Have you ever wondered about the journey your favorite Joe & Bella piece took before arriving in your closet? Today, we're pulling back the curtain on our design process. As you might notice while reading, our cofounder comes from a research background, having worked with brands like Levi’s, Reebok, Nike, and The North Face.
From Customer Voices to Design Sketches
Every Joe & Bella garment begins with listening. Our design process starts by understanding what matters most to you—from the colors and patterns you prefer to the specific functional challenges you face when dressing.
When we poll our customers about their favorite colors for our Side-Zip Pants, navy blue consistently wins—but what's fascinating are the stories behind these preferences. Many customers tell us they want pants that look exactly like what they've always worn, just easier to put on. That insight drives everything we do.
We don't just collect data—we invite people into our design process. And, of course, we’re doing nonstop “anecdotal” research, observing what our audience wears. Our product testing includes both current adaptive clothing wearers and those who would benefit but haven't yet made the switch. This diversity of perspective ensures we're creating pieces that solve real problems without sacrificing the familiar look and feel of traditional clothing.
Where Fashion Meets Function
Our team brings experience from some of the world's most respected fashion brands, including Lululemon, Juicy Couture, Kenneth Cole, and David Yurman. They understand what makes clothing feel special—and how to seamlessly integrate adaptive features without compromising style.
"I left mainstream fashion because I saw a gap that needed to be filled," says one of our designers. "At Joe & Bella, I can apply everything I learned about creating beautiful garments while solving real problems. The magnetic closures we developed for our bestselling shirts required multiple iterations before we got the perfect balance of easy operation and invisible appearance."
This blend of high fashion expertise and adaptive innovation is what makes Joe & Bella unique. We're not just adapting mainstream designs—we're rethinking clothing from the ground up.
The Testing Journey
The true magic happens during our testing process.
First, we test the concept with focus groups to refine the idea (or, in some cases, to decide whether to proceed at all). Next, prototypes are created and tested for functionality—can the piece be easily put on while seated? Will the magnets align naturally? Is the fabric forgiving enough for comfortable movement?
Once the functionality passes muster, we evaluate comfort during extended wear. Finally, we assess the design—does it look like something you'd have always chosen, regardless of adaptive features?
Probably our favorite moment is when a respondent forgets they're wearing adaptive clothing. "When someone says, 'This just feels like my favorite sweater,' we know we've succeeded."
A Request for You
We're currently developing our Spring 2026 collection (yes, it takes a year from concept to completion) and would love your input. What pieces, colors, patterns, or styles would you like to see in our lineup? Please reply to this email with your suggestions—your feedback directly shapes what we create next.
With appreciation for your part in our design journey,
The Joe & Bella Team
P.S. Want to join our product testing group? Let us know in your reply, and we'll share details about how you can help shape future Joe & Bella designs.
Your design team knocked it out of the park! I never thought adaptive clothes could be so fashionable.
