Be A Designer, Gallarate. A design studio for emerging designers and brands.
A design studio for your fashion brand.
Strategy, collections, technical specifications, material research, prototypes and ‘Made in Italy’ production, all handled by the same team from concept to launch. Based in Gallarate for the past 12 years.
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 an independent design studio based in Gallarate (Varese), specialising in supporting emerging designers and brands. For 12 years, it has overseen the entire process of turning an idea into a ready-to-sell collection: brand strategy, capsule collection design, technical specifications, sourcing of fabrics, trims and accessories, prototyping, production in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate, and launch. It has supported over 200 people in launching their own brands.
Service details Design studio
- Who
- Be A Designer, Gallarate (VA)
- What
- Strategy, collection, technical specifications, materials, prototypes, production and launch
- Who it's for
- Emerging designers, brands and companies launching a capsule collection
- Where
- Studio in Gallarate, workshops within 30 km
- Lead times
- On average, 3–4 months from the initial idea to the sample collection
- First step
- A free call to help you work out where to start
What a design studio does.
A design studio translates an idea into garments that can be produced, sold and are consistent with one another. It is the missing link between the designer and the seamstress: without it, the workshop simply produces exactly what you give them, faults and all.
Collection and design
We’ll work with you to define your positioning, retail price and a well-thought-out capsule collection, then we’ll design the garments. If you don’t have technical drawings, we’ll develop them together.
Tech packs and pattern-making
Each garment becomes a technical specification sheet detailing measurements, materials and construction methods, as well as a pattern from which the prototype is created and the size range is subsequently developed.
Materials, prototypes and production
Selection of fabrics, finishes and small components; a prototype to test and refine; followed by production in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate.
From an idea, or from an established brand.
The styling team steps in where needed. During our first call, we’ll find out where you’re at and what needs to be done first.
You have an idea
Let’s start with strategy and the collection: who the brand is for, what price point makes it viable, and which garments are actually needed. Then we move on to materials, prototypes, production and the launch – all with the same team.
You already have a brand
We step in at the stage you need: a new capsule, tech packs, prototypes or production. Pure contract manufacturing is for VAT-registered businesses and established companies.
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.
A supply chain within 30 km.
We design in Gallarate and manufacture in workshops within a short supply chain, within 30 km. 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.
What we can produce for you.
After the design comes production. Each category has different minimum order quantities, costs and lead times: you’ll find the relevant pages here.
Women's clothing
Dresses, shirts, trousers, jackets and coats. A dress costs approximately €50–120 each.
See womenswear →Men's clothing
Shirts, trousers, jackets and coats. A shirt costs approximately €40–80 each.
See menswear →Shirts
Men’s and women’s shirts, from the fabric to the collar and buttons: €40–80 per shirt.
See shirts →Jackets and coats
Unstructured jackets, blazers and coats: €80–150 for a jacket, €120–250 for a coat.
See outerwear →Sportswear
Leggings, tops, performance T-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets. A performance T-shirt costs €10–18.
See sportswear →Swimwear
Bikinis, one-pieces and men’s ranges: from 50 pieces, from €35 per piece, approximately 30 days from approval of the sample.
See swimwear →T-shirt
High-quality private label or premium ‘Made in Italy’ products: €8–25 per item for a batch of 100.
See T-shirts →Sweatshirts and streetwear
A customised blank at €20–35 or a hoodie made from scratch in Italy at €40–60, in small batches.
See hoodies →Bags and leather goods
Handbags and small leather goods from 30 pieces per style, made in a workshop near Como.
See bags →Private label
Ready-made, high-quality garments bearing your brand: the most cost-effective way to trial a capsule collection.
See private label →Prototypes and samples
Prototypes from €80, €250 with the pattern. A full sample collection takes 3–4 months on average.
See prototypes →Contract manufacturing
For VAT-registered businesses and established companies with a collection and tech packs: about 50 pieces per style.
See contract manufacturing →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 collection and tech packs with you. |
| Collection | Produces whatever you bring, even if it won't sell. | A capsule built around customer, price and competition, before spending on production. |
| Materials | The prototype is made with whatever is at hand. | Research into fabrics, finishes and small components prior to prototyping. |
| Supply chain | Often far away; sometimes you don’t know where. | Workshops within 30 km of Gallarate. |
| 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. |
What it costs to start with a design studio.
The cost of the service depends on the number of garments, the materials used and the stage at which we begin: this is why we provide a bespoke, free quote. These are the points we discuss during the initial call.
| Item | Approximate cost | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| First call | free | We look at your project, budget and the best place to start |
| Prototype | around €80, €250 including the pattern | Always preceded by research into fabrics, finishes and trims |
| Sample collection, basic capsule | €2,000–4,000 | 6–8 simple items: T-shirts, sweatshirts, basic trousers |
| Sample collection, intermediate capsule | €5,000–10,000 | 8–12 items, ranging from basics to more elaborate pieces |
| Sample collection, premium capsule | €10,000–20,000 and above | 10–15 complex garments: jackets, coats, structured garments |
| Production | from about 50 pieces per style | Around 10 items per size; the price per item depends on the category |
It takes an average of 3–4 months from the initial idea to the finished sample collection: to be ready for a season, it’s best to start 8–10 months in advance. You can find the production costs per garment on the pages dedicated to each category.
Frequently asked questions.
A design studio is the organisation responsible for designing a fashion collection: it defines the positioning, designs the garments, prepares technical specifications and pattern templates, selects fabrics and trims, and oversees prototyping and production. Be A Designer is an independent design studio based in Gallarate that carries out this work for emerging designers and brands.
When you have a brand concept but lack the technical expertise or supply chain to bring it to life, or when a brand or company wants to launch a new capsule collection without an in-house team, Be A Designer steps in at the stage you need, from strategy through to production.
It depends on how many garments, what materials are involved, and what stage you’re starting from. Be A Designer always offers an initial free consultation followed by a bespoke quote. As a guide, a prototype costs around 80 euros, 250 euros including the pattern, and a sample collection of 6–8 simple garments requires an indicative budget of 2,000–4,000 euros.
On average, 3–4 months, including sourcing materials, pattern-making, prototyping and revisions. To be ready for a season, Be A Designer recommends starting 8–10 months in advance.
No. If you don’t have any technical drawings or tech packs, Be A Designer will develop the design with you, from sourcing the fabrics right through to the finished garment.
Yes. Following the prototype stage, production takes place in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate, with an indicative minimum of around 50 pieces per model – that is, around 10 per size; the bags are made in a leather goods workshop near Como. Pure contract manufacturing is reserved for VAT-registered individuals and established companies.
In Gallarate, in the province of Varese, at Viale Vittorio Veneto 8/D. The initial consultation and prototype testing can also be carried out via video call.
Working with emerging designers who start with an idea, established brands and companies looking to add a capsule collection to their range. Be A Designer does not produce white-label kits or merchandise for teams and events: it specialises in capsule collections, created through co-creation.
Let’s talk about your brand.
A free call to find out where you’re at, what you need to do next and what your budget is. No obligation.
Or write to [email protected]
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