Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsea Mooney. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chelsea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

I started my Product Development Firm, Building Better, as a way to do business differently in the fashion industry. It can be incredibly challenging and expensive to start an apparel brand, and I don’t think hiring good, experienced talent should be a roadblock.
My mission is to provide small brands and start ups with the industry knowledge and institutional experience of a seasoned apparel pro with the flexibility of a freelancer. Think of Building Better as your go-to Fractional Product Development Team. We partner with brands to provide strategic apparel development with organizational alignment; building sustainable supply chains, sourcing materials and trims, developing new product through patterns, TPs, live model fittings, and more.
We believe in working intentionally, enjoying our craft and providing up-and-coming brands with the experience and support they otherwise could not afford.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been in the fashion industry for almost two decades, getting my start as an intern at sixteen years old. This is what I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. I initially thought I would be a Creative Designer, but immediately knew I was meant to be in Technical Design and Product Development; I love the process of developing a style from scratch through specs and patternmaking. I love working collaboratively with the vendor partners to bring it to life. And I especially love fitting the garments, problem solving through cutting & pinning to really capture the designer’s vision.

After working for a variety of different brands, from small boutique brands like Young, Fabulous & Broke, to big household names like Madewell, to sustainable pioneers like Outerknown and Toad & Co., I realized that my passion lies in the people. Some of my fondest memories of my career are of the teams I’ve worked with, both domestic and abroad, and how product development can be such a challenging, yet crucial part of the business. After having my son and wanting more flexibility in my own schedule, I saw an opportunity to address an issue I had seen in the industry for a long time; the need for top talent and experienced professionals accessible to the up-and-comers.

My vision for Building Better is to connect smaller brands who don’t necessarily have the workload or budget to hire a full time employee, with experienced, dedicated and passionate Technical Designers, Product Developers, Graphic Designers, etc. at the flexibility their business requires. On the flip side, these Technical Designers, Product Developers, Graphic Designers, etc. would be fully employed through Building Better, providing them with the stability and benefits they would not otherwise receive as a freelancer.

When a brand works with Building Better, they will get a committed and trusted business partner that will help support them in their growth; someone who understands not only product development, but the business of fashion. They will work with someone who understands how certain decisions affect the business as a whole, and someone who keeps the wellbeing of the brand top of mind. Right now we are a mighty, hands on team of two and growing!

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I believe that the most important thing when it comes to managing a team is creating an environment of respect, trust and mutual benefit. Unfortunately in my experience, that has not been common practice with certain leadership, so I strive to create a space for my employees that is safe, fulfilling and a source of growth. People want to work where they feel valued, happy and well treated, so if you can foster that you can achieve high morale and good culture.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’ve always been eager to learn and grow, keeping an eye out for opportunities and trusting my gut when moving on to something new. Because of this, I worked at many different companies before launching Building Better and learned a ton of different ways to approach business, product development and communication, giving me a well-versed outlook and flexible work-style that can adapt to my client’s needs. Each business and brand is so different, so my experience has really given me an in-depth and analytical perspective into how to solve a wide range of problems based on the specific team.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseamooney73/
• Other: [email protected]