The Factory Buffalo is a Full Service Apparel Design & Product Development Agency located in Buffalo, NY.
Our specialty is taking your idea and turning it into a tangible product that is professionally prepared for volume manufacturing. We provide all of the services necessary for small businesses to succeed when launching a product or brand. We know that starting from scratch can be overwhelming so we offer open communication and personal guidance along the way, including extra services like fabric sourcing, design consulting, and business coaching. Each customer we work with and each product we make is very different and require different skills and strategies. Our experience, technical knowledge and strategic partnerships offer a unique ability and insight into the process that is the right fit for you and your product that is key to setting a solid foundation for success.
Our What.
Our Why.
We love to launch brands. From Design through Production, we want to help you navigate every step of the process. We empower our brands to be fully prepared for anything that comes your way in manufacturing. Additionally, we want you to be educated along the way, so that you are confident to manage your vendors and your business for the long haul. The difference between success and failure is in the details. Our focus is quality and we believe that the details are what make a good product great. Every step of the process is another opportunity to refine your product so that your customers will be guaranteed the very best.
Most of all we want to help you succeed. This business is not easy, but we can help to make it easier. We care about the brands we work with, we believe in the vendors we work with, and we are invested in the evolution of sustainable manufacturing. We are proud to be a trailblazer in the “made in the USA” revival, and we feel that Buffalo, NY provides a very special place to do this. As fellow entrepreneurs we have also made product in the USA and we believe strongly that the quality and ethical benefits to designing and making your product here far outweigh any considerations of outsourcing. Sustainability begins with the social responsibility of fair labor practices and we place that value as our top priority within our team, when choosing our partners, and when sending our clients out for referrals.
Our Where.
Buffalo, NY is our heart and our home. Our offices are located just outside of the city in the village of Snyder.
Our Who.
CEO/director of design + business development
MOLLY HOELTKE WORTH
Molly spent her early professional career in Costume Design and Wardrobe Styling for editorial, television, film and theater before establishing herself as an Apparel Designer in 2010. She started her own women’s RTW line, “Once And For All”, in 2014. All of the line’s product offerings were designed by Molly, manufactured domestically, and sold to retailers across the country. Working with various cut and sew factories across the country gave her the insight and skill needed to manage her own product development and manufacturing. She decided to do just that in 2019 in her hometown of Buffalo and “The Factory Buffalo” was born. A passionate entrepreneur Molly’s greatest joy is helping others launch their dreams the same way she has launched her own.
Education
UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO
B.S., Management, Marketing, 2006
UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO
B.A., Design, 2008
Continuing Education.
• University of London, Future Learn; Fashion and Sustainability, 2017
• Fashion Brain Academy, Fashion Marketing, 2016
• Global Purchasing Companies, Fashion Wholesale Sales, 2015
Activities & Affiliations.
• Stitch Buffalo Executive Board Member
senior TECHNICAL DESIGNER and pattern drafter
Johanna Brassel
Johanna received her Fashion Design degree from one of the top design schools in the country. She has worked as an Assistant Designer for JC Penney in Plano, TX and a Designer for New Era Cap in Buffalo, NY. Through these positions, Johanna has gained an exceptional understanding and knowledge of functions specific to the fashion industry. She has since instructed at Genesee Community College, Buffalo State College, and Villa Maria College in their Fashion programs, teaching a wide variety of fashion design courses with the intention of growing the minds of young aspiring designers. Johanna is currently the Senior Technical Designer and Pattern Drafter at The Factory Buffalo where she drafts patterns, creates CAD drawings, and develops tech packs. Johanna’s extensive experience in the fashion industry has given her the knowledge to successfully execute the technical design of a garment through each stage of the process, with the highest degree of skill and professionalism.
Education
PRATT INSTITUTE B.F.A., Fashion Design, 2009
Activities & Affiliations
Fashion Lecturer at Buffalo State College
Fashion Lecturer at Genesee Community College
Fashion Lecturer at Villa Maria College