047 – Manon Clavel – Dressing Delta

Producing uniforms for Delta Airlines, and successful business development and consulting for textile and garment manufacturing companies from around the world with Manon Clavel… Manon Clavel is a Business development professional and consultant for textile and garment manufacturing companies working with apparel Industry leaders across categories including Levis, Nike, Ralph Lauren, the VF corporation, Vans, Theory, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Brooks Brothers, Burton Snowboards, Athleta, Gap, Banana Republic, Target and other US brands. Clavel joins Stephanie Benedetto and Samanta Cortes in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. In this episode: How Delta Airlines decided to renew uniforms, trying to make more comfortable and make more stylish Working with a designer like Zac Posen and what that means strategy wise How new uniforms raises image of the airline around the world The importance of an American company and American designer Stretch and stretch fabrics and why bi-stretch is important Testing and testing, with so many technical aspects for textiles, apparel and uniforms to produce high quality, and the challenges to accomplish that Everyone is going to be wearing the same uniforms in an airline, so they have to look alike, they can’t have variance, and color consistency is important Need to work with a factory that has the ability to maintain consistency over a long period of time Clavel’s consulting business, and getting a start into a brand, with vendor and supplier, and understanding them and what makes them different Keeping internal drive and motivation, needing a certain type of personality to avoid getting discouraged, some wins Clavel’s proud of such as Nike The crucial nature of sustainability and the continued learning curve for the industry Traveling to Europe, and loving a new family