The Entrepreneur's Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing Paperback – February 1, 1998

There are so many reasons to buy this book.Buy it if you are a novice, self-taught designer--you will learn the inter workings of the crazy world of the garment business as well as production manufacturing methods. I know of no other resource for either of these items.Buy it if you have a fashion design degree--especially if you think you know production pattern making and sewing methods. I have a design degree from a trade-oriented college and have found that there are huge knowledge gaps between what one learns in school and how the industry truly operates. Fasanella recognizes these gaps and addresses them. She also takes the time to explain why things are done a certain way, so that you can decide yourself whether you need to follow the rules or not (and also to understand why contractors, sales reps, fabric and trim sources may not be calling you back).Buy this book if you work for an established manufacturer or service provider. Fasanella is a proponent of lean manufacturing (she writes more about this on her website, fashionincubator.com). She has the brain of an engineer. Her writing style is very clear and she can switch easily from high-level, big-picture thinking to small, but very important details. The book gives a great sense of how all the pieces of manufacturing fit together, and how best to manage the flow of the workroom.Buy this book if you're an industry veteran--I imagine that even the most experienced among us will learn from this book. Regardless, buy the book to support Fasanella's important work to nurture the young designer entrepreneurs that are keeping the US garment industry alive, and to disseminate information and best practices in this notoriously opaque industry. If you find that you already know everything in this book, I imagine that Fasanella's book will ring so true that you'll be happy that you supported her work and can give the book to a greener newbie. And seriously, industry veterans--consider passing on your knowledge as Fasanella has and does on her site and forum. Consider evaluating industry practices to determine best practices. The domestic garment industry needs more leaders to teach and guide us if the domestic garment industry is to survive and thrive.

I've gone through a whole slew of "Starting Your Own Business" and likeminded entrepreneur books. This has been by far the best of them, and not just because it applies to the particular niche I'm interested in. Kathleen tells you in a direct, honest, and no-frills way what you need to do and how to do it. This is the only "startup" book that I have encountered that approaches the problem like one would a Product Development cycle: plan, design, prototype, iterate, create. This just means that like any project or product that is put out by the "big guys"--whether it's software, products, or a couture gown--a project plan has to be created and adhered to. This book does just that and only asks that you stick with this plan throughout its lifecycle. Seems like common sense, but you would be surprised how many books don't ever mention or emphasize that!She also provides some useful templates (like a checklist of what you need to be hand off to sewers, cutters, pattern-makers) and advice (for example, never say that you do "couture" or get too confident about your sewing prowess if you've always been a home sewer). The only downside is that though the title suggests that the book discusses all sewn product manufacturers, there is definitely an emphasis on sewn *garment* products. Why does this matter? Because several of the steps and templates in the book are not applicable to those who aren't in the garment industry, but you're never sure which steps to eliminate as a result. Also, I wish that she had discussed finding suppliers in greater depth. In my experience, this has been the number one challenge for a small manufacturer. One last thing, this book is near impossible to find and never seems to be in stock! But there really isn't any other book like it out there...so it's worth the wait.

A first glance this is a comprehensive guide that will be a valuable reference. Book is in great condition and arrived very promptly.

I came across the author's very information intensive website "Fashion Incubator" which led me to this book on Amazon. Moreover, a few different people had mentioned in other reviews that they recommended this book rather than the one they had purchased. But when I read all of the glowing reviews for the book I thought for sure that someone had to have falsified a few of them, or maybe people were just exaggerating? I figured, $60 is $60 and I'll consider it an investment. As you can see from my review this is an "amazon verified purchase" and I swear I am not being endorsed in any way to write it for the skeptics out there such as myself. I am in the process of writing a business plan for the boutique I am opening and was also considering doing a small collection of my own. This book has given me the in's and out's of the nitty gritty manufacturing side of the business and then some. I have now made the educated decision to put my own collection on the shelf and focus entirely on buying for my boutique and I feel so much more well equipped to do so after reading this. I feel many people have a preconceived notion of the fashion industry and this book definitely helps dispel many of the commonly held myths. A big THANK YOU to Ms. Fasanella for taking the time to share her knowledge with us.. I also emailed her asking if she had any recommended reading for the retail side of the business and she answered very promptly and kindly which I totally appreciated. This book is an invaluable tool no matter what direction you choose to go in, and after you read it you will be thanking her too!