Profitable Fashion Product Design & Development

Our process begins with creating a development calendar to plan what needs to be done and when. We work backwards from your unique goals, budget, and launch dates to map the product mix and production route for each product you want to develop. You will have twice-monthly recurring calls with your product developer to guide the process, with email contact in between as needed. This package is designed to be flexible and scalable to your brand's unique needs. The retainer includes an average of 18 hours of work per month from your dedicated product developer and our broader team, including tech designers and pattern makers. 

The $1,500 p/month retainer covers our time, expertise, and systems. You will not be auto-billed for anything on top of the monthly retainer payment without pre-approval.

The retainer payment does not cover 3rd party production costs. We will help you anticipate these expenses as best we can. Common costs we help you budget for include sample making, bulk production, freight, customs duties, transportation, and any third-party testing, verification, or certifications, and would be paid directly to the 3rd party vendor.

We have additional fees for in-person tasks (such as supplier visits or trade show attendance) and for emergency add-on hours if needed to respond to an emergency supply chain event. These are optional extras, at best for infrequent use, and are never auto-billed. 

You will be supported by a dedicated US-based product development manager who will be accountable for moving your project forward and managing communication. Our product developers all have at least 10 years of industry experience and have worked for some of the world's best brands, including The North Face, Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie, and Nike. Our team based in the Philippines handles the design, technical, and sourcing tasks. 

For sample making and production, we collaborate with third-party suppliers (typically sewing factories) that are pre-approved by you. We use our network of industry contacts to match you to the best-fit suppliers for your business. We believe in long-term, strategic partnerships, over one-time "vendors."

Deliverables vary depending on the specific step of the development process we are working on. Throughout the project, you can expect to receive assets such as

• Planning: Product maps, cost and budget analyses, development calendars, and trackers.

• Design: Design briefs, sketches, 3D mockups, graphic/textile prints, or packaging designs.

• Technical: Tech packs, digital sewing patterns, 3D CAD files, and sample evaluation reports.

• Production: Supplier lists, sign-off approval sheets, templates, and production forms.

Yes, this package is designed to contract or expand based on your unique product needs. We can assist with a wide range of tasks—including graphic design, pattern making, grading, fitting, and more. If your project requires extra tasks, we will provide you with a time estimate for your specific scenario to ensure the support fits your goals.

No, you do not need a fully formed idea to begin. If you are still defining your product, our first step involves a market research framework to validate ideas, learn what your customers desire, and prove your solution. We will help you advise on the best route for your goals, budget, and brand. 

Or, if you are already underway with developing a product, that’s fine too. We can continue wherever you are in the process.

Timelines vary significantly depending on the complexity of your product, materials, your supply chain, and your suppliers' internal schedules. During your first month, we create a custom development plan with built-in buffers and approval dates to keep us accountable and on time. We work backwards to engineer your development process and product mix around your deadlines and launch dates. 

Generally, sample making takes 1–4 weeks (plus shipping), and bulk production takes 4–12 weeks (plus shipping) at overseas factories. 

Internally, our team develops tech packs for a group of new styles with a turnaround time of 4 weeks. Our team’s policy is to respond to all messages within 1-2 business days. 

If we take standard apparel, for example. For brands that have experience in a product category and have pre-approved suppliers, development can be anywhere from 2-6 months. For brands that are new or entering new product categories, 9-12 months is more likely. It does vary widely depending on the methods and material used, which is why we engineer the strategy around when you need landed goods on shelves. Complex products or supply chains can sometimes take longer than 12 months.

That’s ok, we can help you with that! This service is designed to mold around whatever your brand’s unique product needs are. If you need additional graphic design, sewing patterns, samples, strike-offs, lab dips, etc., we will provide you a time estimate for your specific scenario. Same with materials sourcing and supply chain, we will work with your unique requirements and use those to guide the process. 

We will help you decide which route is best for your goals, your budget, and your brand. It might be the case that 1 route is better for your first collection than it is for your second, or 1 route is better for a specific product but not for others. We can advise you on the options that will best fit your situation, and one of the first things we will complete is a production plan, showing you what is going to be completed and when the target due date is.

​​We have a standard agreement that we use for all clients, with confidentiality, intellectual property, and ownership clauses for your benefit. The agreement states that all client information is kept confidential, that all IP and design rights belong to your company, and that all work product is created under the ownership of your company. If you’d like to preview a copy, let us know.  

Your product developer (US-based) will be managing your project and will be your constant point of contact. Our team in the Philippines will be working behind the scenes on creating the deliverables you’ll need for development, like tech packs, patterns, and graphics. We will also be working with a third-party supplier (likely a sewing factory), pre-approved by you, for your sample making and production. 

You’ll meet (online) with your product developer on a twice-monthly recurring call. You’ll also be in email contact with your product developer in between those calls throughout your development process.

We require a minimum commitment of 3 months to ensure we can hit the ground running and fully establish your development roadmap, product mix, and production strategy. After this initial 3-month period, the retainer is month-to-month. If you decide the retainer is no longer the right fit, simply provide us with 30 days' notice before your next billing cycle to cancel your service.

We work with both! Whether you are a brand-new founder with just an idea on a napkin, or an existing brand looking to expand into a new product category, or just add headcount to your team… our service is designed to bridge the gap between "concept" and "factory floor." As long as you have the budget to invest in development and a commitment to building a profitable business, we can meet you wherever you are in your journey.

Collaboration is built into our process. We use a transparent, milestone-based approach. We won't jump ahead without your approval on the initial sketches, materials, and tech packs. If something isn't aligning with your vision, we pause, discuss the feedback, and adjust the direction before moving to the next stage. Our goal is to ensure the product is both commercially viable and true to your brand, and we provide clear windows for feedback to keep up project momentum.

We hit the ground running. Once you sign your agreement and process your first payment, you will receive a link to your onboarding form, your client hub, and a calendar link to book your "Kick-Off Strategy Session." During this call, we’ll deep-dive into your brand goals, review any files you already have, and finalize your 90-day development roadmap. You’ll have a clear plan of action within the first week of the Profitable Product Development retainer.

Most founders face a dilemma: hire fragmented freelancers, spend their time managing every detail, or pay $50k+ for a full-service agency. We offer the middle option: a dedicated, expert team at a predictable monthly investment.

We don’t just design clothes; we build profitable product businesses. Here is why our partners choose us:

• Transparency: We disclose all suppliers. All work is created as the property of your company, and design rights are assigned to you. You have 24/7 access to all work products, at all times. 

• Accountability & Speed: We don’t just tell you what to do—we both manage and execute the project. With twice-monthly calls and a development calendar, you’ll never sit around wondering what step comes next.

• We Lead with Profit: We don't design in a vacuum. We start by analyzing your margins, retail price points, and supply chain to ensure your product is designed to sell profitably from day one.

• The "No-Gap" Framework: Our 9-step proprietary process ensures nothing falls through the cracks. From market research and tech packs to factory sourcing and production coordination, we handle the entire path to the factory floor.

• Full Service, without the Agency Price Tag: You get a full team of designers, technical specialists, and sourcing experts led by a dedicated US-based manager. You get the benefits of an agency without the massive upfront invoices.

We know that every brand is unique, and starting a new development project can feel overwhelming. If you didn’t see your specific situation addressed here, the best way to get answers is to hop on a call. We can look at where you are in your process, whether you have a fully formed idea or just a rough sketch… and map out exactly how we can help you move forward.

→ Book a product development sales call