The Factory Should Build Your Product—Not Figure It Out.
Before You Choose a Clothing Manufacturer in Seattle
Replace assumptions with decisions through pattern development, sewn prototypes, pattern grading, tech packs, and support as you move into manufacture.
Why This Matters
Every product goes through a development process before it can be manufactured. Many founders begin by searching for a production partner before questions about materials, construction, sizing, and functionality have been fully answered.
When those questions remain unanswered, manufacturers must make assumptions. Product development exists to answer those questions before manufacturing begins, making the outcome more predictable and helping the final product better reflect what you intended to create. Every question you answer before choosing a manufacturer becomes one less decision the manufacturer has to make for you.
Is MADE the Right Fit for You?
Product development and manufacturing serve different purposes. Understanding where your project stands today can help determine whether MADE is the right next step.
MADE is a good fit if:
You have an idea, sketch, or rough sample and need help defining materials, construction, sizing, and product requirements.
You need a pattern developed.
You need sewn prototypes to evaluate fit, construction, or functionality.
You need a tech pack to communicate your product to a manufacturer.
You want experienced guidance before moving into manufacture.
You may not need MADE if:
You already have approved patterns, finished tech packs, and only need production.
You're looking for the lowest-cost, highest-volume manufacturer.
Your product is already fully developed and ready for manufacture.
What MADE Does
MADE is an apparel and sewn product development studio based in Renton, Washington.
Founded by Heather Zager, a former wearables product developer at Meta and current apparel development instructor at Seattle Central College, MADE helps founders prepare products for manufacture through pattern development, sewn prototypes, grading, tech packs, and manufacture support.
Manufacturers excel at producing products consistently. Our role is to help answer product questions before they become manufacturing problems.
Founders We've Helped
We've worked with founders developing apparel and sewn products across a wide range of industries, including consumer products, uniforms, medical garments, specialty equipment, outdoor gear, and accessories.
Support Beyond Development
Once your product has been developed, there are two common paths, and we support both.
For limited quantities, Small Batch Manufacture allows you to manufacture products for launches, photography, sales meetings, market validation, crowdfunding campaigns, and other early production needs.
For larger production runs, Manufacture Consultation helps you identify manufacturing partners whose capabilities, production quantities, and processes align with your product and business goals. Once you've selected a manufacturer, Manufacture Transfer Support helps organize and communicate your patterns, tech packs, and other development information so your production partner has the information needed to evaluate and manufacture your product.
Why Work With a Local Seattle Studio
Unlike many professional services, apparel development involves physical products moving back and forth throughout a project. Materials, patterns, prototypes, and reference garments often move back and forth throughout a project. Working with a local Seattle-area studio can simplify that process by making it easier to review samples, exchange materials, and collaborate when in-person meetings are helpful.
MADE works with founders throughout Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Tacoma, Everett, and across the Puget Sound region. We also work remotely with founders nationwide, with approximately 60% of our clients shipping materials and samples to us from outside Washington.
What Does It Cost?
Development is typically completed one stage at a time, allowing you to spread costs throughout the project rather than committing to everything upfront. Most development projects can be completed for around $1,500 and up, depending on the complexity of the product and the services required.
Development services include:
Each project is estimated individually based on product complexity and development needs.
Have an Idea Worth Developing?
Bring us a sketch, pattern, rough sample, or a reference product and we'll help you identify what information is missing to better prepare your product for manufacture.
Frequently Asked Questions
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MADE is not a high-volume manufacturer. If you already have finished development documentation and are looking for larger-scale manufacturing, we can often help point you toward manufacturing partners that may be a better fit.
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No. MADE is a product development company, not a high-volume manufacturer. We help founders develop products through patternmaking, prototypes, grading, and technical documentation before manufacturing begins. Once development is complete, we can help identify manufacturing partners and support the transition into manufacturing.
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As few as you need. Some founders only need a single prototype. Others need a small quantity for testing, sales meetings, photography, market validation, or an initial launch.
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No. We work with founders throughout the Seattle area and across the United States. Approximately 60% of our clients work with us remotely, shipping samples, materials, and reference products to the studio as needed.
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Most stages of development take one to two weeks to complete. The timeline from concept to first sample depends on the complexity of the product, material availability, and the amount of development required. Many projects reach their first sample within four to eight weeks.
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Yes. Once development has been completed, we can help identify manufacturing partners whose
capabilities, quantities, and processes align with your product and goals. We also offer Manufacture Consultation and Transfer Support to help move development information from the project into manufacturing. -
Once the product has been developed, some founders move into small-batch production while others transition to a manufacturing partner for larger quantities. The right path depends on your goals, quantities, budget, and timeline.