All directives
Directive 03 / 11

Menswear Collection & Line Planning

Assortment Strategy

Building the right collection around the customer, product opportunity, price architecture and commercial objective.

A strong collection needs structure.

We help define what should be in a menswear collection, why each product is there and how the assortment works as a whole.

This can mean building a first collection from the ground up, restructuring an existing range or identifying where a category has become too broad, too narrow or commercially unclear.

What We Can Help With
  • Collection architecture
  • Range planning
  • Product mix
  • Category planning
  • Style count
  • Colour count
  • Price architecture
  • Good / better / best structure
  • Entry and exit price points
  • Core versus seasonal product
  • Hero product identification
  • Commercial product opportunities
  • Range rationalisation
  • Collection balance
  • Product hierarchy
  • Seasonal planning
Starting With the Customer

Line planning should begin with who the brand is selling to, not with an arbitrary number of styles.

  • CustomerWho are we designing for and what do they actually buy?
  • PositioningWhere does the brand sit within the market?
  • ProductWhich categories are essential to the proposition?
  • PriceWhat price architecture makes sense for the customer and positioning?
  • AssortmentHow much choice is needed without creating unnecessary duplication?
  • OpportunityWhere is there room for growth, newness or stronger commercial product?
What a Collection Needs to Do
  • Build IdentityCreate enough consistency for the brand to become recognisable.
  • Create NewnessGive the customer a reason to return.
  • Cover the WardrobeBuild a considered relationship between categories and products.
  • Create Commercial DepthAllow important products to work across colour, material and price.
  • Control ComplexityAvoid unnecessary styles, colours and development that add cost without strengthening the offer.
  • Support GrowthCreate a collection structure that can evolve as the business grows.
When to Bring Us In
  • You are building your first collection and don't know how many products you actually need.
  • Your range has grown but no longer feels focused.
  • You have strong individual products but the collection does not work together.
  • You need to introduce or restructure a menswear category.
  • Your pricing lacks a clear hierarchy.
  • You want to identify where the strongest commercial opportunities sit within the range.
What You Leave With

A clearer collection structure and a more considered plan for what should be designed, developed and sold.

  • Collection architecture
  • Category structure
  • Product and style plan
  • Price architecture
  • Core and seasonal balance
  • Product priorities
  • Identified gaps and opportunities
  • Clearer design brief for the collection
Who We Work With
  • FoundersStructuring a first collection around a clear proposition and realistic product offer.
  • Growing BrandsCreating greater focus, commercial depth and structure as the range expands.
  • Established BusinessesReviewing or rebuilding a category, collection or product architecture using senior external menswear expertise.
Related Services
Planning a Collection?

Tell us what you're building, who it's for and where the product needs to go next.

START A PROJECT