You are in the idea-stage or early stages of starting a fashion, accessories or sewn goods brand
Factory45 is the business school trusted by fashion entrepreneurs since 2014.
Learn how to source fabric, set up manufacturing and raise money to launch your brand — even if you don’t have a fashion background.
Hi, I’m Shannon Lohr, the Founder of Factory45
Since 2014, Factory45 has helped entrepreneurs all over the globe launch sustainable & ethical fashion brands the right way — from the start.
As the leading online program in the fashion education space, we’ve helped hundreds of people (just like you) who have an idea for a clothing or accessories brand but aren’t sure where to start.
Through Factory45, you learn how to source fabric, set up manufacturing and raise money to launch your brand — in the most time efficient and cost-effective way possible.
SWIMWEAR
Meet Galamaar: The Factory45 Alum listed as a ‘Label We Love’ by Madewell.
Joined Factory45: 2015
Launched: 2017
Featured in Vogue: 2018
“Factory45 was the best step I could have taken while navigating early entrepreneurship.
Shannon has designed a clear and concise program that takes the guess work out of so many would-be time and money consuming aspects of starting a business.”
Blakely Wickstrom, Founder of Galamaar
Here’s How It Works
Factory45 is a self-paced program that takes sustainable fashion entrepreneurs from idea to launch. Through action-based modules, vetted supply chain databases, templates and virtual training, Factory45 entrepreneurs are equipped to build a sustainable fashion business from idea to launch.
A fashion background is not a requirement to participate in the program! In fact, most of our alumni started from outside of the fashion industry.
Enrollment to Factory45 is now closed!
Sign up below to be notified when enrollment opens.
IN FACTORY45 YOU WILL…
Launch your fashion brand with money in the bank.
That’s right, you’ll raise money before you start manufacturing. We’ll show you how to launch your brand with less risk, less uncertainty & less overwhelm.
Fabric Supplier Database
Patternmaker & Samplemaker Database
Production Partner Database
Packaging Database
PR & Media Database
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
With an online portal that acts as a virtual classroom, the program curriculum is made up of five online modules to take you from idea stage to launch.
LIFETIME ACCESS
The lifetime access to the entire program ensures that your launch timeline is manageable whether you have a full-time job or you’re building your company full time.
1 | Sourcing
Module 1: Sourcing
Effectively research and source the fabric and materials you need to create your apparel product or clothing line.
- Connections to a database of hundreds of suppliers who sell sustainable fabrics and low minimums.
- Strategies to get a response from these suppliers, including exact scripts outlining what to say (and what not to say), so that you can build relationships and start confidently sourcing the materials you need.
- An in-depth understanding of sewn manufacturing, how it works, what you need to know to avoid mistakes and how to efficiently source materials for production.
- An overview of sustainability so you’ll have a clear understanding of what makes a fabric “eco-friendly” and whether it’s the right fit for your product.
- A materials inventory template so you’ll know the exact fabric and materials you’ll need to go into production.
- Training on how to create your sketches and a professional spec sheet — even if you can’t draw!
2 | Brand Identity
Module 2: Brand Identity
Identify who your ideal customer is, how to effectively communicate what you sell and learn proven strategies that will get a potential customer’s attention.
- An understanding of smart business principles that will keep you “lean” and out of debt.
- A complete brand strategy that speaks directly to your target market and represents the visual identity of your company.
- A pre-launch strategy that generates customer leads to create ‘early adopters’ of your product.
- Implementation of the #1 most effective marketing tactic for an e-commerce product launch.
- A “traffic engine” that will turn interested customers into repeat customers over time.
3 | Pre-Production
Module 3: Pre-Production
Connect with top industry designers, samplemakers, patternmakers and production partners that will help you turn your ideas into prototypes and patterns.
- Connections to dozens of vetted pattern/samplemakers who will work with you to create a “production-ready” pattern and prototype.
- Guidance and resources for navigating the sewn manufacturing industry as an outsider.
- Connections to production partners who will happily work with low minimums and pay a fair and living wage to their workers.
- A cost and budget analysis so you’ll know how much capital you’ll need to go into production.
- A database of resources for sustainable packaging, hangtags and labels.
4 | Ecommerce Marketing
Module 4: Ecommerce Marketing
Ensure that you’ll have buzz around your product launch. You can’t launch to crickets, so you need to learn how to build an audience before you start selling.
- A tried-and-true content marketing strategy that attracts CUSTOMERS.
- A media strategy for reaching out to press outlets so you can launch your product with buzz.
- New social media tactics to connect with your target market and turn them into “early adopters.”
- Implementation of my top 10 proven launch strategies and how to leverage them for your product.
- The marketing strategies you should actually focus on, so you don’t waste time and energy on what doesn’t work.
5 | Preparing for Launch
Module 5: Preparing for Launch
Test your product at market by pre-selling. See first-hand how your target market responds to your product and raise money before creating inventory.
- A complete plan-of-attack for launching a successful pre-sales campaign that will fund your first production run.
- Creative direction for marketing videos, photography, campaign strategy and product pre-selling.
- PR strategy for effectively communicating your unique selling position so you tell a compelling story that gets re-told.
- An exit plan for going into production without the headache, hassle or stress of not knowing what to do next.
- A SUCCESSFUL BRAND LAUNCH!
6 | Bonus Workshops
Bonus Workshop Recordings
In addition to the program curriculum, access 100+ recordings of Factory45 Workshops. For anything that isn’t covered in the portal, the live workshops fill in the gaps and offer topical advice. Examples of Workshops include:
- How to Avoid Red Flags and Scams
- How to Use Email Marketing Automations to Nurture Your Audience
- Crafting a Brand Story to Use for Pre-Launch PR Opportunities
- Managing Your Supply Chain Remotely
- Financial Fluency & Your First Tax Season
- Self Care & Overcoming the Mental Load of being an Entrepreneur
- Working with Fit Models, Grading & Sizing
- Working with Influencers, Building Relationships & Negotiating Partnerships
- And so many more!
Is Factory45 right for you?
You are a great fit if…
Is Factory45 right for you?
You are an ideal applicant if…
Enrollment to Factory45 is now closed!
Sign up below to be notified when enrollment opens.
SIZE-INCLUSIVE APPAREL
Meet Sotela: The size, race and gender-inclusive brand, disrupting fashion norms.
Joined Factory45: 2015
Launched: 2016
Amount raised: $20K
“I briefly googled ‘how to start a clothing line’ and got scared by how difficult it looked without the experience or capital.
If it weren’t for Factory45, I would have thought it was too hard and quit before starting.”
Hanna Baror-Padilla, Founder of Sotela
What You’ll Accomplish in the
First 3 Weeks of the Program
WOMENSWEAR
Meet Harly Jae: The Factory45 alum designing vintage-inspired garments in Canada.
Joined Factory45: 2016
Launched: 2017
Opened studio + retail space: 2021
“Quite frankly, I don’t think I would have had the guts to launch the business without F45.”
Sometimes you enroll in a program, and by the end of it you think, “I could have figured this out on my own.” You can’t say that about Factory45.”
Laïla Bédard-Potvin, Founder of harly jae
The Investment
ONE TIME
1 payment of
MONTHLY
4 payments of
Frequently Asked Questions
I only have an idea – do I need to be farther along?
No! The Factory45 program was created for people who only have an idea. You don’t need to have sketches or a business plan or fabric… all you need is an internet connection and a hefty dose of determination.
Factory45 truly starts from scratch and if you only have an idea in your head right now, then that’s the perfect place to be!
Do I need to have a fashion background or already know how to make samples and patterns?
Nope! We leave that stuff to the experts. The purpose of Factory45 is to set you up with the people who are trained in sample-making, pattern-making and sewing, so you can focus on the business side of your brand. If you are still in the early stages of development, you will be connected with some of the best in the industry to complete these first steps.
How is Factory45 different from other fashion programs or fashion school?
Most fashion programs don’t get into the details of business. They focus primarily on grading, flat sketching and other manual skills, but place little emphasis on how to market, brand and sell. What good is creating a product or collection if you don’t know how to get it in front of your customer and sell it? Factory45 is all about starting lean, testing the product at market, and going into production with money in the bank.
How is the program structured? Do I have to be anywhere in person?
The entire program is based online. With the help of an online portal that gives participants an individual log-in, we are able to create a virtual “classroom” for wherever you are in the world. You’ll have access to video lessons, to-do lists, action steps, checklists, exercises, contact databases and call recordings throughout each module.
WHAT YOU GET
Strategies to negotiate
with suppliers
Connections to fabric,
materials & manufacturing
A crystal clear
launch plan
3 ways to raise money
for production
A go-at-your-own-pace
curriculum
Email templates to sound
knowledgeable and professional
Connections across the
sustainable fashion industry
Lifetime access to the program
Industry education with no
fashion background required
Enrollment to Factory45 is now closed!
Sign up below to be notified when enrollment opens.
Factory45 is backed by a
10 day money-back guarantee.
Factory45 is backed by a 10 day money-back guarantee.
Here’s how it works: Participate in the first 10 days of the program. If you realize Factory45 isn’t for you, then send me an email within 10 days of enrolling.
I’ll ask for your completed course work from Module 1 (to make sure you gave it a shot) and once I review it, you’ll receive a full refund.
The Guarantee
Factory45 is backed by a 10 day money-back guarantee.
Here’s how it works: Participate in the first 10 days of the program. If you realize the program isn’t for you, then send me an email within 10 days of enrolling.
I’ll ask for your completed course work from Module 1 (to make sure you gave it a shot) and once I review it, you’ll receive a full refund.
Enrollment to Factory45 is now closed!
Sign up below to be notified when enrollment opens.
Still have questions?
Still have questions?
Factory45 is committed to building an equitable, anti-racist organization.
We operate to ensure that all people are given equal opportunity and support in their path to entrepreneurship. We have committed money and time to becoming educated on anti-racism, knowing that this education must be active and ongoing. We are committed to doing what it takes to create a more equitable world for BIPOC entrepreneurs, particularly in sustainable fashion.
