Anna Dougherty
Anna Gray Collection
New York City
What is your product(s)?
We sell women’s coats and accessories. Our coats are made from American-made, deadstock wool in small batches in New York City. Our clutches are made from leftover fabric from the coats, helping us work towards a zero-waste collection.
Where were you with your idea or business before joining Factory45?
I’d designed my collection and didn’t know where to go from there. I was feeling good about starting a business, but also a little lost and wasn’t sure how it was going to go with working full-time. I joined F45 because I felt like I needed a roadmap and something to help keep me on track with my goal of launching while working my day job full-time. The mentorship program and community were also a large draw.
How did joining Factory45 help you?
There were so many things that were helpful in the Factory45 program. The way it’s laid out allows you to always know what to be working on, which was so helpful when working full-time. Also, having access to my mentor was a huge help with so many of my questions, and having such a supportive mentor-group was a huge deal for me, too. It was great to have people to ask questions, get ideas from, and just know you’re not alone in the entrepreneur journey! I think it would’ve taken me much longer to get to launch without joining the F45 program.
In your opinion, what is the most valuable thing about Factory45?
I think the most valuable parts of the program are the way the lessons are laid out, the mentorship aspect, and the community. Each of these parts were so valuable to me. The fashion industry is a different ball-game and having so many opportunities to ask questions and get help that was specific to the industry was a game-changer.
What were some big or small milestones that you hit after going through Factory45?
The biggest milestone was launching my business at the beginning of September! I know that Factory45 was an invaluable part of getting me to that point. I feel strongly that it would have taken me much longer to do it on my own.
Please describe your business after Factory45.
I launched a successful pre-sale and have now finished production! I am currently starting to ship my first orders, and look forward to continuing to build my brand through the methods laid out in Factory45.
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