The Sewn Goods and Apparel Development Process
An overview of timelines, development steps, and project sequencing.
How Projects Begin
Development projects do not always begin at the same step. Some projects begin with an idea or sketch, while others begin with existing patterns, samples, grading, or technical documentation already in progress. However, most projects move through development in a sequence similar to the following steps:
Development Process
STEP 0
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Estimates
Project estimates are provided one step at a time rather than quoted as one large package upfront. This allows decisions to be made as the product develops and helps avoid paying for work before it is actually needed. Costs and next steps are evaluated as information becomes available rather than being based entirely on assumptions made at the beginning of the project.
After an estimate is accepted, the onboarding process begins before development work starts.
Costs
As a general reference, our average client spends approximately $2,500 in development services for a single basic sewn product. This process develops your professionally graded patterns, final sewn samples, and creates a comprehensive tech pack containing the information needed to manufacture your product.
When planning a new product, it is important to remember that development is only one part of the overall investment. Many new product launches require an overall budget of approximately $8,000–$10,000 once manufacturing, tags, packaging, marketing, and other startup costs are included.
Timelines
Most development steps are completed within 1–2 weeks from your intake session. Actual timelines vary depending on complexity, revision rounds, shipping and approval timing, and the number of styles being developed.
While some products can move from concept to manufacture in as little as three months, development timelines are generally guided by project milestones rather than hard deadlines. Projects with short timelines may require additional consideration before development begins.
MADE Apparel Services is a professional sewn product development and consultancy company.
The methods used to develop sewn products are established industry practices and are not proprietary to MADE Apparel Services. Our value comes from applying these methods effectively, not from claiming ownership of the products developed through them. We are highly skilled in the application of these methods, and this has earned us a reputation within the industry we'd like to preserve.
Agreement or not, your idea is yours and it is safe with us.
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