There are many opportunities to get this results in different software packages.
Another solution can be: Particles with a mesher or splines on a cloner in helix order (you can deform any spline to get an absolut controllable result)
I do not know the Marvelous Designer.

Another way in Moi can be: create an helix as path curve, and a curve to define the shape.
Under transform use Array --> Curve. The result is an extrudet curve to the helix. Now you can deform the points of any curve to get the right shape.

Regards,
Jörg