijgo and Habibou (aka hmf.96) in Dakar, we run print tests on various T-shirt weights (180 GSM vs 200 GSM), compare men’s, women’s and unisex cuts, and experiment with blend modes, drop shadows and stroke thicknesses. It’s a stressful but invaluable phase—screen vs. print can look worlds apart, and logo sizing or large-format prints often need adjusting.

4. Wear Trials & Final Tweaks

Prototypes hit the court (and the street). If the print fades, feels off-centre or doesn’t pop, back to the drawing board we go—sometimes literally. Only when fit, feel and finish feel right do we sign off.

That moment Habi DM'ed me “These look really good” was my breakthrough: I knew I’d created something fans would wear with pride.