fashion design

Turning Recycled Plastic Bottles Into Fiber

Turning Recycled Plastic Bottles Into Fiber

Fashion brands who plan to design clothing with fabrics made from recycled water bottles have 2 options. One option is to purchase yarn already on the market. REPREVE, developed by Unifi, is the world’s leading fiber made from recycled PET bottles. Unifi fabrics made with REPREVE can be purchased from select wholesalers. Another option is to source fiber directly from government-regulated recycling facilities. The sustainable women’s clothing brand, Girlfriend Collective, sources recycled fiber from a facility in Taiwan. They have this fiber spun into yarn at a separate facility.

5 Benefits of Selling In-Person at Craft Fairs, Art Shows, or Festivals

5 Benefits of Selling In-Person at Craft Fairs, Art Shows, or Festivals

As summer approaches in Michigan so does the buzz surrounding local craft fairs, art shows, and festivals! For a small business owner who may not have a brick and mortar location yet, these events can become great selling opportunities. Get ready to build your brand awareness, meet your customers in-person, and boost your sales! Being a vendor at a local event can grow your business within surrounding communities.

How A Michigan-Based Apparel Brand Is Approaching Mental Health

How A Michigan-Based Apparel Brand Is Approaching Mental Health

Jacqueline (Jacki) Wolverton, a Michigan resident, founded a 501(c)(3) organization called The Coddiewomple Fund at the beginning of 2022. At the end of each year, The Coddiewomple Fund will provide financial assistance to individuals or families who need assistance affording mental health therapy. The idea for the fund came from her own battle with mental health. Even with a full-time job and health insurance, Jacki and her family found it challenging to afford therapy. She soon realized she wasn’t alone.

Trade Shows May Be Your Brand’s Avenue to Growth

Trade Shows May Be Your Brand’s Avenue to Growth

For the fashion industry, trade shows can serve as a place for brands to showcase their latest collections or products to buyers. Vice versa, it serves as a place for buyers to curate collections or products from wholesale fashion brands. Generally, trade shows involve business to business interaction for wholesale purposes. They are also a great place to find sourcing and manufacturing.

What You Need To Know About Rayon Textiles Made From Bamboo

What You Need To Know About Rayon Textiles Made From Bamboo

The bamboo plant has established its place on the list of top sustainable textiles sources. However, the sustainable potential of bamboo in the textile industry generally ends at the plant. The environmentally friendly properties of the bamboo plant are overshadowed by the harmful process of manufacturing bamboo rayon. As a result of the intense labor it requires, bamboo is not often used to make bamboo linen. Instead, it’s commonly used to make bamboo rayon, a regenerated fiber that is cheaper to make, but adversely impactful on the environment.

Linen: The Coolest Summer Fabric

Linen: The Coolest Summer Fabric

Flax is grown for 2 purposes. Its fiber is used to make beautiful linen textiles for clothing and other household items. When we think of linen, we think of sunnier days and greener grass. Most likely, your treasured summer blouses or dresses are linen. Linen textiles are highly breathable and water-absorbent, making them perfect for the warmer seasons.

Five Tips for Successful Manufacturing

Five Tips for Successful Manufacturing

One comment I get whenever working with brands who have explored domestic factories is that they find communication to be disjointed and difficult. Many factories are quite busy and do not focus on guiding their clients through the process, they expect them to already know how it is done. Sure, it is efficient and fast when you know, but with so many startups launching these days, we are on a mission to help!

How to Communicate with Your Factory

How to Communicate with Your Factory

One comment I get whenever working with brands who have explored domestic factories is that they find communication to be disjointed and difficult. Many factories are quite busy and do not focus on guiding their clients through the process, they expect them to already know how it is done. Sure, it is efficient and fast when you know, but with so many startups launching these days, we are on a mission to help!

How to Find the Right Clothing Factory; Part One

How to Find the Right Clothing Factory; Part One

Finding a great manufacturing partner is essential for a fashion brand. The challenge is to find the RIGHT one. How does one know if a factory has great quality, professionalism, and decent turnaround timing? As a manufacturing consultant and brand owner, I have found this to be a subject where start-up brands need some guidance.

2022 Goal: Launch Your Own Collection! What Season Should You Be Launching?

2022 Goal: Launch Your Own Collection! What Season Should You Be Launching?

Is your dream to launch a clothing line? Want to start that this year? Set yourself up for success by launching with a realistic timeframe.

One simple rule to follow when working on domestically made apparel collections is to work a half year ahead of your season (at a minimum). Let’s assume you are starting today; your timeline might look like this:

We Hope This Is Hempful!

We Hope This Is Hempful!

The complicated history of hemp in the USA is one of the reasons why hemp fiber isn't more commonly used. However, as the hemp industry continues to grow, that notion about hemp fiber may change. Especially, as brands across industries shift into more sustainable missions and start sourcing more sustainable materials as a result.

How to Get a Great Prototype in 4 Steps

How to Get a Great Prototype in 4 Steps

Launching your own clothing brand is a road paved with important milestones. And when you achieve one, you are one step closer to fulfilling your dream! Creating a great prototype is one of those early milestones that really makes you feel fantastic! A great prototype (or sample) would be one made in your wholesale fabric, by your manufacturer, with correct construction and that is fit approved!

How you ask? First things first- FIND YOUR MANUFACTURER!

Do I Really Need To Book A Consultation?

Do I Really Need To Book A Consultation?

The most common assumption our incoming clients make is that they don’t need a consultation to successfully launch their products. We get it. A consultation, on the surface, may seem like a waste of time or money… You’d rather skip ahead and get a move on with your project. However, skipping a consultation may hurt you rather than benefit you! Here are some reasons we love the concept of a consultation and why you should reconsider booking one:

Cotton Is A Natural Fiber. Does That Mean It's A Sustainable Fiber?

Cotton Is A Natural Fiber. Does That Mean It's A Sustainable Fiber?

If you open your dresser or closet at home, you’re guaranteed to pull out a garment made from cotton! From underwear, to basic t-shirts, denim, and beyond...cotton fiber is turned into soft and breathable textiles for a wide range of textile products.

Ethical Fashion – What Does This Mean?

Ethical Fashion – What Does This Mean?

It always feels good to know a brand is ethical and sustainable, but what does that really mean- especially in an industry that has been historically so secretive? How do we know if ethical and sustainable practices are being met?

So, What Are Sustainable Textiles Anyway?

So, What Are Sustainable Textiles Anyway?

A big topic of conversation in the fashion industry today is sustainability. Now more than ever, fashion brands and designers are making a commitment to consider sustainability at every step in the design process. One of the most important of these steps is fabric sourcing.

Garment Costing

Garment Costing

When launching a line, defining your brand identity is paramount.
Defining your brand identity includes your not only your look, your target customer, your retail price point, knowing your competitors (as well as what brands sit well alongside your brand), and what makes you unique, but also-are you selling wholesale or retail?