HomeServicesProjectsabout usContactmenu
Fashion / lifestyle

Retro Cadillac Print for Fashion – Bold 50s Car Pattern with Dual Color Variants

Project Details

Designed for a fashion-forward brand that loves character and bold storytelling, this textile print captures the golden age of American cars—full of chrome, color, and charisma.

I was commissioned to create a repeat pattern featuring hand-drawn Cadillacs and vintage cars from the 1950s and 1960s. The goal? Bring nostalgia into fashion with a high-detail, high-energy print that’s ready for shirts, shorts, linings, and more.

Design Concept

The print combines iconic retro cars with a layout that feels dynamic yet wearable—placing each vehicle in motion, with color blocking and scale that work across various garment types.

  • Illustration Style: Hand-drawn cars with a watercolor effect
  • Background: White and Dark blue grid (classic), plus a cool neutral palette version
  • Hero Elements: Tailfins, chrome grilles, retro headlights—all illustrated for charm and clarity

Color Variants

Colorful Original

  • Red, orange, mint, teal, coral cars
  • White and Dark blue background
  • Vibrant and summery — ideal for statement pieces and seasonal drops

Cool Neutrals Variant

  • Blue, dark blue, light blue, and soft beige
  • Tonal with a refined retro feel — great for menswear, accessories, or year-round collections
  • Aimed at wearers who want the story of the print, but with a subtler palette

Each version was balanced for print readability, garment versatility, and mood.

COLOR VARIANTS

What I Delivered

  • Original hand-drawn car illustrations
  • Two complete repeat patterns (each in multiple scale formats)
  • Color-calibrated files for fabric printing
  • Mockups and presentation slides for showroom or collection pitch
  • PSDs, vectors, and flattened print-ready exports

Why It Works

✔️ High personality print with commercial logic
✔️ Two tone directions — playful and polished
✔️ Repeatable across SKUs — scalable for tops, bottoms, bags, and linings
✔️ Authentically illustrated — no generic clipart or 3D feel

What I Learned

This project deepened my ability to combine narrative illustration with real-world textile logic.

Key takeaways:

  • How to balance illustration detail with print scalability
  • How to build multi-market value through color variants
  • How to create a print that sparks emotion and drives sales
  • The joy of designing something that wears like a story

brand-img
logovector-imgellipsebrand-img

Let’s talk

Need to brainstorm, learn more about advertising, or explore how we can collaborate? Schedule a Meeting now. Select a date and time for a video call or an in-
person meeting with one of Our Team members.

Contact Us
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
ellipselogo
back to top