The Evans Group is a multi-functioning manufacturing entity that can proudly bear the stamp.. .Made in the USA. Nolcha.com spoke with Jennifer Evans about the evolution of American manufacturers who realize that every client counts.
Lynn Furge: Please explain the services available for designers through the Evans Group?
Jennifer Evans: The Evans Group provides patterns, samples, grading/marking, and cut/sew of small and medium production. We are a social enterprise promoting independent design, and craftsmanship.
LF: What type of specialties do you have in manufacturing?
JE: We specialize in high-end designs, and small volume production.
LF: Are there any new trends that you are working with in fabric treating or finishing techniques?
JE: We work with many emerging designers, who often have innovative approaches to their designs. We work with the designers to orchestrate their vision, whether it is a special hand stitch, beading, or a very difficultly draped pattern. We have seen a surge in eco-friendly fabrics recently.
LF: What benefits of having development and production under the same facility, does an independent designer experience by working with the Evans Group?
JE: We have the benefit of one continuous communication channel.....if there is a question from production about a pattern; the source is nearby to answer. By the time the style is finalized, we have also worked out all the kinks, making it truly ready for production, by the same people that helped develop it.
Our medium production is being relocated to Oakland, but I am working 1/2 time in each location, with a highly qualified team, to ensure the ease of communication is not lost in the process long-distance. We are still in the same time zone however, making it still much easier than working abroad.
LF: Please tell me about your new facility in Oakland?
JE: MIO (Made in Oakland) is a partnership with the Unity Council. They are a non-profit, and received a grant from the Federal Government to partner with a for-profit to create jobs in a factory setting. They learned about my sample shop in San Francisco, and asked me to partner with them. It is ideal, as they have many resources to better-orchestrate the model I developed in LA, and was doing on my own w/o any financing, etc.
The agreement is to set-up a production facility, and create 60 jobs over the next year. We are using the same training component, of teaching English and fine sewing skills, to provide an ascending job ladder for employee’s to improve their pay rate.
The facility will do all production for The Evans Group's customers, and continue to specialize in high-end and small volume production. I am very excited about this, as it allows us to create a source for production, with the resources necessary to do so well. And it carries on The Evans Group's original mission of creating jobs and supporting the independent design community.
The Evans Group will keep its development studio in LA, and will send the production-only to MIO. We hope to eventually open development shops in NY and Chicago, similar to our LA facility, and similarly send production to MIO as well.
LF: How much input do you feel you have in the final look of a designer’s collection, as far as proper fabrics for their pattern, fit, and finishing possibilities?
JE: Our patternmakers are trained to orchestrate the designer's vision. They do provide feedback relating to the fit, construction possibilities, and finishing, which sometimes affects the design. However, they work hard to ensure it is the designer's vision coming through in the orchestration of the samples.
LF: What do you want an independent designer to know about manufacturing?
JE: It is not easy. The process is the same if you produce 10 or 10,000 units. Cutting corners in development inevitably creates issues in production. It's not an easy task, but by planning well, staying organized, and doing things the right way the first time, you truly save money in the end.
Great thoughts you got there, believe I may possibly try just some of it throughout my daily life.
Entrepreneur Interview