Manufacture New York

What Manufacture New York does

Manufacture New York (MNY) is a hybrid fashion incubator, factory, and research facility founded in 2012 by CEO Bob Bland in Brooklyn, New York, operating from a facility at Liberty View Plaza in Sunset Park. The organization provides vertically integrated services for independent fashion designers, fashion technology startups, established brands, manufacturers, and government and non-profit clients, spanning design consulting, product development (pattern making, muslin, fitting, initial samples), co-working studio memberships, wearable technology R&D, accelerator programming, and sustainability-focused advisory work. Its underlying infrastructure combines traditional factory techniques with specialized labs — a Digital & Advanced Fabrication Lab (3D printing, laser cutting, CNC weaving), a Soft Circuits & Wearable Electronics Lab, and a Biology & Chemistry Wet Lab for sustainable dyeing and bacterial cellulosic textile development — supported by academic collaborations with MIT Media Lab and Columbia University.

The company monetizes through five distinct streams: professional services consulting (sustainability, business strategy, fashion technology roadmapping), recurring co-working memberships (MNY Resident, Dedicated Desk, Day Pass tiers), one-time workshop and event ticket sales, project-based fashion development packages, and the affiliated 501(c)(3) Manufacture Foundation which handles workforce training and subsidized incubation via grants and donations. Customer segmentation is hybrid, spanning SMB-independent-designer long-tail through co-working and workshops, mid-market fashion development engagements, and enterprise/government consulting accounts. A selective Wearable Tech Accelerator, curated by CTO Amanda Parkes (PhD MIT Media Lab, visiting scientist at MIT Media Lab, adjunct at Columbia, 2014 Business of Fashion 500 honoree), provides intensive cohort-based support for early-stage wearable technology startups.

By 2016 the organization reported launching over 100 fashion, manufacturing, and wearable tech businesses and earning coverage in The New York Times, Fast Company, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Women's Wear Daily. However, the source material dates primarily from 2015-2016, the company's website appears inactive, and no post-2016 funding, hiring, or expansion activity is documented — a material data limitation for any forward-looking assessment.

Name

Manufacture New York

Legal name

Manufacture New York

Website

https://manufactureny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manufacture New York is a Brooklyn-based hybrid fashion incubator, factory, and R&D facility serving independent designers, wearable-tech startups, brands, and government clients with co-working memberships, product development, specialized fabrication labs, an accelerator program, and sustainability consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fashion Incubator and Manufacturing Services

NAICS

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (31525), Manufacturing (31-33), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)

akta.pro primary industry

Apparel OEM/ODM & Private Label Manufacturing (CRAAAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Footwear Manufacturing (OEM/ODM & Private Label) (CRAAACAJ), Contract / Private Label Cut & Sew Manufacturing (OEM/ODM) (IMAOAEAM)

Keywords

• Fashion incubator services
• Wearable technology labs
• Fashion development consulting
• Co-working studio space
• Manufacturing accelerator programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Integrated advisory, consulting and research services for brands, designers, manufacturers, startups, government agencies, non-profits, and community organizations. Services include sustainable design methods, sustainability-driven branding, business strategy, fashion technology, manufacturing ecosystem strategy, market analysis, and wearable tech roadmapping.
2. Co-Working Memberships: Membership tiers providing studio space access for emerging and independent designers, small manufacturers, and fashion technology startups. Includes MNY Resident (private 200-400 sq ft spaces), Dedicated Desk (month-to-month with shared tools), and Day Pass options.
3. Classes and Events: Educational workshops and events including natural dyeing, fashion tech, tapestry weaving, felting, zero waste design, HR training, and interactive garment construction. Revenue generated through ticket sales for workshops and events.
4. Fashion Development Services: Full product development packages for emerging and independent designers including consultations, pattern making, muslin, fitting, and initial samples. Design consulting covers strategy, brand cohesion, product functionality, fabric education, sourcing, and yielding.
5. The Manufacture Foundation (Non-profit): 501(c)(3) non-profit launched to provide dedicated support for workforce training, public education, and subsidized incubation programs. Combines resources to expand impact beyond revenue-generating operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Manufacture New York is a hybrid fashion incubator, factory, and research facility that provides independent designers, fashion tech startups, and brands with end-to-end support across fashion design, development, and production. Core offerings include fashion development and design consulting, a wearable tech R&D center with specialized fabrication and biology labs, co-working studio memberships, classes and events, a wearable tech accelerator program, and integrated consulting services on sustainable design, biofabrication, and supply chain strategy.

Product overview

Manufacture New York is a hybrid fashion incubator/factory/research facility offering a vertically-integrated ecosystem for fashion designers, manufacturers, and wearable technology startups. The core offerings include Fashion Development & Design Consulting services, a state-of-the-art Wearable Tech R&D Center with three specialized labs (Digital & Advanced Fabrication, Soft Circuits & Wearable Electronics, Biology & Chemistry Wet Lab), professional Consulting Services covering sustainability and technology strategy, and Studio & Co-Working Space memberships. Additional offerings include Classes & Events programming for skills training and education, a Wearable Tech Accelerator program for early-stage startups, and The Manufacture Foundation non-profit for workforce development. The organization functions as a physical production and research facility rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fashion Development & Design Consulting One-on-one design consultation and full product development packages for emerging and independent fashion designers. Covers design strategy, brand cohesion, product functionality, fabric education, sourcing, yielding, pattern making, muslin, fitting, and initial samples.
• Wearable Tech R&D Center Technology research center featuring three specialized labs (Digital & Advanced Fabrication Lab with 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC weaving; Soft Circuits & Wearable Electronics Lab with conductive threads, inks, and flexible circuits; Biology & Chemistry Wet Lab for sustainable dyeing and biomaterials). Focused on advanced digital fabrication, wearable electronics, and material science for fashion and textiles.
• Consulting Services Integrated advisory, consulting and research services for brands, designers, manufacturers, startups, government agencies, non-profits, and community organizations. Services include sustainable design methods, sustainability-driven branding and communications, business strategy and enterprise development, fashion technology and biofabrication, manufacturing ecosystem strategy, market/policy/trend analysis, and wearable tech roadmapping.
• Studio & Co-Working Space Membership-based creative co-working and studio spaces in Brooklyn for emerging and independent designers, small manufacturers, and fashion technology startups. Tiers include MNY Resident (private 200-400 sq ft studios with 24/7 access), Dedicated Desk (month-to-month with shared tools), and Day Pass (weekday-only access).
• Classes & Events Educational programming including workshops on fashion technology (interactive garments, soft circuits), sustainable practices (natural dyeing, zero waste design, biomaterials), traditional crafts (weaving, crochet, felting, knitting), and professional skills (HR, business development). Sold via Eventbrite and hosted at the Brooklyn facility.
• Wearable Tech Accelerator Highly selective accelerator program curated by the CTO, working personally with a small cohort of early-stage wearable technology startups to successfully produce, promote, manufacture, and distribute their first wearable technology product, leveraging the full MNY ecosystem of services and resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ fashion, manufacturing and wearable tech businesses launched since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• TennaxiasupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016Software partner providing sustainability and enterprise resilience solutions. Tennaxia works with MNY's consulting practice to deliver integrated advisory services focused on sustainable design methods and enterprise resilience in resource-constrained environments.
• SourcemapcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016Software partner for supply chain transparency and mapping. Sourcemap's platform enables MNY to help clients discover sub-suppliers and create transparent supply chains from farm to consumer. Key partner for sustainability-driven consulting practice.
• Factory45coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Online accelerator program for fashion entrepreneurs. Partnership includes joint events such as Emerging Designer Night, providing networking and educational opportunities for startup designers. Complementary resource for designer/entrepreneurs.
• Fashion Innovation AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Founded by Kenya Wiley, former counsel and senior policy adviser for Senate Homeland Security. MNY invited to participate in Fashion and Tech Showcase at US Capitol, bringing together policymakers and technologists in fashion tech.
• Brooklyn Fashion Design Accelerator (BFDA)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaborated on developing first full fashion collection for a fashion show. Young designers used Techpacker technology to manage product development with BFDA for the show.
• High School of Art & Design New YorksupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership to develop first full fashion collection for a fashion show, utilizing Techpacker technology for design management.
• AlvanonsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Recognized grading company partnering to contribute resources to open source fashion community library on Techpacker platform.
• MainettisupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Packaging suppliers partnering to contribute resources to open source fashion community library on Techpacker platform.
• A Green Beauty MagazinesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration for Bazaar event featuring pop-up shops, panel discussions, film screenings, and live music. Event promoted socially and ethically conscious makers and included sustainable fashion and beauty brands.
• TechpackercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Fashion life cycle management tool (PLM) incubated at MNY. MNY working to implement Techpacker into product development room to streamline communication between MNY and clients. Partnership developing open source fashion community.
• MIT Media LabsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Chief of Technology & Research Amanda Parkes is a visiting scientist at MIT Media Lab, enabling cross-institutional research collaboration in fashion technology and materials science.
• Columbia University Department of ArchitecturesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Chief of Technology & Research Amanda Parkes is an adjunct professor in Columbia University Department of Architecture, enabling academic collaboration and research partnerships.
• Artifact TextilessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partners for Maker Monday workshops and visible mending techniques. Artifact Textiles' Nica Rabinowitz and Adriana Lentrichia lead workshops on creative repair, natural dyeing, and textile repurposing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Fashion for Good: Global fashion accelerator focused on sustainability and circular fashion, with innovation platforms and an accelerator program. Operates a similar sustainability-focused fashion accelerator model targeting early-stage innovators and brands, directly comparable to MNY's consulting and wearable tech accelerator practice.
• NYDesigns: NYC design-focused incubator located in Long Island City supporting product design, fashion, and hardware startups with workspace, mentorship, and manufacturing access. Closely matches MNY's hybrid incubator/factory model targeting fashion and product designers.
• Factory45: Online accelerator program specifically for sustainable fashion entrepreneurs. MNY partners with Factory45 on joint events such as Emerging Designer Night, and both target the same emerging sustainable fashion designer customer with complementary programming.
• Textile Arts Center: Brooklyn-based non-profit textile art center offering studio space, classes, workshops, and community programming for textile artists and designers. Directly comparable maker-space model in the same Brooklyn geography, with similar membership and educational programming.
• Alvanon: Fashion industry grading and digital fitting platform that partnered with MNY's Techpacker initiative to contribute resources to the open source fashion community library. Closely aligned with MNY's fashion-tech enablement mission, though Alvanon focuses more on digital tools and grading standards.
• Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator (BFDA): Brooklyn-based fashion accelerator offering similar designer incubation services. MNY partnered with BFDA on developing first full fashion collections, and both serve the same emerging-designer customer base in Brooklyn with overlapping programming.
• Plug and Play (Fashion & Retail vertical): Large global startup accelerator with a dedicated Fashion & Retail vertical running accelerator batches for fashion tech startups. Offers comparable batch-based startup support, corporate partnership matchmaking, and access to brand customers, with significantly greater scale and capital.
• FabLab NYC: NYC-based digital fabrication lab offering access to 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC, and other maker equipment, similar to MNY's Digital & Advanced Fabrication Lab. Both serve designers and entrepreneurs needing digital fabrication access in NYC.

Broad incumbents

• Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT): SUNY-affiliated college in NYC focused entirely on fashion, business, and design with entrepreneur support programs, an incubator, and industry partnerships. A larger, established player operating in fashion education and incubation, with broader scope and deeper institutional backing.
• Parsons School of Design (The New School): Premier NYC fashion and design school that runs the Parsons Design Lab, fashion incubators, and industry partnership programs. A broader incumbent in the same fashion design and entrepreneurship training space, with significantly larger scale and academic credentialing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ManufactureNY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manufacture-new-york

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manufacture New York