Tag Archives: made in the usa

Clutch Made: The New E-Factory

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Clutch Made: The New E-Factory

Who we are: Based in NYC, Clutch Made is a manufacturing and designer service platform for individuals and brands looking to source and produce in USA. We specialize in manufacturing and sourcing handbags and accessories. 

Why we do it: Laura Dotolo, principal and creator of Clutch Made, has been dedicated to her business for years. She says, “My experience styling for clients like Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, In Style and a bevy of similar fashion magazines has taught me that sometimes the trends being depicted are not what consumers really want over time.  By being able to shape the fashion trend of the moment in my styling career, I have learned how to help our clients tailor and develop products that have tremendous appeal in the marketplace. As a manufacturer myself of my own line of handbags, Clutch Bags I have learned the trade secrets in sourcing materials, designing products, and creating good profit margins. This has helped our clients return to us again and again with their manufacturing, design and product development needs. Made in USA pays!” 

Made in the USA really does pay off. We find that manufacturing in the garment district, here in New York City, is much easier than overseas production. Not only does it eliminate high shipping costs, but it eliminates communication and delivery problems as well. At Clutch Made, we take care of our clients manufacturing, production, and even inventory. We are dedicated to help clients sell their products in the marketplace. It’s a modern concept that this country is falling behind on. Manufacturing in the USA is back and Clutch Made has made it revolutionary. 

How we do it: Clutch Made is the modern e-factory. This new way of business and manufacturing is vital in todays digital world. No longer will it take you months and months to make one product. You won’t even have major communication problems. Clutch Made is available in various platforms in order to talk to you at any time. You can follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. You can also like our Facebook page and keep up with our daily posts. We are the factory that you can talk to without any hassles. You can reach us by email and telephone. It’s just that easy! Being able to contact our potential clients any time they need us is a very important factor in our business today. 

Clutch Made is changing the face of manufacturing! We are always looking for trends in the market and new clients to work with. Resurfacing Made in the USA is just as important as our new way of manufacturing. Seems to good to be true? Contact us today and reveal the truth of e-manufacturing. 

 

How to Make a Handbag in the USA: Step 5

How to Make a Handbag in the USA: Step 5 

So now that you have a good looking sample with all the bells and whistles that you designed, what’s next? What sets you apart from what’s on the market place right now? How is your customer going to find you? Who is your customer? Who are you? If you are keeping up with our posts, this week we discuss the fifth step on How to Make a Handbag in the USA. This step is all about branding and merchandising. When you reach this step we discuss who you are as a brand and how we can make your products unique enough to stand out. 

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Branding: The goal of branding is to create products with cohesive aesthetics and a point of view. You have to create a name, symbol, or design that identifies and differentiates your product from others. Branding gives you a competitive advantage and a promise to your customer that your product is better or more unique than your competitors. Your brand is then created from who YOU are and HOW you want people to perceive you. We will work with you to help establish your product and company as a recognizable brand. The Clutch Made team will help establish your product and company as a unique and recognizable brand associated with consistent quality. This involves a focused path to brand identity through consistent products and social media.

Merchandising: Merchandising your brand is part of the Clutch Made agency process. Not only does it involve putting your products on the market but you have to think about what pieces will collaborate best for your collection. What materials do you want to use? It is important to use materials that are hot in the market so that they are on target for buyers. Buyers want to see collections that are cohesive and trendy. What pieces of your collection do you want to show and can they go together? For example, a clutch can go well with a cross body, especially if they are made from the same leather and hardware. From extensive development and editing of your products, the Clutch Made team is alongside you in creating your unique brand.  

Tradeshow Representation: Now, is it time for you to get your product out on the market in front of buyers?  Are Trade Show costs too high for your budget?  Are you unsure of how to start the process? We will work with you to help promote the sale of goods, especially in retail outlets. We invite all of our clients to join us under the Clutch NY umbrella at the trade shows. This is one more way The Clutch Made team helps you to convert your ideas to real sales. Selling your product keeps your business viable and the dream alive. 

 

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Tradeshow

Tradeshow

Tradeshow

Once your brand is established and your merchandise is perfected, your products will flourish in the market! Buyers will love how spot on your handbag collection is with the trends and better yet, how well made they are. Stay with us next post to discover the sixth and FINAL step on How to Make a Handbag in the USA with the Clutch Made team. 

 

How to Make a Handbag in the USA: Step 4

How to Make a Handbag in the USA: Step 4 

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If you are following along with our posts on How to Make a Handbag in the USA, this week we discuss the fourth step on how to make your dream handbag, here in NYC. It is time for manufacturing! Made in the USA products are back in demand and this step gets into the details and creation of your bag. We can manage all your production needs with our network of suppliers and our own factory in the Garment District. 

The Clutch Made Team is the factory you can talk to and we will work with you throughout the whole manufacturing process to achieve your dream handbag. Do you already have samples? Put them into production with the fastest turnaround in the business! Our factory in the Garment District has the abiility to start that process now. Your brand can offer American Made products and eliminate the problems associated with far east production like inferior quality, high shipping costs, miscommunication and delivery time mishaps. Best of all, no order is too big or too small.  We manufacture orders from 10 units to 10,000 units, all Made IN NYC.

Don’t have a sample? We encourage you to use our tech pack service as a tool in developing your bag. Our team of artisans are expert sample makers. Whether from a sketch or from a tech pack, we will translate your ideas into a pattern and can create the sample you have been dying to see.

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Tech Pack Bag

Here are two examples of our magic ingredients for a sample handbag: 

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Sample Handbag

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Sample Wallet

Our recipe is cultivated in NYC! We love making American Made products and we love working with clients. Keep USA products alive in the market and make with us today. Follow our posts and next week discover how we help you establish your product and company as a unique and recognizable brand! 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Make a Handbag in the USA: Step 3

How to Make a Handbag in the USA: Step 3

If you are following along with our posts on How to Make a Handbag in the USA, this week we discuss the third step on how to make your dream handbag, here in NYC. Do you know what materials you need, but unsure how to find it? Maybe you are not even sure of what materials you should use but would love to see options from the market place. At Clutch Made, sourcing is the fun part for our team. We are experts in sourcing and finding anything you need. Our sourcing powers make bags come true.

Here are some of the raw materials that we locate for your design:

  1. Fabrics: Are you unsure which fabrics would be best for your handbag? We can help guide you! The cost of materials is important for the retail price of your bag. We will work with you to ensure your handbag has a great price for the market. IMG_4912
  2. Suedes: Suedes are beautiful and great for interiors. Pig suede is especially known for it’s silky touch and beautiful appeal. Suede can get expensive because of the waste it can create. We will work with you to ensure an accurate weight to save money and still create the handbag of your dreams. Screen Shot 2016-03-08 at 12.15.29 PM
  3. Leathers: Are you aware of consumption and waste? This is what happens when you work with leather. Leather can get very expensive because it has flaws (remember it is an animal) and because of this parts of the leather cannot be used. Clutch Made will work with you to find an accurate weight for your leather that works best for your handbag. Screen Shot 2016-03-08 at 12.15.44 PM
  4. Vegan Leathers: Want to be more sustainable? Vegan leather has become a popular synthetic fabric that is just as luxurious as real leather. Stella McCartney is known to never use real leather or fur in her designs, so can you! Best of all, there is no worry about waste with vegan leather. Screen Shot 2016-03-08 at 3.14.47 PM
  5. Materials (linings): Lining is an inner layer of fabric that will be inserted into your handbag. Linings provide a neat inside finish and the fabric used can feature fun prints like polka dots or a solid color. Clutch Made will work with you to source the best lining appropriate for your handbag.Screen Shot 2016-03-08 at 2.53.44 PM
  6. Hardware: So what hardware are you thinking about? Dog clips? Rings? Hidden magnetics? How about the finish? Nickel? Brass? Gold?  Would you like to add a zipper? What material would you like to use? Nylon? Big or small, you don’t want to waste money getting the wrong thing. Save yourself money and the stress! Our team will help you make all the right decisions based on the design of your handbag. Screen Shot 2016-03-08 at 1.18.04 PM
  7. Labels/Hang Tags: Have you thought about your label? Would you want a hot stamp leather with your logo? Or do you want a simple, nice woven label with your logo? Our team will work with your artwork and have it sent to our vendors to ensure you get the label you want. 2015-04-13 14.39.44

 

After we source the materials for your handbag, it is time for manufacturing. Keep following our posts to reveal the work and magic of manufacturing with Clutch Made, the factory you can talk to.