Stars Design Group
Stars Design Group is a privately held, full-package apparel design and manufacturer serving established brands, retailers, startups, and fashion professionals through 67 factories in 14 countries, anchored by 3D design tools and a 20,000+ fabric library.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Stars Design Group does
Stars Design Group is a privately held, full-package apparel design and manufacturing company founded in 1993 by Bret Schnitker and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The firm operates an integrated design-to-delivery service for established brands, retailers, startups, and fashion professionals, coordinating a network of 67 factories across 14 countries with on-the-ground offices in Taipei, Addis Ababa, Amman, Seoul, Dhaka, and New Delhi. Its core technology stack is built on licensed platforms — Browzwear VStitcher for 3D virtual prototyping, BeProduct for product lifecycle management, and Alvanon for body-scanning and fit analytics — combined with a proprietary fabric library of more than 20,000 materials and digital weaving capabilities. The company cites a 0.8% defect rate versus an industry average of 2–5% as a quality differentiator, supported by WRAP and Better Work certifications and a fair-trade partnership with Life S.A. in Haiti.
The business generates revenue through professional services engagements covering full-package manufacturing, consulting, design support, garment technical design, apparel launch and inventory management, logistics, and marketing support, with quote-based project pricing and no public tiers. Customer segments span established brands seeking apparel extensions, startups and emerging brands requiring end-to-end guidance, fashion professionals, and heritage/lifestyle brands (including automotive and motorsports). Named enterprise customers include an iconic motorcycle manufacturer, a multi-billion-dollar national retailer's private-label program, and the fashion house threeASFOUR, for which Stars produced an inclusive apparel line debuted at Paris Fashion Week. The company is also building a media and community ecosystem through the Clothing Coulture podcast and magazine, the United Coulture designer community, and the INSPR subsidiary for influencer-led brand building, which together function as both marketing channels and adjacent revenue lines. Leadership consists of founder/CEO Bret Schnitker (30+ years in apparel, working across 70 countries) and Chief Strategy Officer Emily Lane; ownership is founder-controlled with no disclosed external investment.
Stars Design Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stars Design Group
- Legal name
- Stars Design Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://starsdesigngroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Stars Design Group is a privately held, full-package apparel design and manufacturer serving established brands, retailers, startups, and fashion professionals through 67 factories in 14 countries, anchored by 3D design tools and a 20,000+ fabric library.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stars Design Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Apparel Manufacturing Services
- NAICS
- Industrial Design Services (541420)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Luxury & Designer Apparel Houses (CRAAAAAC)
Keywords
Where Stars Design Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Stars Design Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Full-Package Apparel Manufacturing: Complete design-to-delivery manufacturing services including design, production, quality control, and logistics for apparel brands and retailers
- Consulting Services: Expert consulting in C-suite executive consulting, design support, manufacturing guidance, garment technical support, apparel launch, inventory management, logistics, and marketing support
- Design Services: Full collection apparel and accessory design support, color forecasting, trend forecasting, trim development, and tech pack creation services
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Stars Design Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stars Design Group is a full-package apparel manufacturer that designs, produces, quality-controls, and delivers garments and accessories for lifestyle brands, retailers, and start-ups through a global network of 67 factories in 14 countries. Its offering spans apparel design, sourcing and manufacturing, garment technical support, consulting, logistics and distribution, complemented by sub-brands for media (Clothing Coulture), designer community (United Coulture), and influencer-led brand building (INSPR).
Product overview
Stars Design Group is a full-package apparel manufacturing company offering end-to-end services from design to delivery. The core offering is Full-Package Apparel Manufacturing supported by Consulting Services that include Design Support, Manufacturing, Garment Technical Support, Apparel Launch & Inventory Management, Logistics, and Marketing Support. The company also operates several sub-brands: Clothing Coulture (podcast and magazine), United Coulture (designer community), and INSPR (influencer fashion branding). Additional services include Pre-Production Services, Corporate Suites for business travelers, and the Business Threads educational podcast series developed with the U.S. government CLDP program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full-Package Apparel Manufacturing End-to-end apparel manufacturing service managing every step from concept through finished garment, including sourcing, production, quality control, and logistics for apparel brands and retailers.
- Apparel Design Services Design support including 3D design and development, color forecasting, trend forecasting, digital weaving, collection design, trim development, and access to a centralized library of 20,000+ fabrics.
- Apparel Consulting Services Expert consulting covering C-Suite executive consulting, design support, manufacturing guidance, garment technical support, apparel launch, inventory management, logistics, and marketing support.
- Garment Technical Support Technical design services including tech pack creation, block development, specification sheets, virtual fit overviews, science-based fit sessions, and detailed line drawings.
- Apparel Logistics and Distribution Logistics and distribution services including warehousing, fulfillment, transportation coordination, and return policy establishment for finished apparel.
- Apparel Launch and Inventory Management Consulting services for budget planning, brand positioning, buy planning, sales and inventory analysis, apparel assortment planning, and delivery execution.
- Pre-Production Sampling Services Sample development services including trim approval cards, lab dips for color approval, and fit samples for general fit approval purposes.
Quantifiable outcome
- 0.8% defect rate vs industry average of 2-5%
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Stars Design Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Stars Design Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Stars Design Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- BeProductcoreFashion technology house partnership for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). Stars Design Group selected BeProduct after a rigorous selection process in 2017. The company has approximately 30 active users of BeProduct's PLM platform, enabling streamlined design-to-delivery operations.
- BrowzwearcoreTechnology partnership using Browzwear VStitcher, the industry-leading 3D virtual prototyping solution. Enables visualization of finished products on digital avatars, error correction during design stage, and pressure/tension testing across body types.
- AlvanoncoreConsulting partnership specializing in apparel fit and sizing solutions. Provides specialized solutions for perfect sizing, educational courses for business communication goals, and global body scanning data analysis for improved product development.
- Life S.A.coreFair trade production partner in Haiti providing dignified employment to struggling parents and young adults aging out of orphan care. Facility has capacity to produce 2.5 million tees per year at world-class efficiency rates. 50% of profits support education and community strengthening.
- CiCLO TechnologyminorInnovation partnership for sustainable textile technology. CiCLO's biodegradable additive for polyester and nylon enables degradation of synthetic materials at end of life, addressing fiber pollution in fashion manufacturing.
- Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP)corePartnership with U.S. government CLDP Textile Competitiveness Program supporting Salvadoran textile industry integration into U.S. commerce. Stars Design Group developed Business Threads podcast distributed to professionals in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala; teaches virtual professional development courses; provides consulting to Salvadoran textile companies.
- threeASFOURflagshipHigh-profile partnership to produce new fashion line for the NYC-based design house. Debuted inclusive apparel line at Paris Fashion Week, featured in Vogue as part of threeASFOURASONE launch with iconic circle bag reissue.
- WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production)coreWRAP certification partnership ensuring ethical manufacturing practices across Stars Design Group factory network. Third-party inspection teams used for quality control and compliance monitoring.
- Better WorkcorePartnership with Better Work program ensuring fair labor practices and improved working conditions in manufacturing facilities.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Stars Design Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Li & Fung: Global sourcing and manufacturing giant managing apparel supply chains for major brands across multiple countries. Highly comparable to Stars' full-package model but at vastly larger scale and broader category scope.
- Pentland Group: UK-based brand management company with apparel portfolio and manufacturing partnerships across global markets. Comparable in managing multiple apparel brands and offering design-to-distribution services, though at significantly larger scale with brand ownership.
Direct peers
- MAS Holdings: Sri Lanka-based apparel manufacturer offering design-to-delivery services with global factory network and ethical manufacturing focus. Directly comparable to Stars' full-package model with similar emphasis on sustainability and complex global supply chain coordination.
- Hirdaramani Group: Apparel manufacturer with global factory network spanning Asia, Africa, and the Americas offering end-to-end design and production services. Comparable in full-package model, geographic diversification, and enterprise client focus.
- Delta Galil Industries: Global designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded and private label apparel products with international production footprint. Comparable in offering full-package apparel services and serving both established brands and retailers.
- Esquel Group: Vertically integrated apparel manufacturer with cotton-to-garment operations and global production footprint focused on quality and innovation. Comparable in ethical manufacturing emphasis and enterprise brand servicing.
- Crystal International Group: Hong Kong-based apparel manufacturer with factories across Asia and Africa producing for global brands. Comparable in full-package manufacturing, multi-country production, and serving enterprise apparel clients.
Regional players
- Arvind Limited: India-based textile and apparel manufacturer with end-to-end capabilities including design, manufacturing, and branding. Comparable in full-package model and design-driven approach, though primarily serves regional (South Asian) markets with growing global presence.
Others
- Browzwear: Provider of 3D fashion design and virtual prototyping software used by apparel brands and manufacturers. Direct technology partner of Stars and ecosystem adjacent; their tools enable Stars' digital design capabilities and serve similar fashion industry clients.
- Alvanon: Provider of apparel fit and sizing solutions, body scanning data, and industry consulting. Direct partner of Stars and serves overlapping apparel industry clients with specialized fit technology and consulting services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Stars Design Group social profiles
Digital presenceStars Design Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stars Design Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Stars Design Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Stars Design Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stars Design Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stars Design Group
What does Stars Design Group do?
Stars Design Group is a full-package apparel manufacturer that designs, produces, quality-controls, and delivers garments and accessories for lifestyle brands, retailers, and start-ups through a global network of 67 factories in 14 countries. Its offering spans apparel design, sourcing and manufacturing, garment technical support, consulting, logistics and distribution, complemented by sub-brands for media (Clothing Coulture), designer community (United Coulture), and influencer-led brand building (INSPR).
Is Stars Design Group a public or private company?
Stars Design Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Stars Design Group founded?
Stars Design Group was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Stars Design Group based?
Stars Design Group is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stars Design Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Full-Package Apparel Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are consulting Services and design Services.
Who are Stars Design Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Li & Fung and Pentland Group. Direct peers are MAS Holdings, Hirdaramani Group, Delta Galil Industries, Esquel Group and Crystal International Group. Arvind Limited is listed as a regional player. Others are Browzwear and Alvanon.
Does Stars Design Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stars Design Group.
What industry is Stars Design Group in?
Stars Design Group's product category is Apparel Manufacturing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAM, Industrial/Product & Furniture Design, with a secondary code of CRAAAAAC, Luxury & Designer Apparel Houses. Its NAICS code is 541420 and its SIC code is 3949.