Be A Designer, Gallarate. Old-money and ‘quiet luxury’ menswear.
Old money, made in Italy.
Oxford shirts, unstructured blazers, chinos and coats from a brand with a classic aesthetic. Carefully selected fabrics and manufactured in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate.
12 years in the Made in Italy supply chainOver 200 people supported in launching their brandTrustpilot 4.2/5, every review is 5 stars
In brief.
Be A Designer is a design studio based in Gallarate (Varese) which, for the past 12 years, has been supporting emerging designers and brands in the creation and production of their collections. For the man with classic taste – the style now known as ‘old money’ or ‘quiet luxury’ – the studio designs shirts, blazers, chinos and coats, with fabrics, finishes and buttons selected prior to prototyping and production in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate. As a guide to production costs, a shirt costs €40–80, a pair of trousers €35–70, an unstructured jacket €80–150 and a coat €120–250.
Service details Old-money man
- Who
- Be A Designer, Gallarate (VA)
- What
- Shirts, blazers, trousers and coats in a capsule collection
- Where
- Workshops within 30 km of Gallarate
- Minimums
- Around 50 items per style, around 10 per size
- Lead times
- 3–4 months for prototyping, 3–8 weeks for production
- Who it's for
- Emerging designers and brands; pure contract manufacturing for VAT-registered businesses and established companies
A few well-chosen items.
The ‘old money’ style isn’t flashy: no prominent logos, neutral colours, natural fabrics and a well-tailored fit. It’s an aesthetic where the details make all the difference, which is why they’re finalised before the prototype is even made.
Shirts
Oxford, poplin and linen, button-down and classic collars: the essentials of any classic wardrobe.
Blazers and outerwear
Unstructured jackets, blue blazers and woollen coats: the garments that define the brand and its price point.
Trousers and knitwear
Blazers and pleated trousers are produced within our supply chain; knitwear is assessed on a project-by-project basis.
Contract manufacturing or the full programme.
These are two different approaches, and the choice depends on how far along your project is. We’ll explain them to you during our first call and choose the right one together.
Contract manufacturing
For VAT-registered individuals and established businesses that have a product range, technical data sheets and sales channels: we can handle pattern-making, prototyping and production within the supply chain within a 30 km radius of Gallarate.
Full programme
For those starting with an idea: strategy, collection, sourcing fabrics and buttons, prototyping, production and launch – all with the same team. This is the way to avoid spending money on production before knowing what to sell, to whom and at what price.
In both cases, before the prototype is made, research is carried out into fabrics, finishes, small fittings and buttons. It is here that the difference becomes apparent in the ‘old money’ style.
On a tighter budget? Some items, such as T-shirts and sweatshirts, can be produced as private label: you start with a ready-made, high-quality garment and customise it with your brand, rather than developing it from scratch. Discover private label →
A supply chain within 30 km.
We work with workshops within a short supply chain, within 30 km of Gallarate. We do not move production to other regions: this means greater quality control, less transport and greater sustainability.
Be A Designer doesn’t just handle production. We only undertake pure contract manufacturing for VAT-registered individuals and established companies. Those starting from scratch go through the full programme: it’s the safest way to avoid spending money on production before knowing what to sell, to whom and at what price.
Prototypes and production stay close: we go to the workshop instead of sending emails.
From idea to product, in six stages.
The complete Be A Designer programme. If you already have a collection and suppliers, we’ll start with the stage that suits your needs.
Strategy
Who the brand is for, who it competes with, and the price at which it stands up.
Collection
A carefully planned capsule, not an endless catalogue.
Materials
Fabrics, leathers, trims, small fittings and buttons selected before the prototype is made.
Prototype
The garment becomes real: it is tried on, corrected and approved.
Production
In the short supply chain within 30 km of Gallarate, with quality control.
Launch
Content, e-commerce and distribution: a brand only sells when people know it exists.
Why Be A Designer and not just any manufacturer.
| Generic manufacturer | Be A Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Asks you for a ready-made tech pack. | We start from your idea and build the capsule and tech packs with you. |
| Materials | The prototype is made with whatever is at hand. | Natural fabrics, trims and buttons selected before the prototype was made. |
| Supply chain | Often far away; sometimes you don’t know where. | Workshops within 30 km of Gallarate. |
| Quantity | High minimums, a warehouse full of stock. | Carefully curated capsule collections of around 50 pieces per design. |
| After production | You get the garments; the rest is your problem. | Content, e-commerce and launch: the same team supports you right through to the sale. |
How much does an ‘Old Money’ capsule cost?
These are indicative production costs per garment made in Italy, alongside the market-driven retail price. The exact quote is provided once the fabrics, finishes and buttons have been selected.
| Item | Approximate cost | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Shirt | €40–80 | Fabric and craftsmanship. Recommended retail price: €120–280 |
| Trousers | €35–70 | Fabric and fit. Recommended retail price: €100–250 |
| Unstructured jacket | €80–150 | Fabric, construction and finishes. Recommended retail price: €250–500 |
| Coat | €120–250 | Fabric, construction and lining. Suggested retail price: €400–900 |
| High-quality T-shirts | €15–35 | Fabric and finishes. Recommended retail price: €50–120 |
| Knitwear | subject to a quotation | Yarn, processing and quantity |
| Prototype | around €80, €250 including the pattern | Always preceded by a search for fabrics, finishes and buttons |
The selling price is generally between 3 and 4 times the production cost. The indicative minimum is around 50 items per model – that is, around 10 per size – but this depends on what is being produced.
Frequently asked questions.
It is a classic menswear aesthetic, also known as ‘quiet luxury’: Oxford shirts, blazers, chinos, knitwear and coats made from natural fabrics, in neutral colours and with no prominent logos. The value lies in the quality of the materials and the attention to fit.
Yes. Be A Designer supports the brand every step of the way, from strategy to the collection, from sourcing fabrics and buttons to prototyping, right through to production in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate and the launch.
A realistic figure is around 50 pieces per design, or roughly 10 pieces per size. Be A Designer works on capsule collections: with the ‘old money’ style, it’s best to start with just a few well-made garments.
As a rough guide to ‘Made in Italy’ production costs, a shirt costs €40–80, a pair of trousers €35–70, an unstructured jacket €80–150 and a coat €120–250. The retail price is generally between 3 and 4 times the cost.
Knitwear is assessed on a project-by-project basis, depending on the yarn and the manufacturing process, and is quoted in the estimate. Shirts, trousers, jackets and coats are produced in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate.
Pure contract manufacturing is reserved for VAT-registered individuals and established companies. Those starting from scratch follow the full process: strategy, collection development, sourcing of fabrics and buttons, prototyping, production and launch.
What else do we do for brands?
Let’s talk about your ‘old money’ brand.
A free call to help you work out where to start, the timeframe involved and the budget required. No obligation.
Or write to [email protected]
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