The ready-to-wear fashion industry began in the early 19th century. The first factory-made garments to be made en masse? U.S. issued uniforms for the War of 1812. Combat chic, anyone?
Prior to these uniforms, clothes were typically bespoke or purchased secondhand by those who couldn’t afford tailors. Bespoke clothing for an adult was so well made that the clothes could last a lifetime. By the mid 1850s, ready-to-wear consumer brands emerged, occupying rows of clothing racks and shelves at iconic department stores such as Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Bloomingdales.
It goes without saying that times have changed. The proliferation of print media, television, household and mobile internet connectivity and social platforms has had several synchronous effects: 1) shortened the staying power of trends, 2) empowered anyone with a camera to be a tastemaker and influencer, and 3) consolidated the retail experience, making it easier for consumers to compare styles and prices.
Looks that previously enjoyed years of relevance are now as fleeting as an Instagram story. This has put an incredible amount of pressure on apparel companies to fight for market share and stay on trend while maintaining profitability and sourcing responsibly.
Technology has helped many brands find efficiencies in design, marketing and even the retail experience. But the manufacturing process largely remains opaque, archaic and inefficient. Production teams exchange countless emails with faceless suppliers whose factories are kept out of sight. There is little transparency, accountability or trust.
After a decade of working across buying, online retail and manufacturing, I wanted to address what I believe is the biggest challenge for today’s apparel brands: finding hiqh-quality, affordable and trusted manufacturing partners you can grow with. Kinetic Fashion elevates the entire manufacturing experience. Our team is based in NYC with sourcing operations in China and Vietnam (and expanding!). We partner with leading technology providers to offer you more visibility and control over how your clothes are made and transported. We spend time in your offices, working closely with your teams to ensure we capture your desired look and feel while achieving cost efficiencies wherever possible.
At Kinetic, we love making clothes and appreciate great style. If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out - we are here to help you focus on what you do best: designing clothes and building your brand.
-Lynn
Founder & CEO, Kinetic Fashion