Fabdesigns, Inc.

What is Fabdesigns’ business model?

Our first and only goal is to help you succeed.  

Fabdesigns' 3D knit facility is a confidential design, education. We’re the sand box. You have designs and ideas, while we make them happen as sustainably and efficiently as possible.   

• We save clients the risk of  committing hundreds of thousands of dollars, buying expensive equipment and years of trial and error.
• We shorten the learning curve and approach R&D  for our clients with decades of indepth expertise in materials, machiney, programing,  and the electronic and mechanical capabilities and limitations of equipment.
• We are your Incubator, your safe space to flesh out your ideas for improving your existing products or build your first to markert projects with cutting edge technologies.
• We help you build the infrastructure for smart design, while thoroughly testing manufacturing strategies in strict confidence.
• We optimize you production by fine-tuning hundreds of variables in a professional and educational setting where you can ask questions, learn, and hone your materials and R&D skills, that will help you control quality from the fiber up and lead the market
• We support you in creating a world class product, while vetting supply chains, and dialing in accurate production estimates, costs, on real production equipment.  

Fabdesigns is the only place in the world where you get to work hands-on  rither there with us on state-of-the art Stoll knitting production equipment through every phase of your project.  You experience the entire process, whih s tailored to your specific needs. 

What type of clients work with Fabdesigns?

Fabdesigns is andStart-ups, Fortune 100's, brands, designers, engineers, inventors.

Can Fabdesigns make me a prototype?

Of course.  But, ask yourself, what good is a sample if the focus is only making one?  We focus on what your manufacturing issues might be from the beginning, putting your goals first and optimizing samples to reflect some of the real production parameters of your manufacturing partners.  You save valuable time and money, while making practical use of your company's resources.  You may have a short-term need of rapidly entering a market, with long term goals of leading that market. Getting your sample on budget is important, but getting an idea of what it takes to make a product is critical to the success of your product,  costing, and ultimately, your business. Our  eco techniques can save 25% or more time, over WYSIWYG off the shelf software from the machine builders.

What won't I find anywhere else?

Fabdesigns is completely independent education, research, and development facility locateted in one of the most creative and vibrant places on the planet - Southern California.  Our founders each have over 30 years experience in innovating, developing, and teaching advanced textile engineering, textile design, lean manufacturing, product development, extreme materials, 3D knitting, and techncial knit textiles mastery.  Our experince spans many of the top brands in the world, for aerospace, footwear, automotive, medical device (ISO13485), fashion, couture, on-demand manufacturing, composites, wearble technology, prosthetics, co-molded components, solar, wind, extreme sports fabrications, hosiery, 3D knitted textiles, interative textiles, smart  and e-textiles.

There are no books for technical knitted textiles, though we have built a road map that combines processes, materials science, business planning and sustainability.  

What services do you offer?  

We hold your hand through the entire product development process, from analysing your concept, discussing materials, to working with your manufacturing partner to optimise your production.  What we specialize in:

 - Product Development - techncial textile solutions

 - Training & Education workshops Advanced materials science & textile technology

 - Consulting - Public speaking in small groups and conferences

 - 1 on 1  and group textile workshops

 - M1+ Programming Stoll knitting machinery (many generations)

 - 2D, 3D knitting Innovative and hands-on product development process & renderings

 - Development  of 2D, 3D & 4D structures,  smart textile fabrications

 · Sustainable approach to - nearly zero waste - closing the loop

 · LEAN Process Consutling & factory layout guidance

 · Optimized production, supply chain, and product improvement guidance

 · Domestic / international tech training and support to your manufacturing partners

· Business / Product / Operations Planning Liaison with your internal teams and vendors

What makes Fabdesigns different from the machine builders?

Machine builders focus on selling machines.  Our focus is  100% supporting our clients, tailotring an approch for helping them succeed that is as unique as they are.  · Fabdesigns'  approaches projects with a mastery, strength of expertise in business strategy, and a deep knowledge pool that spanss not only generations of mechanical knitting machines, circular knitting machinery to state of the art ADF, but also many  soft goods and hybrid hard goods after processes such as lamination, embroidery, compression and injection moding, co-molding, embossing, dye, knitting, printing, weaving, non-woven, printing, surface texturing, sewing, finishing, hardware,  composites, electronics, and other equipment.

We also have a background in technical textile science, polymers, yarns, structures, and after processes.  Fabdesigns doesn't use  that same WYSIWYG off the shelf  inefficient prrogramming  as is taught from Shenzhen to Munich, by the machine builder.  Why?  Because, if everyone has the same tools, the lowest price not quality or sustainability wins the order, when everything is the same.   

We also don't make you feel like you're  a cookie cutter, like the next client or at a used car lot, pressuring you to buy equipment.  We are completely independent and our ENTIRE  business is developing 2D and 3D textiles to save as much time, material and resources for our clients as possible.  We've spent thousands of hours building our techniques and trades secrets to optimize production.  Currently, our programming approach may save 25% to 50% over WYSIWYG.

How does it work?

Clients usually request a mutual NDA prior to discussions. We scope project with their Design Brief and put a statement of work, (SOW), outlining budget, scope, deliverables and required resources.  The SOW scopes customizes every project with a realistic timeline, budget, resources needed, and action items. We invoice deliverables based on that quote. And, all work is done in house, with as many of your team here as you want / need for onsite Q&A, and on the spot decisions. Then we all get to the cool stuff, rapid developing in house in a typical stages and gate system:

Phase 1) Developing their combinations of knit structures with yarn types: client approves and tests suitability of all their materials and fabric

Phase 2) First Prototype proof of concept programming: client approves and tests suitability of all their prototypes and processes

Phase 3)  Refining the program for Commercialization: client approves and finalizes all their parts and components ready for transfer to their production partner.

Confidentiality?

This is completely your project and no other client is in our building while you are here. Your work goes with you and any notes or left overs are completely out of site and secure.  No one sees anything until you want. You own your product, and the recipe, not us. You are in control of the suitability of your product for your own testing, performance, and quality purposes, not us.  We don't change your minds.  We program what you want.

What are your rates?

We have very reasonable professional rates for Product Development and are sensitive to the fact that fees need to depend on the time and services required..  There is no one size fits all fee, just like there is no one size fits all product.  Some projects require  a lot more time. We provide you machine time on our equipment. But don't worry. We'll break it all down in your quote. We don't charge for the initial conversation. We don't publish our rates online but would be more than happy to discuss them with you over the phone, skype, or via email, so we can fine tune to what you actually need and send you the correct information.

Costs of development will vary based on:

· If a client has its' own machinery and location

· Has yarns ready to go

· Has its own stitches chosen ready to go

· A detailed design brief

· Number of revisions

· How organized the client is

· The level of knowledge at client’s chosen manufacturing partner. It's up to the clients to vet them for their own supply chain purposes.  Everything is spelled out in advance in a mutually agreed SOW, and everyone is on the same page for budget and direction.  No surprises.

IP?

Our clients own their products 100%.  

Does Fabdesigns do production?

No.  We transfer the technology to your manufacturing partner(s). Call us with questions.

More Questions?  email us