Take your students behind the scenes in the garment industry. Join our video crew to visit Henry-Lee Apparel in Chicago, a family business that makes over five hundred styles a year for six brand lines.
- Follow each step of garment production from raw fabric to its delivery to the retail outlet.
- Learn the role of the designer, pattern maker, marker, spreader, and cutter.
- See how progressive bundling and whole garment manufacturing differ.
- Learn how a small garment maker can compete in the global economy.
- Watch a design team work with fabrics to create an idea for a style that fits in one of the Henry-Lee brands.
- See a designer work solely with fabric and a dress form to create what looks amazingly close to a stylish garment.
- Follow the design process as a sample is created for each adopted style from a hand made pattern.
- Learn about the efficient "cut to order" system that allows Henry-Lee to sell first and mass produce later.
- Listen as a garment is priced out based on the knowledge that it will require 55 separate operations demanding over two hours of hand labor.
- Watch how a production pattern is created and graded for each size.
- See a marker created to insure the fabric is cut without waste.
- See the fabric cut using both the traditional hand cutting and more advanced laser technology.