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The Cutting Room · Journal

Straight talk
on building a line.

Sourcing, MOQs, tariffs and the real cost of getting made — written from 17 years inside the industry. No fluff, no gatekeeping.

Her journal below — plus a live industry pulse from across fashion ↓
Latest
April 18, 2026 · Krystal Lewis

Do You Need a Fractional Designer?

Senior-level design expertise on a part-time basis — a cost-effective alternative to a full-time hire for apparel brands.

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Oct 1, 2025

Start-up Brands vs Established Brands

Why emerging labels need fundamentally different support than mature players.

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Jan 7, 2025

How Trends Are Driving Up Cost & MOQs

Why minimums jumped to 200 units per color — and how to plan around it.

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Nov 28, 2024

Fashion Fails: Pitfalls for New Lines

The startup costs, market research and business gaps that sink new brands.

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Nov 18, 2024

Tariffs and Their Ripple Effects

How import taxes hit production cost and supply-chain complexity.

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Oct 15, 2024

Black Unicorn in New York

Trade-show networking and connecting with premium manufacturers and mills.

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Every post on sourcing, design and building a brand.

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Industry pulse · live

What's moving fashion now

Live headlines from across the industry — pulled from FashionNetwork, refreshed automatically.

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