March 2nd, 2015
As a new designer and business owner, it can be challenging to get all the aspects of your creative, production, and business processes in…
February 27th, 2015
In an era where if you can dream it, you can build it, 3d printing has become one of the most effective ways to quickly design and…
February 26th, 2015
We are excited to partner with Maker’s Row to bring you this four-part series. Over the…
February 23rd, 2015
There are a lot of “hardest parts” about getting an apparel business off the ground. A lot. Arguably, the single most challenging…
February 16th, 2015
Before I’m a designer, I’m an artisan in love with the traditions, heritage, tools and artistry of a craft that goes back centuries. In many ways, Slightly Alabama’s designs are a…
February 12th, 2015
Black History Month is an opportune time for me to reflect on the contributions from the…
January 29th, 2015
It’s been a little over two years since we launched Mizzen+Main with the goal of becoming the next great American brand. I get asked a lot of questions about starting a company, about bringing…
January 21st, 2015
To diversify, or not to diversify- that is probably not the big question. At least, not for everyone. But for us, a small leather…
January 15th, 2015
Helen Behn started her business based on a need for balancing a busy life and managing chronic back pain. She found that icing her back…
January 12th, 2015
There’s something about the pairing of the classic baseball hat form with new unique fabrics, that makes an MBS hat really really handsome. The result of this combination is a hat that feels…
December 30th, 2014
Every New Years, people all over the country decide that it’s time to make a change in their lives; be healthier, stop bad habits, spend…
December 29th, 2014
As a designer, it’s easy to get hyper-focused on the creative side of your brand. Where is this pocket going to go? What weight…
December 23rd, 2014
When I first set out to develop and launch Najla, an ethical intimate apparel label, my goal was to have as much of the debut collection as possible sourced and made in the United States….
December 20th, 2014
This subject of this post may sound mundane, but I promise you that it is incredibly useful: how to get organized during your manufacturing…
December 18th, 2014
Kimberly Mckinley led a successful career in management consulting, fashion, and e-commerce before deciding to start her own fashion line. Noting the lack of a timelessly designed, high quality,…
December 3rd, 2014
1. Identify your market and the person you’re targeting. To start off, I begin by researching everything there is to know about my target…
December 1st, 2014
Growing up as a professional dancer I always had a lifelong love for movement and fashion. As an adult, I decided that there was no time like the present to go for my dreams… However,…
November 25th, 2014
The holidays are hectic. Whatever industry you’re in, whatever position you have, this time of year always turns into a juggling act….
November 17th, 2014
Samples are single products which are sent from a manufacturer or supplier to a designer or brand to represent the size, look and quality of the products they will receive if they place a full…
November 13th, 2014
Just like relationships with your customers, the relationship you have with your manufacturer can make or break your company. A strong…
September 24th, 2014
It can be difficult as a manufacturer to stand out from your competition when you provide very similar services. Even if you cater to a…
February 20th, 2014
This week we visited an amazing jewelry manufacturer in the flower district of Chelsea, NYC. Christine McPartland has set up her…
January 24th, 2014
We took a visit to learn about M&S Schmalberg, a custom fabric flower manufacturer in the heart of the NYC garment district and what an incredible story they had to share. Started by Morris and…
January 16th, 2014
Makins Hats has been around for over 40 years, but at the end of 2013 it almost closed for good. Marsha Akins opened Makins Hats in 1974, handmaking the first ever Makins hats in her…
August 27th, 2013
‘Minimum Order Requirements’ (MOQ’s) can be a stumbling block for many new buyers. It’s not uncommon for a fabric supplier to require an order of 1,000 yards, or a cut/sew supplier to require…
April 30th, 2013
We hope that with longer-lasting styles, we are making sustainable, USA-made kids clothes more accessible for parents. – Erica Murphy We were happy to find out that, with the help of Maker’s…
November 12th, 2012
Life as a designer / entrepreneur can be riddled with both moments immense excitement and…