I know they are two different beasts. A couple of coders vs. many skilled trades people to get one project off the ground. I am amazed at how many experts it takes in the garment industry to get one item created: designer, pattern maker, fabric sourcer, marker, grader, cutter...it goes on. And if all these people are contractors, they work out of their own space. It is hard enough to get one project moving when it's one company in one office! Thanks to V. Mora, my Product Developer, they have many of these people in one place, or they have a go to list of people they work with to help me manage all these stages.
That being said, I finally have my first prototype. It took 4 months and a lot of cash, but its here. And as I was warned, sports bras are the most challenging garments to sew and they take many prototypes to get right.
Even though I knew that, I wasn't prepared for seeing the pictures of it in NY ( I live in San Francisco) on a the dress form and the fit model. It just seemed so far off my vision and I realized the structure was going to need a lot of re-thinking. I cried for a moment out of sheer fear I had made too many mistakes and maybe I had tried to jump into an industry I knew so little about.
After a good stiff drink and a couple of calls to friends I talked myself off the fence. Telling myself there had to be a place to start. It's the beginning of a conversation. I just needed to make a list of what I knew needed to be changed and get the experts to advise me. This is not an inexpensive endeavor, nor easy, but I am still solid in my conviction that TMak Sportswear and the TaDa bra will bring to market a fantastic easy on / easy off, highly supportive and stylish sports bra!
p.s. sorry I'm not showing the whole prototype. It's just too early and far off the mark to take it public :))