Be A Designer, Gallarate. Swimwear and beachwear made in Italy.
Swimwear production for your brand.
Bikinis, one-piece swimsuits and men’s ranges for your beachwear capsule collection. Orders start from 50 pieces, at €35 per piece, with a production time of around 30 days from sample approval, 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 Made in Italy swimwear: bikinis, one-piece swimsuits and men’s ranges. Orders start from 50 pieces, at €35 per piece, with a production time of around 30 days from sample approval, in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate. Prior to production, the process involves pattern-making, prototyping and the selection of technical fabrics resistant to chlorine, salt and sunlight.
Service details Swimwear
- Who
- Be A Designer, Gallarate (VA)
- What
- Bikinis, one-piece swimsuits and men’s ranges in capsule collections
- Where
- Workshops within 30 km of Gallarate
- Minimums
- 50 pieces
- Lead times
- Approximately 30 days’ production time from confirmation of the sample
- Who it's for
- Emerging designers and brands; pure contract manufacturing for VAT-registered businesses and established companies
Women’s, men’s, full ranges.
A swimsuit must fit well whether wet or dry, withstand chlorine, salt and the sun, and retain its shape season after season. That is why the fit and fabric are decided before the sample is made, not afterwards.
Bikinis and one-piece swimsuits
At the heart of a beachwear range: styles developed from your designs, with a fit engineered to perform well both in and out of the water.
Men’s ranges
Men’s swimwear to complete the collection or to create a dedicated range, crafted with the same attention to detail as the women’s styles.
Technical fabrics for marine use
Lycra and technical fabrics resistant to chlorine, salt and sunlight, selected prior to the sample stage along with trims and small components.
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 already have a product range, technical specifications and sales channels, or that wish to add a beachwear range to their offering: we can assist with pattern-making, prototyping and production.
Full programme
For those starting with an idea: strategy, design, sourcing of fabrics and small components, prototyping, production and launch – all handled by the same team. If you don’t have technical drawings, we’ll develop the design together.
In both cases, fabrics, finishes and trims are researched before the sample. With us it is never just a prototype plus a pattern: that is why the sample is already close to the final swimsuit.
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.
Samples 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. | If you’ve just got an idea, we’ll work with you to develop the designs and technical specifications. |
| Materials | The sample is made with whatever is at hand. | Technical fabrics, finishes and trims selected prior to the sample being produced. |
| 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. | We’ll start with 50 items, to test the market without filling up the warehouse. |
| After production | You get the swimsuits; the rest is your problem. | Content, e-commerce and launch: the same team supports you right through to the sale. |
How much does it cost to produce a swimwear range?
The production cost starts at €35 per item and depends on the model, fabrics and quantity: the higher the production volume, the lower the unit cost. We provide free, bespoke quotes.
| Item | Approximate cost | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Swimsuit production | from €35 each | Design, fabric and quantity: the unit cost falls as production volumes increase |
| Prototype | around €80, €250 including the pattern | Always preceded by research into fabrics, finishes and trims |
| Brand labels | €0.15–0.20 each | Manufactured on an industrial scale, in a batch of around 1,000 items |
The minimum order is 50 items. Production takes around 30 days from confirmation of the sample; prior to this, there are pattern-making and prototyping stages, the duration of which depends on the complexity of the range.
Frequently asked questions.
With Be A Designer, swimwear production starts from 50 pieces. This is the minimum quantity required to guarantee quality and affordable prices for an initial launch.
At Be A Designer, production starts from 35 euros per item. The price depends on the model, the fabrics chosen and the quantity: the higher the production volume, the lower the unit cost. We provide free, bespoke quotes.
Approximately 30 days from confirmation of the sample. Before that, there are the pattern-making and sampling stages, the duration of which depends on the complexity of the range.
Be A Designer uses Lycra and technical fabrics that are resistant to chlorine, salt and the sun, which are selected before the sample is produced, along with the finishes and trims.
At Be A Designer, a prototype costs around 80 euros, or 250 euros including the pattern. Before the prototype comes the search for fabrics, trims and small components: it’s never just the prototype plus the pattern.
Be A Designer is based in Gallarate, in the province of Varese, and manufactures in workshops within 30 km of Gallarate. This short supply chain is a sustainability choice and allows the company to monitor samples and production first-hand.
Yes, but the ‘pure’ contract manufacturing service is reserved for VAT-registered individuals and established companies, including those wishing to add a beachwear range to their product portfolio. Those starting from scratch go through the full process: strategy, design, fabric sourcing, prototyping, production and launch.
Yes. Be A Designer is a design studio: if you don’t have technical drawings or a tech pack, they’ll develop the design with you, from sourcing the fabrics right through to the finished garment.
What else do we do for brands?
Let’s talk about your beachwear range.
A free consultation to find out if we can produce what you have in mind, how long it will take and what the budget will be. No obligation.
Or write to [email protected]
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