When I first had the idea for PHNX, I had no idea how to create my own product. I had never heard of a tech pack and had no idea what MOQ meant. Instead, I did what any self-respecting millennial would do - I went to google. (Spoiler: I still use google all the time) I started learning about factories, how to contact them, what questions to ask, what to look for, and basically gave myself a crash course in manufacturing. I reached out to a LOT of factories around the world that I thought might be able to make the shorts I wanted. Most never responded, but the few who did were my starting point.

At first, I asked the factories to send me samples of work they had done previously. For me, this was a quick and relatively inexpensive way to see the craftsmanship and determine if they might be a good fit. I’m so glad I did this because there were several that were an immediate no. It became clear pretty quickly that there was 1 factory that stood out above the rest. The sample they sent me was high quality, they were responsive to my messages, and I was working with another woman which was a nice change.

At this point, I still didn’t have a tech pack so I was working with the factory to create a sample based on lots of messages back and forth. Not the ideal way to start, but they were gracious and willing to help me learn. After receiving samples, finalizing colors, and negotiating a price the first round of Serena shorts were ready to ship!

The shorts arrived - while I was on my honeymoon, no less - and I immediately inspected and check every pair. To this day, I inspect every pair of shorts before they ship to make sure the quality is up to our standards.

Since creating Serena shorts 1.0 we’ve created a tech pack, learned about MOQs and how to work with factories with lower MOQs since we are not (yet) Nike or Adidas. I did talk with some of the factories the large companies use in this process and I will say, it was definitely an enlightening experience. I still have a lot to learn about manufacturing, sourcing, and materials, but I know when the day comes and we’re ordering 100,000 pcs of one product, we’ll be ready to work with the big dogs. Until then, every day is a new day to learn.