Be A Designer, Gallarate. Outerwear: jackets and coats.
Well-made jackets and coats for your brand.
Unstructured jackets, blazers and coats for your brand’s capsule collection. First the fabrics, linings and trimmings, then the prototype, followed by production 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 has been supporting emerging designers and brands in the creation and production of their collections for the past 12 years. Outerwear – namely jackets, blazers and coats – is produced in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate, following the sourcing of fabrics, linings and trimmings and the approval of a prototype. The indicative production cost is €80–150 for a deconstructed jacket and €120–250 for a coat; the indicative minimum order is around 50 pieces per style, i.e. around 10 per size.
Service details Outerwear
- Who
- Be A Designer, Gallarate (VA)
- What
- Unstructured jackets, blazers 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
Fabrics, structure, linings.
Outerwear is the item with the most complex construction and the highest retail price in the collection. It is also the item where a fit-related error proves most costly: that is why everything is decided before the prototype is made.
Fabrics
Wool, wool-blends, cotton or technical fabrics: the fabric determines the garment’s warmth, drape and price. We choose it based on the season and the brand’s positioning.
Structure
An unstructured or structured jacket, soft or padded shoulders, linings and interlinings: these are the details that distinguish a well-made coat from an ordinary one.
Linings and trims
Lining, buttons, zips and labels should be chosen before the prototype is made, not afterwards: that way, the cost and the end result won’t change partway through.
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 of fabrics, linings and trimmings, 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, we carry out research into fabrics, linings, trims and buttons. For us, it’s never just a matter of a prototype and a paper pattern: as a result, the prototype is already very close to the final garment.
On a tighter budget? Some outerwear items can also be produced as private label: you start with a ready-made garment and customise it with the brand’s labels and details, rather than developing it from scratch in small quantities. 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. | Selecting fabrics, linings, trims and buttons before the prototype is made: no surprises when it comes to the cost. |
| 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 it costs to produce jackets and coats.
These are indicative production costs per garment, alongside the market-driven retail price. The exact quotation will be provided once the fabrics, linings and trimmings have been selected.
| Item | Approximate cost | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Prototype | from €80, €250 including a pattern | For outerwear, it depends on the construction and linings; this always comes after the search for fabrics and trimmings |
| Brand labels | €0.15–0.20 each | Manufactured on an industrial scale, in a batch of around 1,000 items |
The retail price is generally between 3 and 4 times the cost of production. The recommended minimum is around 50 items per style, i.e. around 10 per size: when it comes to outerwear, it is best to focus on a few well-made styles.
Frequently asked questions.
A realistic figure is around 50 pieces per style – that is, around 10 pieces per size – but the minimum depends on the fabric and the garment’s construction. Be A Designer works on capsule collections: when it comes to outerwear, it’s best to focus on a few well-constructed styles.
With Be A Designer, the indicative production cost is €80–150 for a deconstructed jacket and €120–250 for a coat, depending on the fabric, construction and lining. The recommended retail price is €250–500 for a jacket and €400–900 for a coat.
At Be A Designer, a prototype starts at around €80, or €250 including the pattern; for outerwear, the cost depends on the construction and linings. Before the prototype is made, there is always the process of sourcing fabrics, trims, small fittings and buttons: it’s never just the prototype plus the pattern.
With Be A Designer, it takes an average of 3–4 months to produce a complete sample collection. Subsequent production takes between 3 and 8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the garment and the quantities involved.
Be A Designer’s outerwear is produced in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate, in the province of Varese. The short supply chain is a sustainable choice and allows the company to oversee the prototyping and production processes in person.
Yes, for some garments. Starting with a ready-made outerwear garment and customising it with labels and brand details costs less than developing it from scratch in small quantities. Be A Designer helps you choose which garments to produce from scratch and which to produce as private label items.
The pure contract manufacturing service is reserved for VAT-registered individuals and established companies that already have a collection, technical specifications and sales channels. Those starting from scratch go through the full process: strategy, collection, sourcing of fabrics and trimmings, prototyping, production and launch.
What else do we do for brands?
Let's talk about your outerwear.
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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