Be A Designer, Gallarate. Shirts for men and women.
Well-made shirts, for your brand.
Shirts for your brand’s capsule collection, for men and women. First we select the fabrics, collars and buttons; then we create the prototype; and finally, production takes place 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. The shirts, for both men and women, are produced in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate, following the selection of fabrics, trims and buttons and the approval of a prototype. The approximate production cost of a shirt is €40–80 and the recommended retail price is €120–280; the approximate minimum order is around 50 pieces per style, i.e. around 10 per size.
Service details Shirts
- Who
- Be A Designer, Gallarate (VA)
- What
- Men’s and women’s shirts in capsule collections
- 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
Fabric, collar, buttons.
A shirt is judged up close: the fabric, the shape of the collar, the cuffs, the buttons and the stitching. That’s why everything is decided before the prototype is made, not afterwards.
Fabrics
Poplin, Oxford, linen, twill or flannel: the fabric determines the feel, drape and price of the shirt. We choose it based on the season and the brand’s positioning.
Collars and cuffs
A classic collar, button-down or mandarin collar, and one- or two-button cuffs: these are the details that give a shirt its character and are specified in the pattern.
Buttons and labels
Buttons, brand labels and the composition and care labels required by law. Small components are selected before the prototype is made, so the cost does not change partway through the process.
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, we carry out research into fabrics, finishes, trims and buttons. For us, it’s never just a prototype and a paper pattern: as a result, the prototype is already very close to the final garment.
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. | Research into fabrics, finishes 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 shirts; 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 a shirt.
These are indicative production costs per shirt, alongside the market price. The exact quote will be provided once the fabrics, trims and buttons have been selected.
| Item | Approximate cost | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Shirt | €40–80 | Fabric and craftsmanship. Recommended retail price: €120–280 |
| Prototype | around €80, €250 including the pattern | Always preceded by a search for fabrics, finishes and buttons |
| Brand labels | €0.15–0.20 each | Manufactured on an industrial scale, in a batch of around 1,000 items |
The retail price of a shirt is generally between 3 and 3.5 times the cost of production. The indicative minimum order quantity is around 50 items per style – that is, around 10 per size – but this depends on the fabric and the manufacturing processes involved.
Frequently asked questions.
A realistic figure is around 50 items per design, i.e. around 10 items per size, but the minimum order quantity depends on the fabric and the manufacturing process. Be A Designer works on capsule collections, so the minimum order quantity is based on the collection as a whole rather than on a single shirt.
With Be A Designer, the approximate production cost of a shirt is €40–80, depending on the fabric and workmanship, with a recommended retail price of €120–280. An exact quote will be provided once you have chosen the fabrics, finishes and buttons.
At Be A Designer, a prototype costs around €80, or €250 including the pattern. Before the prototype comes the search for fabrics, trims, small fittings and buttons: it’s never just the prototype plus the pattern.
Yes. Be A Designer designs and manufactures men’s and women’s shirts for capsule collections – ranging from classic styles to button-down shirts – in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate. The starting point is the brand’s positioning, not a catalogue of styles.
With Be A Designer, it takes an average of 3–4 months to produce a complete sample range. Subsequent production takes between 3 and 8 weeks, depending on the complexity and quantities involved.
Be A Designer’s shirts are manufactured in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate, in the province of Varese. This short supply chain is a sustainable choice and allows us to oversee the prototypes and production in person.
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 buttons, prototyping, production and launch.
What else do we do for brands?
Let’s talk about your shirts.
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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