PRODUCT DESIGN SUPPORT
My team will help bring your ideas to life, through CADS, tech packs, and spec sheets.
apparel sourcing and manufacturing
FOR FASHION BRANDS OF ALL SIZES
A Look Behind The Seams is a clothing production consultancy and sourcing agent for small fashion brands.
Founded in 2016 by Melanie DiSalvo, a former director of product development who has worked with brands including Gap, J.Crew and Ralph Lauren. It has helped 500+ brands with sourcing, sampling, and production all over the world.
Think of me as your entire product development + production team (But, for 1/10 the cost of a full-time employee)
One Accountable Sourcing and Manufacturing Partner
That means design support, product development, fabric sourcing, pattern making, sampling, revisions, and managing bulk production, all in one place.
ethical and sustainable values
After working in fast fashion factories all over the world, I left all of that behind with a dedication to giving brands the tools they need to make better sourcing decisions.
Dedicated to cost savings
Because, getting expert help and doing things the right way doesn't have to break the bank.
2016
10 YEARS IN BUSINESS
500+
PRIVATE CLIENTS
80K+
SOURCING GUIDES DOWNLOADED
50
PIECE MOQ
What does a clothing production consultant do?
SOURCING + PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Supplier matchmaking for your brand's specific needs, fabric samples delivered to your door.
Pattern making
Includes garment patterns, grading, and marker plans.
Sampling
With timely turnarounds and weekly check-ins to avoid errors.
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
Quality assurance checks, shipping logistics, warehousing, and more...
sales + marketing strategy
Help setting up your e-comm store,wholesale, social media, PR, influencer partnerships, brand collaborations, paid ads, etc.
How can I work with A Look Behind The Seams?
Source my garment
(Capped at 10 students)
A 30-day challenge where you learn how to take your garment from idea to sample in 30 minutes a day.
30 days of daily lessons, tasks, and check-ins for accountability.
4 live Zoom calls - to work directly with me 1-on-1.
A custom supplier list made just for your brand's sourcing needs.
1 FREE tech pack - done for you by my team
A private community of like-minded founders, and so much more...
done for you manufacturing
(MOQs starting at 50 PIECES)
My team and I will handle all your sourcing, development, and production needs for you.
Pre-development: Design, tech packs, and specs.
Development: Fabric and trim sourcing, patterns, grading, marker plans.
Sampling process: with weekly communication and revision round management.
Bulk order management: including private quality inspection before shipping.
The private membership for established brands
(Invite only)
For established brands ready to learn how to scale - looking for help with sales, marketing, and a community of founders
Twice-a-week live Zoom calls to work 1-on-1 with me.
Private WhatsApp chat for 24/7 chat support.
Monthly challenges to boost your business strategy (PR, email marketing, holiday sales prep, Substack, Instagram, wholesale, etc).
Goal-setting sessions for accountability and follow-through.
Common questions brands ask before hiring a clothing manufacturing partner
What's the MOQ (minimum order quantity)
MOQs start at 50 pieces per style per color for private clients.
Some factories and fabrics allow lower quantities, and I'll tell you up front when they don't.
How long does it take to get a garment made?
For our first round of sampling together, I suggest planning for 3 months, even though it could be quicker.
This will give us time to get everything perfect and avoid feeling rushed and stressed the first time we work together.
For current clients, sampling can be as fast as a couple of weeks.
Do you work with startups or only established brands?
Both, in different ways. Startups usually begin with SOURCE MY GARMENT to learn the basics of the industry.
And brands with a few seasons behind them work with my team directly.
Where are your factories?
For the SOURCE MY GARMENT custom factory list, factories are located ALL OVER THE WORLD.
For private clients, we specialize in getting products made in the USA, China, and India.
Is it sustainable and ethical?
That's my focus. I regularly visit my factory partners to personally inspect facilities.
But I am also able to provide certifications like: GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Bluesign, GRS, WRAP, RWS, BCI, and more.
How do I get started?
Use this contact form and tell me what you make, how many pieces you want, and when you want them.
The more detail, the faster I can tell you if we're a fit.