Made with Intent — Boston • Seattle

Elevated knitwear, trims & textile innovation

Isabel Mendlen blends textile science and handcrafted detail to create thoughtful, wearable collections and technical prototypes. Sustainable-minded, always.

View Projects Start a Project
  • Textile Science
  • Trims & Embellishment
  • Stretch Knits
Isabel Mendlen portrait
Selected work

Projects & Collaborations

A curated selection — R&D collaborations, editorial collections and handcrafted embellishments.

See Full Portfolio
Project

Soliyarn — Design & R&D Collaboration

Soliyarn develops smart textile coatings and conductive systems to enable heating, sensing and durable liquid repellency without compromising fabric hand or breathability. Work combined textile chemistry, electrical integration and human-centered design to deliver wearable, testable prototypes.

Inquire about a similar project Open original gallery
Soliyarn company photo
Soliyarn company photo — R&D environment and team context.
Kimber Cross custom glove detail
Kimber Cross custom glove detail.
Mold of professional climber's hand
Mold of professional climber's hand.
Sketch of Kimber Cross custom glove
Sketch — Kimber Cross custom glove concept.
Kimber Cross's Final Glove set
Kimber Cross — final glove set.
Example of water repellency (DWR) coating for apparel prototypes
Water repellency (DWR) coating — example in action.
Prototype heated cuff
Prototype heated cuff.
Heated cuff on highest heat setting
Heated cuff — highest heat setting.
Liquid sensing diaper example
Liquid sensing — diaper example.
Prototype water-repellent swim/performance shorts
Prototype water‑repellent performance shorts.
Heated cuff prototype — demo clip.
Durable water repellency (DWR) — coating in action.
Prototype heated cuff design
Prototype heated cuff — design schematic and layout.

My role

Design intern & product development collaborator — assisted R&D teams and helped translate technology into functional apparel prototypes suitable for field testing and small-scale production.

Thermal integration

Embedding heating panels and routing power while optimizing fit and comfort.

Sensing & controls

Sensor placement, connector routing and user interface concepts for wearable controls.

Material selection

Substrate and coating choices balanced for durability, breathability and hand.

Key contributions

  • Collaborated with R&D engineers on prototype integration of conductive coatings and heating elements.
  • Designed layouts and packaging for electrical components to preserve aesthetics and comfort.
  • Participated in prototype testing cycles to validate heating performance and durability.
Project highlights

Selected outcomes included working prototypes with integrated heating panels, waterproofed connection points and optimized material stacks for comfort and longevity.

Case study — Kimber Cross: a custom glove set developed with Soliyarn technology for high-performance cold-weather climbing, incorporating controlled heating, DWR and tailored fit to support elite athletes.

Materials

Yarn

Fiber stories, swatches and material studies — the building blocks behind trims and knitwear.

Yarn study — warm-toned skeins arranged in a stack
Yarn study — warm-toned skeins arranged in a stack.
Close-up of natural yarn fibers showing twist and ply
Close-up of natural yarn fibers showing twist and ply.
Yarn cones and spools in muted palette
Yarn cones and spools in a muted palette.
Macro texture of wool yarn strands
Macro texture — wool strand detail.
Colorful yarn bundle showing tonal transitions
Colorful yarn bundle — tonal transitions and dye lots.
Yarn skeins in cool neutrals
Cool neutrals — base yarn options.
Wool yarn balls in earthy tones
Earthy tones — knitwear foundations.
Yarn cones arranged for swatch testing
Yarn cones arranged for swatch testing.
Pastel yarn bundle — soft hand and loft
Pastel yarn bundle — soft hand and loft.
Neutral yarn skeins — baseline palette
Neutral yarn skeins — baseline palette.
Yarn sample — materials study
Color card — curated yarn palette for collection direction.
Yarn sample — materials study
Cones and skeins — palette planning and material pairing.
Yarn sample — materials study
Swatch grid — gauge, stitch definition and hand evaluation.
Yarn sample — materials study
Macro detail — twist/ply and surface texture under directional light.
Yarn sample — materials study
Tonal bundle — range mapping from bone to charcoal.
Yarn sample — materials study
Cone lineup — mill‑dyed bases selected for sampling.
Yarn sample — materials study
Skein close‑up — halo, loft and recovery check.
Yarn sample — materials study
Contrast study — neutrals paired with accent tones.
Yarn sample — materials study
Fiber mix — synthetic/natural blend balanced for durability.
Yarn sample — materials study
Swatch stack — thickness, drape and compression comparison.
Yarn sample — materials study
Texture pass — rib versus jersey hand‑feel and elasticity.
Yarn sample — materials study
Corded trims — accessory yarn for edge finishing and embellishment.
See Full Portfolio
Collection

Into the Whimsical Woods

A seasonal, nostalgic collection inspired by the Pacific Northwest — curated imagery and texture studies.

Whimsical Woods image 1

Forest Study

Close-up of mossy texture and tonal layering used as a reference for knit textures.

Whimsical Woods image 2

Layered Textiles

Fabric combinations and layering concepts inspired by coastal layers and utility wear.

Whimsical Woods image 3

Patchwork Detail

Hand-stitched patchwork showing trim treatment and seam construction techniques.

Whimsical Woods image 4

Mood Captures

Editorial capture highlighting the atmosphere, styling and directional lighting used in shoots.

Whimsical Woods image 5

Color & Contrast

Palette exploration showing warm terracotta accents paired with muted neutrals.

Whimsical Woods image 6

Fabric Stories

Macro view of knit hand and finish — useful for selecting substrate and treatments.

Whimsical Woods hero image

Collection Showcase

Hero image presenting silhouettes, texture and overall collection tone.

Open Collection on Source Site
Collection

Fashion Flats & Illustrations

Curated flats, technical sketches and styled illustrations from the Fashion Flats collection.

Open Source Project See Full Portfolio
Fashion Flats 1
Flat study — women's long‑sleeve bodice with seam annotations.
Fashion Flats 2
Flat study — drape and seamline exploration for knit garments.
Fashion Flats 3
Technical flat with measurement notes and construction cues.
Fashion Flats 4
Pattern and fold detail — showing pleat placement and finishing.
Fashion Flats 5
Trim placement — pocket, placket and decorative trim locations.
Fashion Flats 6
Stretch‑knit construction study — stitch direction and recovery details.
Fashion Flats 7
Illustration with color key — styling and palette guidance.
Fashion Flats 8
Panel composition — how garment panels join for silhouette shaping.
Fashion Flats 9
Print placement and scale reference for textile application.
Fashion Flats 10
Hem and finishing detail — stitch type and fold specifications.
Fashion Flats 11
Sleeve and cuff details — attachment method and reinforcement points.
Fashion Flats 12
Full garment flat — overall dimensions and annotation overview.
Fashion Flats extra 1
Hero composition — cropped study used for promotional imagery.
Fashion Flats extra 2
Panel mockup — textile repeat layout and scale testing.
Fashion Flats extra 3
Close-up detail showing trim application and stitch type.
Fashion Flats extra 4
Multi-panel layout — assembling multiple flats into a spread.
Fashion Flats extra 5
Texture study — yarn selection and surface finish exploration.
Sleeve and cuff details — attachment method and reinforcement points.
Sleeve and cuff details — attachment method and reinforcement points.
Fashion Flats extra 7
Wide layout — editorial composition and negative space study.
Fashion Flats extra 8
Landscape shot — environmental reference for lifestyle imagery.
Fashion Flats extra 9
Page screenshot — archived source documentation for the project.
Fashion Flats extra 10
Supplemental screenshot — additional project reference material.
Fashion Flats extra 11
Narrow crop — header-friendly composition for web use.
Panel arrangement diagram showing seam placement and shaping
Panel arrangement — seam placement and silhouette shaping notes.
Colorway exploration with palette keys and fabric callouts
Colorway exploration — palette keys with fabric and trim callouts.
Construction detail highlighting stitch type and reinforcements
Construction detail — stitch type, reinforcement and edge finish.
Fit and drape overview showing front and back proportions
Fit & drape — front/back proportion overview and ease mapping.
Open Source Project
Collection

Custom Bling Work

A curated gallery showcasing custom rhinestone art, embellished shoes and sparkling details.

See Full Portfolio Request Custom Work
Custom Bling 1
Rhinestone shoe detail — crystal placement, backing and finish.
Custom Bling 2
Beaded applique close-up — hand-set beadwork and spacing.
Custom Bling 3
Embellished cuff — method for secure attachment and finish.
Custom Bling 4
Crystal gradient application — color transition and density control.
Custom Bling 5
Custom motif layout — planning placement for shoe toe artwork.
Custom Bling 6
Decorative motif — color sampling and reflective qualities.
Custom Bling 7
Rhinestone pattern template — matrix used for transfer application.
Custom Bling 8
Hand‑set cluster detail showing layering and adhesive usage.
Custom Bling 9
Shoe vamp application — crystal layout and edge finishing.
Custom Bling 10
Strap embellishment — fastening and reinforcement notes.
Custom Bling 11
Rhinestone mosaic — scale, spacing and reflective balance study.
Custom Bling 12
Crystal application — balanced spacing and reflective depth.
Custom Bling 13
Finishing — sealed backings, gloss application and durability testing.
Custom Bling 14
Custom layout — mockup showing placement strategy for multiple elements.
Custom Bling 15
Application method — adhesive testing and temperature cure notes.
Custom Bling 16
Surface study — reflective qualities under varied lighting conditions.
Custom Bling 17
Layered crystal clusters — density transitions and adhesion technique.
Custom Bling 18
Assembly — layer order and substrate selection for stability.
Custom Bling 19
Finished piece — photographed flat to show final composition.
Custom Bling 20
Edge finishing detail — seam treatment and trim anchoring.
Custom Bling 22
Gallery hero — curated mix of custom rhinestone pieces.
Custom Bling 23
Detail — gemstone pattern and light play.
Bejeweled jacket — rhinestone embellishment
Bejeweled jacket — rhinestone embellishment on denim.
View More Bling
Collection

Mood Boards

Curated mood and inspiration boards — visual direction, color stories and layout explorations.

Mood Board 1
Mood board — composition study combining imagery and fabric swatches.
Mood Board 2
Mood board — color and tonal palette exploration for direction.
Mood Board 3
Mood board — texture and fabric swatch references for material selection.
Mood Board 4
Mood board — layout approach and editorial framing notes.
Mood Board 5
Mood board — palette pairings and complementary finishes.
Mood Board 6
Mood board — material cues, finishes and handfeel references.
Mood Board 7
Mood board — atmospheric capture to inform photography and styling.
Mood Board 8
Mood board — editorial styling references and shot direction.
Mood Board 9
Mood board — tonal balance and contrast study for collection cohesion.
Mood Board 10
Mood board — pattern direction and repeat ideas for print development.
Mood Board 11
Mood board — collage of references for mood and narrative.
Mood Board 12
Mood board — focused detail study for material selection.
Mood Board 13
Mood board — textured collage showcasing finishes and surface treatments.
Mood Board 14
Mood board — final concept frame used for presentation and editorial layout.
View More Mood Boards
Project

RUNWAY / Final Garments

Selected runway-ready looks and final production garments — details, materials and finished silhouettes. Click any image to view a larger version.

Runway final — look 1 full silhouette

Final Look — Full Silhouette

Hero image showing finished runway silhouette, drape and styling.

Runway look — detail 1 trim and texture
Detail — trim and texture close-up.
Runway look — detail 2 embellishment close-up
Detail — embellishment and handwork.
Runway look — detail 3 fabric hand close-up
Detail — fabric hand and surface study.
Runway look — detail 4 stitch and finish
Detail — stitch, seam and finish close-up.
Runway final — look 6
Look 6 — runway capture highlighting hemline and movement.
Runway final — look 7
Look 7 — silhouette with emphasis on trim and neckline treatment.
Runway final — look 8
Look 8 — close view of fabric texture and natural drape.
Runway final — look 9
Look 9 — finishing detail showing stitch and edge work.
Runway final — look 10
Look 10 — full outfit capture with styling notes.
Runway final — look 11
Look 11 — ensemble detail: layering and accessory placement.
Runway final — look 12
Look 12 — motion study capturing fabric flow on the runway.
Runway final — look 13
Look 13 — fabric pairing and tonal contrast close-up.
Runway final — look 14
Look 14 — seam lines and construction detail.
Runway final — look 15
Look 15 — palette and texture study.
Runway final — look 16
Look 16 — silhouette and proportion study.
Runway final — look 17
Look 17 — detail and accessory focus.
Runway final — look 18
Look 18 — fabric layering and finish.
Runway final — look 19
Look 19 — tailoring and fit detail.
Runway final — look 20
Look 20 — hem and finish close-up.
Runway final — look 21
Look 21 — runway lighting and movement capture.
Runway final — look 22
Look 22 — accessory and trim exploration.
Runway final — look 23
Look 23 — cut and construction detail.
Runway final — look 24
Look 24 — fabric detail and drape.
Runway final — look 25
Look 25 — trim and applique close-up.
Runway final — look 26
Look 26 — sewn detail and finish.
Runway final — look 27
Look 27 — applique and motif placement.
Runway final — look 28
Look 28 — surface texture exploration.
Runway final — look 29
Look 29 — material and hardware detail.
Runway final — look 30
Look 30 — contrast and finish study.
Runway final — look 31
Look 31 — fastening and closure detail with construction notes.
Runway final — look 32
Look 32 — drape and texture study in motion.
Runway final — look 33
Look 33 — final runway frame capturing flow and finish.
Inquire about runway work

Hello — I'm Isabel

Boston-based designer originally from Seattle, combining textile science, trims and detail-driven design to create pieces that perform and endure. My work ranges from prototype R&D to editorial collections — always with sustainability in mind.

Textile Science

Material research, testing and performance-driven fabric choices.

Trims & Embellishment

Custom trims, rhinestone art, and bespoke finishing details.

Connect on LinkedIn
Studio workspace

Interested in collaborating?

I’m available for consults, small-batch production and R&D partnerships. Let’s discuss your project and how we can bring it to life.

Get in touch