Interview of our Founder Jessica in Voyage Miami

by Jessica Anderson

Full article here: Voyage Miami

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Anderson

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my 20+ career as a corporate fashion designer in NYC after graduating in 2000 from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Francisco. I worked 10 years in the garment center of Manhattan and designed for big fashion houses like Victoria’s Secret, Talbots and Jones Apparel Group to name a few. It was a valuable experience, from which I traveled a lot overseas to manage my design development at factories in China, Italy, India and Korea.
I moved to Miami in 2009 after the financial bank crisis, looking for quality of life and design inspiration. At the time, I had several people calling me looking for advice or help getting their fashion lines started and manufactured. Which is what brought me to launching my own company Design to Produce. Since 2011, I have developed and produced hundreds of fashion lines for my aspiring designer entrepreneur clients. I have successfully grown to have a mostly home based business with clients that I choose to work with, they bring the vision and I help them turn that into a viable fashion business. I am very excited about my current clients many of which are now in their 3 or 4 season of developing and manufacturing with my company.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I always say the real fashion industry isn’t for the faint of heart. Manufacturing itself is a strenuous business, not only because you can deal with human errors on the factory side you are also dealing with a whole supply chain of vendors. For example: your custom buttons and zippers on a clients garment are made at the trim factory then shipped to the factory where the actual garments are being cut and sewn. Many people, including my clients assume that everything is right there and don’t realize the intricacies of developing custom clothing and accessories. Part of my role is educating them and managing their expectations, even so far as explaining what could go wrong in the manufacturing part of the process and assuring them that they always have me, and the value that i offer them as the ‘expert’ is to fix, troubleshoot and negotiate a solution with my factory partners/suppliers anytime there is an issue. This is all part of the manufacturing process and doesn’t matter what company you work or purchase from, their will be sometimes issues with bulk. Most people have had to deal with a recall on an item, car or parts. It rarely happens but when it does it is not fun, especially because it is something out of my control that I have to quickly fix and replace so that my clients are happy and we don’t loose too much time in the process.

We’ve been impressed with Design to Produce, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is to develop and then manufacture custom fashion collections for my clients. Most of whom are not from the fashion industry but have a idea, vision or even sometimes a patent pending product that they need help getting developed. I do everything from technical sketches, technical design, pattern making, fabric trim sourcing to getting their prototype samples made. All of which is necessary for the final step to then move their designs into mass production. I manage the whole manufacturing process for my clients and take on the liability of production. I do so with several quality factories from which I have personally visited and built key partnerships over decades.

What sets my business model apart is, unlike most industry designers, I have designed and mass produced for multiple categories including: accessories, swimwear, childrenswear, baby apparel, menswear, activewear, streetwear, womens dresses, business attire, uniforms and intimate apparel. Whereas a typical designer usually only has knowledge of one category of garment making.
I am a gifted technical designer which enables me to effectively translate a clients vision and specs to my manufacturers which ensures the quality, fit and craftsmanship will end up on point.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
For aspiring designers, the best way is to schedule a free call with me where I walk you through the design development and manufacturing process. I also offer mentoring and 1 on 1 consultations so someone can learn a lot and dip their toes in to see if its something worth doing. I would appreciate anyone sending aspiring designers my way to see if its a good fit for the both of us.

Pricing:

  • Basic development package per design $1100
  • 1 on 1 consultation is $175/hour
  • Free-15 minute call to discuss your designs

Contact Info:

 

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