March 11th, 2015
So you’ve got your business plan, product concepts, and maybe even final samples. Do you ever ask yourself, who is actually doing the…
March 10th, 2015
I began Brooklyn Tweed as a blog for knitters and wool-lovers after my relocation to New York City in 2005. I never dreamed it would grow…
March 8th, 2015
The American manufacturing sector is one of the biggest contributors to job growth (nearly 700,000 added since 2010), research and develop, and is essential to maintaing a thriving and competitive…
March 7th, 2015
Making physical things is hard. Plenty can and will go wrong, so it’s crucial to stay…
March 6th, 2015
The freelance economy and 3D printers have converged to dramatically lower the time and cost associated with creating a new prototype….
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 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 14th, 2015
There are hundreds of ‘How-To’ articles out there, from starting a collection, to succeeding as a designer, to growing your…
February 9th, 2015
Entrepreneurs often ask me where my product concepts come from and where they should look…
January 23rd, 2015
Before I launched my collection I had no idea how jewelry was actually made. I thought a jeweler’s bench was something that you sat on, Hephaestus-style, and the process was some shiny mystical…
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…
January 9th, 2015
Showing your personality and passion in your product Manufacturing your line is an exciting process as you watch your product unfold and come to life. It’s exhilarating to see the product move from…
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 9th, 2014
It is that time of year for Holiday Shopping Shows and one of the biggest shows in the Midwest, One of A Kind, happens right here in Chicago! The show has a fantastic assortment of…
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…
November 11th, 2014
Now in its fourth year, Small Business Saturday has helped local entrepreneurs fuel sales and connect with customers the Saturday after…
July 30th, 2014
dog·ged1 [daw-gid, dog-id] adjective: persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious: a…
June 26th, 2014
From minor imperfections to major defects, when things go wrong during production it’s often the result of one of these three…
February 20th, 2014
This week we visited an amazing jewelry manufacturer in the flower district of Chelsea, NYC. Christine McPartland has set up her…
February 7th, 2014
Manufacturing takes dedication, attention to detail and operational know-how. There is no class you can take to tell you everything you need to know on starting a hat factory in Manhattan, an apparel…
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…