RESOURCES
Latest Resource Profiles
CONTENTS
General Business Resources
Art of Citizenry
Coaches conscious businesses to maximize their impact through business development, branding, and strategic marketing.
Athena International Powerlink Program
Women’s business mentoring program.
The Business of Fashion
A leading source of fashion industry news and reporting.
Brand Human
Serves entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs ranging from global brands and thought leaders to individual small business owners.
Columbia University Small Business Consulting Program (SBCP)
Founded by MBA students to provide pro bono consulting services to entrepreneurs.
DMA United
Talent representation services for luxury fashion designers, including creative director placement, licensing, co-branding, sponsorships of shows and events, and product endorsements.
Fashion Capital
London-based online resource for comprehensive insight into the world of fashion, manufacturing, and business.
Hello Alice
Matches small business owners to personalized opportunities and resources.
Launch Collective
Boutique consulting firm that provides business expertise to creative businesses in design and retail.
Milo Tricot
Creative, Product Development & Sustainable Strategy Consulting. Working within the parameters of: Circularity, Craftsmanship and Technology.
My Own Business
Offers a free online course for starting a business.
National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs
Develops the professional, business and leadership potential of women at all levels.
Service Corps of Retired Executives
SCORE Free business mentoring and education from retired business executives.
Small Business Administration
Business resources to write business plans, create projections and find low-interest loans and funding.
Tory Burch Foundation
Capital, education, small business webinars and a Fellows Program to support women entrepreneurs in the United States.
Fabric AND materials sourcing
B&J Fabrics
High-end novelty fabrics and trims.
Bolt Threads
Spider silk, bio-leather, nanocellulose and other sustainable fiber alternatives.
BotanicalColors
Supplies artisans and industry with the materials and know-how to dye textiles in a way that uses less water, is non-toxic and biodegradeable.
Buttonology Inc.
Buttons, buckles, cufflinks, and related trims for the garment industry. Offers customized items.
C&J Textiles Inc.
Importers of fine fabrics.
CFDA Sustainability Resource Guide
Materials sourcing index and the very informative CFDA Guide to Sustainable Strategies.
Cotec
Sells eco-friendly fabric, including PVC-free handbag linings.
Digifair
A free app that connects fashion designers with suppliers who match their needs with no minimum order quantity requirements.
Earthues
A fair-trade, woman-owned business specializing in natural dye resources.
Eagle Fabrics
LA based knitting, dying and finishing fabrics. Carries Tencel, GOTS organic cotton, recycled cotton and viscose and stocks yarn for quick turnarounds and short lead times. Carries and extensive collection of MOQ fabrics.
The Ethical Making Resource
Practical information for jewelers and silversmiths to improve environmental and social sustainability.
Fab Scrap
Recycles unused, deadstock textiles in NYC and makes them available for reuse.
Fashiondex
Publishes guides for sourcing and production including the The Small Design Company’s Guide to Wholesale Fabrics.
Future Fabrics Expo (by Sustainable Angle)
Online tool to introduce fabric buyers and designers to sustainable textile
Gordon Fabrics Canadian, family-owned textile wholesale offering premium wovens, knit, and eco-friendly linen, hemp, organic cotton, Tencel, Ecovero and more.
Herbal Fab GOTS-certified organic fabric supplier in India with a huge range of organic cotton woven and knits and a range of weights in Linen, Lenzing Tencel, Modal, Bemberg, Peace Silk, Hemp and Recycled content fabrics all with no MOQs.
Innovative Knitwear
A fair trade knitwear development and production company based in Lima, Peru. They combine the traditional creativity and technique of Peruvian artisanship with innovative designs. The result is the finest knitted garments in natural fibers like Baby Alpaca, Alpaca, Cotton, and wool.
Jasco Fabrics
High-end jersey with low minimums.
KenDor Textiles
Specializing in environmentally and socially responsible textiles. More than 200 in-stock fabrics. Has sustainable alternatives to active wear materials.
Kornit
On-demand digital printing on fabric or direct to garment with no MOQs.
Los Angeles Fashion District
Guide to suppliers and contractors in Los Angeles, California.
Maiwa
A natural dye resources and school of textiles focused on slow clothing, natural dyes and supporting artisans.
Mood Fabrics
Extensive selection of fabric, trims, and notions in both New York and Los Angeles.
Natural Dyes by Sodhani Biotech
All natural GOTS certified dyes for textiles and screen printing from Jaipur.
Natural Fiber Welding
in Illinois has developed an all natural, biodegradable, vegan leather as well as new materials from combining diverse plant-based ingredients such as hemp, recycled cotton, and vegetable matter.
Queen of Raw
A marketplace to quickly and easily buy and sell deadstock and sustainable fabrics online.
Pickering International
Sustainable, organic and recycled fibers. Sourced internationally, but shipped from San Francisco reducing customs and duty paper work for US based designers.
Rawganique
Organic Cotton, Linen & Hemp Fabric By The Yard
Re:Source library
A consultancy and education platform for sustainability strategy, supply chain and textile sourcing includes ‘Textile Tuesday’ presentations and workshops.
Responsible Jewelry Council
Organization helping to transform supply chains to be more responsible and sustainable.
Riva Precision
Brooklyn based supplier of fair mined, recycled, mercury free, and conflict free gold chains and loose gem stones.
Robert Kaufman Fabrics
Third generation fabric resources in Los Angeles, California. Low minimums, in-house custom development, digital printing and finished package production.
Soft goods
Made in Detroit quality blank tees and sweats.
Swatch On
A global online fabric supplier to help emerging designers source with more efficiency through a large selection of fabrics and no minimum order quantity.
SynZenBe
High-quality textile marketplace with low MOQ, dedicated to reducing waste.
Textile Exchange
Sets multiple standards for raw materials and fibers including the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
The Sourcing District
Representing a dozen premier suppliers of fabric and garment construction necessities who each have a long track-record of success and service to the independent designer community.
Vartest
NY-based textile laboratory for testing for fabric content.
Wasted Fabrics
European designer deadstock fabrics in 3 meter minimum cuts
WeConnectFashion
Sourcing, production, and other industry resources for designers.
Xoomba
Design company producing organic fabrics in Burkina Faso, West Africa with low prices and low MOQ. Xoomba abides by the highest environmental and ethical standards to create sustainable livelihoods in Sub Saharan Africa.
Zero Lab Firenze
Italian deadstock leather resource with education, workshops and coworking space.
Fashion Organizations And Incubators
Build A Nest
Nest supports artisan communities worldwide and US Makers with business development programming designed to strengthen their operations, positioning them for long-term success.
Chicago Apparel Industry Board (AIBI)
Resources, programming and the Fashion Lab workspace where Chicago-based designers can access equipment for production steps including pattern making, fittings and sewing. Open to the public for a day pass or monthly membership.
Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
Custom Collaborative
A NY based, worker-owned sewn-goods cooperative comprised of Custom Collaborative graduates. We accept sample and contract manufacturing orders of 1 - 200 pieces. entrepreneurship and workforce development program that trains and supports women from low-income and immigrant communities to launch fashion careers and business.
Fashion Group International
National organization for fashion professionals with chapters in multiple US cities.
Fashion Revolution
A global fashion movement to conserve and restore the environment and value people over growth and profit.
Fashion Scholarship Fund
Supports the careers of promising fashion students from all backgrounds with financial scholarships, internships, and career opportunities.
Harlems Fashion Row
A creative platform that enables multicultural designers to sell and present their collections to key leaders within the fashion industry.
Modem
International reference lists of fashion showrooms, PR offices, and trade shows.
SoHarlem
Non-profit dedicated to create economic opportunity for aspiring designers in Harlem NY through training, professional development, workspace and resources.
UN Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network
A United Nations hosted online platform that showcases and enables collaborations that accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through fashion.
Finance
Accion New York
Provides micro-loans to local micro- enterprise owners, mostly minorities and women.
Dun and Bradstreet
DNB Credit-checking service.
Hilldun Corporation
Offers accounts receivable, financing, and factoring services specializing in the needs of small fashion businesses.
I Fund Women
Raise capital, make connections, get coaching.
Merchant Financial
Capital solutions and factoring for small business.
The Pace Small Business Development Center
in NYC Free one-to-one assistance for entrepreneurs, as well as workshops and events in financing, marketing, staffing/operations, and accounting procedures.
Pursuit Lending
Affordable loans and resources for small businesses in New York.
Prosper
America’s first people-to-people lending marketplace—list and bid on loans using an online auction platform.
Seed Co. Loans
National nonprofit organization works with local partners to create economic opportunities for entrepreneurs in select cities and states.
Legal Services
Fashion Law Initiative at New York Law School
Nicholas Rozansky, Brutzkus Gubner
Los Angeles based attorney specializing in fashion law.
Olivera Medenica, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
Attorney and founder of the annual Fashion Law Conference in New York and Paris.
Tech Startup Clinic at Cardozo Law School
Legal resources for start-up e-commerce platforms.
The Fashion Law Institute
Educational programming, free legal resources, and consultations for fashion designers. Monthly Fashion Law Pop-Up Clinics match designers with volunteer attorneys with fashion expertise.
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Volunteer legal advice and education for the artistic community.
Patternmaking and development
Baikal handbags
Handbag and Accessories development and manufacturing with low minimums in NYC
Blank Canvas Development
Patternmaking, product development and production management.
Chicago Pattern Maker
Pattern making and product development.
Create a marker
Computerized grading and marking.
Fit for Everybody
Web based product development platform for designers to streamline sampling and sizing and improve fit.
Fugitive Patterns
NYC based patterns and development.
HIPS (Hidden in Plain Sight Studio)
Luxury design development offering creative pattern cutting and prototyping.
Hovet Fashion Studio
Chicago based development, production and business consulting services.
Human B
Sustainable design development and production for fashion brands.
Knit Illustrated
Knit development and sweater manufacturing and import company.
Knit Resort
All inclusive knitwear development in NYC.
Knit Up
Full service digital design platform for all knits. No MOQs
Majo Sourcing
Accessory / bag development and manufacturing in NYC - sourcing, samples, patterns and production.
LC Workshop
Full service studio for patternmaking, production, and development for small labels.
Pattern Design
Patternmaking and fit consulting with experienced patternmakerSally Beers.
Privy Label
Consultation on development, technical design, pricing and production for your label.
Sepia NY
Handbag and accessory development from initial concept, materials resourcing, to final production.
Shoe Girls Studio
Consultation, workshops and shoe development and production services.
StitchLuxe
Luxury apparel development with top-quality patternmaking, sampling, and full production management services.
SXD
Design tech software that combines design sketches and fabric information into zero waste patterns eliminating fabric waste across all stages of production.
Tailored Industry
Brooklyn based on-demand 3D knitting platform. Offering software to streamline technical knitwear development and automate the production process
Tukaweb
Software pattern plotting, marking grading and other tools and services for entrepreneurs and students.
Production
Apparel Search
Directory lists CMT factories and contractors.
Bergen Logistics
Leading warehouse and fulfillment center for the apparel industry.
ByHand Consulting
Consulting and networking to source socially responsible artisan-made product.
CFDA Production Directory
Directory of production and development resources.
Cotto Kyiv
Clothing production in Kyiv Ukraine: pattern and sample development, bulk production, fabric and hardware sourcing, fabric printing and embroidery. Official exporters for 13 years.
Design Knit
Family owned knitting mill in Los Angeles. Includes the Studio DK collection of high-end knits with lower MOQ and a stock program.
DYE-namix
Dyeing, painting, silk screening, digital textile printing and surface design.
Ethical Fashion Initiative
Connects marginalized artisan communities in remote locations with global lifestyle brands.
The Evans Group (TEG)
Development and production house for high-end independent designers with locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Evolution SL
St. Louis MO based premier high-tech knitting facility using cutting-edge 3D and complete garment seamless knitting technology.
Garment Contractors Association of Southern California
Lists services, minimums, and specialties.
InStyle USA
Full-service garment production in NYC for 30 years.
LW Pearl
Couture embroidery and embellishment.
Made in NYC
NYC initiative to fortify fashion design, manufacturing, and educational sectors.
Makers Row
Extensive resources for all development, production services and suppliers.
MCM Enterprise
Vertically integrated manufacturer based in NYC. Offers development, sampling, pattern and marker, cut, sew packing and shipping services.
NY Garment District
Lists of fashion factories, fabrics, and services, as well as seminars and workshops for designers.
NY Embroidery Studio
Full service surface designer and manufacturing facility for all types of embroidery, appliqué, printing, pleating and finishing. Small or large runs.
Style Source
Production and materials resource includes specific information geared to small companies.
Tailored Industry
On demand knitwear manufacturing.
Toms Sons International Pleating
A family owned fabric and textile pleating business located in the heart of New York City’s Garment District.
Urban Made Project
Guide and advocate for specialized fashion manufacturing in NYC.
Wing Son Garments Limited
One of Canada’s leading manufacturers of high-quality activewear.
Opportunity Threads
Worker-owned cooperative in North Carolina. Provides sampling, upcycling, and small and large batch production .
Public Relations
Cece Feinberg Public Relations
A full-service boutique agency located in Miami and specializing in national consumer media placement, brand building and event management.
MAO PR
Fashion PR and events agency based in New York City, producing fashion shows during NYFW as well as producing elaborate special events throughout the year.
Michele Marie
Full-service public relations agency for digital placements, celebrity affiliation, influencer posts, editorials and experiential event coverage
Sales platforms and marketplaces
FAD Market
Consumer facing outdoor markets in NYC.
Joor
Wholesale digital platform to connect with retail buyers and develop wholesale relationships.
Not Just A Label
Online platform and marketplace offer young brands easy access to e-commerce.
NuORDER
Online wholesale platform to sell, manage orders and create retail partnerships online.
One of a Kind
Public facing jewelry, fashion, home and accessories market at The Mart in Chicago. Spring and early December
Shopshops
Live interactive shopping experiences.
The Market NYC
Consumer focused in person marketplace.
Zedonk
Wholesale business software to sell and manage wholesale accounts.
Shipping, Packaging and Logistics
Hartford Global Insurance
Import insurance.
Noissue.co
Circular packaging made of compostable, recycled or reusable materials. FSC Certified.
Phoenix Industries
Customs broker.
Remake
Packaging made from discarded residue of the leather manufacturing process. FSC certified, 100% recyclable, biodegradable.
Responsible Packaging Movement
RPM will offer resources, best-practice guides, and education to any brand that is willing to pledge accountability to reducing packaging waste.
The Boxery
Wide range of boxes and packaging materials with many options for boxes, mailers, and tissue made from 100% recycled materials.
Westpak
Jewelry Packaging and display.
Trade Shows
Textile and Sourcing
Apparel Sourcing New York City
Provides independent design firms a dedicated online sourcing marketplace for finding the best international apparel manufacturers.
A Fabric Affair
New York show featuring high-end artisanal Italian fabrics.
The Fabric Show
Twice yearly shows in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Miami featuring American, Canadian, and European Textile and Trim Suppliers including: Made in USA, Low Minimums, Stock Programs, and small lot production.
Future Fabrics Expo
London-based show produced by The Sustainable Angle, dedicated to sustainably and responsibly produced fabrics and materials.
FIT’s CitySource
NY-based factory and sourcing representatives interested in connecting designers and small businesses.
Kingpin Sourcing and Textile Show
focused on premium denim. Created by New York–based fabric agent Olah Inc.
Linea Pelle, Italy.
Leather and components for footwear, bags, and other leather goods.
Los Angeles International Textile Show
Première Vision
Paris and New York.
Spin Expo
NY, Paris, Shanghai. Focus on yarns and knits.
Texworld
Large sourcing show with educational seminars in New York and Paris.
Product Wholesale
United States
NY Women’s Fashion Event,
New York. Contemporary womenswear apparel and accessories.
Accessories the Show
New York and Las Vegas
Brand Assembly
New York and Los Angeles. Fashion and lifestyle.
Capsule
New York. Independent, often founder-run womenswear labels alongside established industry favorites.
Cabana Show
Miami. Resort and travel lifestyle brands.
Coterie
New York. Women's contemporary apparel, accessories, and curated footwear.
Curve
New York. Intimate apparel and swimwear.
Designers and Agents
New York and Los Angeles. Womenswear and accessories.
Liberty Fairs
Forward-thinking menswear and womenswear brands.
Magic
Las Vegas Huge show focused more on the larger contemporary market for menswear, womenswear, and accessories.
Man/Woman
Paris, New York, Tokyo. Community of brands from around the globe each with their own unique identity and determined purpose.
NY Now
New York. Diverse show of accessories, home, wellness, luxury, stationery, handmade, and gift products as well as an artisanal resource section.
Pool
Las Vegas. Independent, Art-Inspired Fashion and Accessories Show.
Shoppe Object
New York’s semiannual independent home and gift show.
Sole Commerce
New York. Footwear
CHINA
On Time Show
For brands entering the Chinese market as well as top Chinese brands.
ITALY
Mipel
Milan. Leather, Accessories
Pitti Immagine Uomo
Florence. Menswear
White
Milan. Womenswear, Accessories
FRANCE
Tranoi
Paris. Highly creative menswear and womenswear designers and new contemporary ready-to-wear, accessories, and lifestyle brands.
Who’s Next
Paris. Ready-to-wear, accessories, beauty and lifestyle brands alongside IMPACT, a selection of sustainable brands.
Premiere Classe
Paris. Brands and creators of jewelry, shoes, leather goods and accessories.
GREAT BRITAIN
Jacket Required
Menswear, Accessories
Scoop
Womenswear
JAPAN
Project Tokyo
Womenswear, Menswear, Accessories
Rooms
Womenswear, Menswear, Accessories
Wholesale Showrooms
CD Network
New York Menswear, womenswear and accessories.
Denise Williamson
New York PR, sales and consulting for menswear, womenswear and accessories.
EM Productions
New York and Los Angeles Womenswear.
Findings
New York, Los Angeles, Paris. Handbags, jewelry and ready-to-wear.
Fiftytwo
New York. Womenswear and accessories.
Franklin Street Showroom
Sales and service for luxury apparel and accessories brands.
Greg Mills
New York. Luxury womenswear and accessories.
Mint Showroom
New York, Miami, Paris. Luxury resort-wear and contemporary brands.
The News
New York and Paris. Menswear and womenswear.
Seed Inc
New York Womenswear and accessories.
Showroom Seven
New York Womenswear and accessories.
Simon Showroom
New York and Los Angeles. Global strategic fashion sales and marketing.
Summer Somewhere
Los Angeles. Multiline showroom catering to the contemporary and resortwear markets .
W29 Showroom
New York. Womenswear and accessories
Books, Films and forms
Fashionopolis
(book) by Dana Thomas, acclaimed author of fashion books Gods and Kings and Deluxe. An excellent investigation into the damage wrought by the clothing industry and the grassroots, high-tech, international movement fighting to reform it.
Source My Garment
Insiders guide to responsible off-shore manufacturing by sourcing consultant Adila Cokar.
True Colors
About the artists who create color from natural materials and about the historical importance and environmental sustainability of this practice.
Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
(book) by Elizabeth Cline. Explores the true nature of cheap fashion and how consumers can break the buy-and-toss cycle by supporting innovative and stylish sustainable designers and retailers.
Successful Business Plans
by Rhonda Abrams
Who Owns Culture? Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law
by Fashion Law Institute founder Susan Scafidi.
River Blue
Film that brings awareness to the destruction of some of the world’s most vital rivers through the manufacturing of our clothing, and shows how change in the textile industry can make a difference.
The True Cost
A groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story of who really pays the price as the prices of clothing go down.