Fabric to Finish

Yesterday we visited Fabric to Finish and had the opportunity to talk to the founder, Jamie Koff. The company was founded in 2006 and has a focus on independent and new designers. Fabric to Finish specializes in product development and production management. Jamie also told us that they assist new designers a lot with their designs and the fabrics that they use for their garments. Most of their clients are independent designers, but they also have larger known names like Diane von Furstenberg, Rebecca Minkoff, and Brooks Brothers.

During our visit Jamie talked a lot about her previous careers before creating Fabric to Finish. She told us many helpful tips about networking and job interviews. When talking about networking, she said that hand-written notes give off a good impression. Making phone calls to companies about job opportunities is another great way to network yourself. She talked about calling a store for a job opening, but they weren’t hiring at the time, so she asked to go visit the store for an informational type of interview. By doing this, she made a big impression that shows that she is passionate about that company. Networking is extremely important in this industry and we need to be doing more of it when searching for jobs. A big lesson I learned from her was that you can get fired for doing your job perfectly. I also learned that not all employers see that as an awful thing and understand that happens sometimes.

Jamie Koff and her company, Fabric to Finish, contributes a lot to the fashion industry by providing sourcing and technical design to smaller designers. They have appropriate pricing for smaller brands while still providing excellent work. It’s important in the industry to have companies like this that cater to emerging designers. I might use this experience in my future career if I am assisting with a design project at a company or assisting with fabric sourcing.