Reinventing the fashion industry
Nicolas
Co-founder, CEO
Max
Co-CMO
Chia
Designer/ Editor
Sam
Co-founder, CPO
Natalia
COO
Lauren
Event Manager/ PR
Mike
Co-founder, CMO
Curls
Sales
Mili
Event Manager/ PR
Roger
Software Lead
Fabian
Actual Architect
Why do we need to democratize garment manufacturing
The fashion industry has a $50 billion dead stock issue because an estimated 30% of fashion products are never sold as trend cycles have shortened to just a few weeks. Meanwhile, SHEIN, one of the fastest growing companies, is the most-polluting company with its ultra-fast fashion model, emitting 16.7 million tons of CO2 annually. And 75% of brands reported supply chain disruptions affecting their production timelines, leading to more than $2 trillion in economic loss globally since 2020.
Something seems massively broken in this system! Trend cycles are outpacing conventional supply chains with lead times from design to production delivery of 9-12 months, emerging designers have a hard time entering the industry to bring innovation, and garments have become disposable items (only 1% of garments get recycled).
After working in fashion for a few years, we found 3 striking supply chain issues:
01
Traditional paper-based systems hinder the flow of information, resulting in delays, increased costs, and emotional distress.
02
Linear supply chains with production steps spread across the globe are highly exposed to disruptions as brands cannot easily switch suppliers on short notice.
03
Mass production (high MOQs) leads to a mismatch between supply and demand, resulting in significant amounts of unsold stock which is financially and environmentally unsustainable.
So how will a bunch of 20 something year olds fix this mess?
At Labwear Studios, we’re committed to democratizing garment manufacturing by offering services that empower brands worldwide to create garments, order samples, and produce in bulk responsibly and with ease.
So, what exactly are we? Simply calling us a manufacturer or agency doesn’t quite capture what we do. We’re a Swiss technology company operating a supply network, initially focused on northern Portugal. As we expand, we'll unlock a powerful global supply network that aligns demand and supply, while breaking down barriers for emerging designers.
Honestly, the world doesn’t need more clothes—there are already so many out there. The problem is that most of these garments are cheaply made using mixed-fiber materials, which means they often end up in the landfill. At Labwear, we strive to replace waste with high-quality garments made from mono-fiber materials, ensuring recyclability. Our goal is to eventually build a Labwear Loop, where we collect, recycle, and produce new garments.
In short, we’re on a mission to disrupt a broken industry! Join the manufacturing platform of the future!