Finding the Right Factory for Your Designs: Lessons from My Own Search

If you’ve ever tried to find a factory for your own design, you know it’s like playing Russian roulette. There’s a lot of trial and error—and a lot of time and money invested—just to find out they’re not the right fit for your brand.

Back in 2011, I had a corporate job, but I was determined to find a local factory for my leather goods designs. Every evening, I’d go home and Google “leather factories near me.” During my lunch breaks, I’d sit in my car calling each one of them. Some weren’t interested in taking on new clients, others didn’t do the type of work I needed. Some had high minimums; others charged a small fortune for samples.

I also needed a factory that was open on Saturdays so I could collaborate with them on weekends.

I visited a few and decided to get samples made with one. The sample turned out amazing—but they wouldn’t give me a production price. So I moved on. The next factory also made beautiful samples, but again, they weren’t interested in producing the order.

Something told me to go back to that first factory. I visited again to speak face-to-face with the owner—an older man, a third-generation leather goods maker who had immigrated from the former Soviet Union as a teenager. His father had worked making Louis Vuitton bags in Europe and passed the craft down to him. He was a true artisan, deeply passionate about his work.

With time and patience, we began working together. Little by little, the collection grew. Thirteen years later, our businesses have grown side by side—built on collaboration, trust, and a shared love for making beautiful leather accessories.