Introducing Custom Pattern Design at UndaMeta
Author: Teresa Lubano and Dr. Francisca Odundo
Published: 20th September 2025
UndaMeta is excited to launch a new service outside our Pattern + Fabrics and UndaMeta Leso categories: Custom Pattern Design. This offering comes in response to the many requests we’ve received from you, our clients. You have a motif that you would like to develop into a repeat pattern, or conversely, you want an entirely new design created and printed on fabric. Or, your brand is preparing a limited-edition line, with your designers working on an upcoming collection, with a vision for unique textiles. With our custom prints, you can now bring those ideas to life.
The process begins with your design. You can get in touch with us directly or book a slot through the Custom Pattern Design page on our website. If you already have an artwork, we review the file to ensure it’s ready for production. Sometimes files arrive in low resolution or are not set up as seamless repeats, and in those cases our design service steps in. For a small fee, we refine, redraw or prepare motifs so they can repeat flawlessly across fabric.
Colour is another important stage, and one that often determines the success of a print. At UndaMeta, we work with Pantone/CMYK shades for accuracy, either following your existing brand guidelines or developing colourways together if you are commissioning a new design. This ensures that your digital file reflects the exact hues you want before any printing begins. Colour can make or break your print. Physicists say that there is no such thing as colour. They tell us that what exists are light waves of different wavelengths forming a visible spectrum that we are able to see. This, consists of the primary colours of red, yellow, and blue, and all the beautiful hues in-between which make up our world of full colour.
Despite all of this, remember that as you pick your colours, to consider colour temperatures. They will help you communicate your design idea at its best. Think of warm colors such as brilliant yellows, reds and oranges as being energetic colours that bring joy. They are about excitement, passion, and drawing attention to your prints and the person wearing them. They make things feel a little closer and more intense. They are perfect when you want to force attention towards your print and get people exhilarated. On the other hand, cool colours like greens, blues and purples are laid-back. They imbue a sense of calm, peace, and trust. They can make things feel a bit more spacious and stable, and work well with designs that need to feel reliable and give a soothing ambience. Once the artwork and colours are agreed on, we prepare your file using professional digital graphic tools so it is repeatable and scaled to suit the fabric you’ve chosen. Most of our textiles measure 150 centimetres wide, but we also work with narrower fabrics such as Khanga and wider rolls of up to 182 centimetres. Your file is carefully built to match the fabric width so that the repeat sits seamlessly.
When the design is ready, we send you a final proof for approval. This step is crucial, as it confirms not only the seamlessness and scale of the print, but also the colours and overall composition. Only when you’re completely satisfied do we pass the file on to our printers, who use advanced digital technology to print the artwork onto fabric. The fabric is then dried and cured to secure the dyes before it comes back to us at UndaMeta, ready to be delivered exclusively to you.
Custom Pattern Design is more than a service. It is a way to create identity and distinction. Customized prints will allow you to launch your brand with a signature motif or emblem. You as a designer, can experiment with limited editions. Makers of all kinds can produce fabric that no one else has. We are already seeing strong interest in this option, especially among those who want to set themselves apart with bespoke textiles. We invite you to explore this exciting new service by visiting our Custom Pattern Design page under Design > Custom Pattern Design. There you can find more details about our service and how to book your slot. Physical appointments are strictly by appointment. With Custom Pattern Design, your ideas don’t just stay as concepts—they are transformed into fabric that tells your story.