What It Takes to Manufacture in NYC (Costs, Craft, and Control) with Eleanor Mooney of Verdant

Eleanor Mooney is the co-founder of Verdant, a New York City-made luxury lingerie line built for real life - not just the fitting room. In this episode, she and Emily Jean get into what it actually takes to create high-quality lingerie from the ground up: sourcing European fabrics, obsessing over stretch and recovery, wear-testing every sample, and building an e-commerce experience that still feels like boutique-level service.If you’ve ever wondered why some bras look amazing for five minutes and then fall apart by lunchtime, Eleanor breaks down the details most brands overlook - plus how Verdant is designing for “stillness and motion” so women can move, work, commute, mom, and live without adjusting straps all day.Verdant is a masterclass in what “premium” is supposed to mean: fewer pieces, better materials, better fit, and an obsession with how a woman actually moves through her day. If you’re building a product brand (or just tired of bras that don’t keep up with your life), this conversation will make you rethink what’s worth investing in - and how service and craftsmanship become the real differentiators.⸻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you loved today’s conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life.⸻💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe⸻Follow Emily:https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/⸻Follow Founders in Jeans:https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/⸻Follow Eleanor Mooney of Verdant:https://verdant-nyc.com/https://www.instagram.com/verdant_newyork/⸻SEO keywords:female founders, women entrepreneurs, luxury lingerie brand, lingerie startup, NYC fashion brand, made in New York clothing, garment district manufacturing, slow fashion, sustainable lingerie, ethical lingerie brand, women-owned brands, Filipina founders, Asian-American founders, direct-to-consumer lingerie, lingerie fit tips, bra fitting, virtual bra fitting, online lingerie fitting, bras as outerwear, lingerie styling tips, denim and lingerie, longline bra, balcony bra, demi bra, seamless underwear, visible panty line solution, stretch and recovery fabric, French lace, European fabrics, luxury fabric sourcing, lingerie grading, pattern grading, bra size education, band and cup sizing, fit testing product, wear testing clothing, product sampling process, fashion product development, luxury retail career, customer service in retail, e-commerce customer experience, flexible returns policy, founder-led brand, boutique-level service online, pop-up retail strategy, holiday capsule collection, lingerie robe, loungewear brand expansion, swimwear brand launch, timeless wardrobe staples, elevated basics, building a luxury brand, consumer brand strategy, fashion entrepreneurship, startup lessons, founder story, building product quality, brand identity, fashion brand values, New York City designers, women’s confidence, confidence through fit, investing in lingerie, wardrobe essentials, networking soft skills, Vanessa Van Edwards Cues, social cues in business, approachable leadership, service-driven brands, luxury brand relevance, heritage fashion brands