WE PUT PEOPLE OVER PROFIT. HERE’S WHY.

(Worth the read, 6 mins)

By Gina Moorehead

Distilling down the entirety of our business, our processes, our shop space, our desks and computers, our machines and tools… where would we be without the hands and hearts of our sewers? They engineer patterns seemingly out of thin air, know how to cut the material for the best yield, and sit at the machines to stitch together our wildest dreams within a millimeter of precision every time the needle goes up and down.    

We’d like to give a round of applause to our tailors.  

Do you remember the first time you were taught to hand-sew a button in home economics class?  Do you remember how confusing and frustrating it was to learn how to thread the machine? Ever tried threading a serger? It’s honestly as daunting as rocket science and usually requires pictorial manuals, you tube videos, tweezers and a flashlight - every single time.  

Enough disclaimers, you get it, our tailors are pro’s. They know how to easily manage a dozen different machines for any given project.  They know the potential and limitations of your design by looking at your napkin sketch in under ten seconds.  They need to be treated with the utmost respect - and you need to know why. 

Tailoring and sewing is nearly a lost art in the USA. We’re raised on extracurriculars and achieving degrees. Meanwhile, it’s the norm in so many other countries where kids grow up playing under their families sewing machine and making costumes with leftover material.  Many of those who sew for HBI are from other countries, and some are new to our country.  That poses many challenges, from speaking a common language to driving a car, raising a family, and operating under tight budgets. They have the skill, so we find the solutions. Afterall, HBI stands for Home Based Industries.   

Endless questions come to mind.  How does it work? How does one prepare?  Is it expensive? Isn’t it cheaper to make it overseas?  Actually, not really.  We can do a small niche project AND handle high-volumes.  Let’s dig in… 

As our clients share their visions we review our capabilities, capacity and timing. Our combined sewers have produced 20,000 units within a week - but, to be clear, that’s not where we all start.  We’re not talking about sweatshop conditions, we’re talking about vocation. Our sewers are happy to be sewing.  We focus on workplace happiness and satisfaction.  Music when you work, lunch whenever, coffee at your leisure, being comfortable. 

All of us at HBI, Jeff, Pam, Scott and myself have grinding years of experience in starting a small brand with the necessary small minimums. We’ve done the work for you.  

Tell us about your big idea and see if we can make it.  First, you’ll need a sample. Our sample maker is in-house and our schedule allows us to turn it around in six weeks or less. As we move forward collaboratively, we carefully assess which of our skilled home sewers are most suited for the project, taking into account their training, availability, and interest. This approach benefits both parties. For you, it ensures that the project is entrusted to capable hands, guaranteeing quality and reliability. For our home sewers, it offers them an opportunity to engage in projects they are passionate about and properly compensated for their time and expertise. We establish a fair price, grounded in a thorough time study, and proceed with the project only upon their full approval of the pricing terms.

Sure, you may pay a fraction more for the sewing cost per item in the USA, but you also don’t have to pay duties or risk the product being stuck at the port. Let’s not forget about the language barrier and the 16 hour time difference.  We’re all ensured good working conditions and your item is traceable, meaning, we know exactly who sewed what as they are working from the comfort of their own home. 

Okay! Let’s do this! Purchase order is in hand and it’s time for certification and handoff.  Components are prepared and material is cut at HBI. Together, in person, we walk through quality check points verbally and visually, and send our sewers home with pre-production samples. What’s a pre-production sample? Having that perfect sample gives the tailors something to compare their work to, ensuring that every item they make is exactly how it’s supposed to be. Next, we hand off production.  Our inventory counts are recorded, and the tailor confirms the amount. The process of counting inventory happens again when the items come back to HBI for quality check, ensuring that we are shipping one hundred percent on your purchase order.  

Well folks, that about does it for this blog post. Please check back next time as we delve into another facet that sets us apart: our fellow Minnesotan makers. We’ll explore local designers, woolen materials and the WORLD CUP event that’s bringing them all together.