There has long been a gap in West Michigan for accessory designers who want to ramp up small scale production of their products before considering mass production. These designers, who work with leather and a variety of fabrics, have have to look to the east coast or the west coast of the United States to find a small-batch manufacturing company that could bring their designs to life--and to the market.
In West Michigan, that gap is now officially closed with the opening of Parliament Studios, a new accessory design and production company that will be opening in July at 401 Hall St. SW.
The co-founders of the studio are Elyse Marie Welcher, the proprietress of
Parliament Boutique and maker/designer/dreamer of Littlewings Designs, and her fiance Jacob Vroon, owner of Harbinger Leather.
Welcher says the new space will provide fashion entrepreneurs with the ability to have "small-batch" (up to 1,000 pieces or items) production services along with professional consulting, sample making, and sourcing assistance. She says they can produce almost anything designed from leather or other fibers including purses, handbags, belts and leather components for larger items such as chairs or tables.
Welcher says the team, which includes Megan Roach, is "stoked" about playing a role in bringing back a manufacturing base to Michigan. "We are all Michigan-raised and we are proud to be from the area and proud to be bringing back manufacturing skills to the area," Welcher says.
To support the opening of the new business, Welcher has submitted her idea to Start Garden but is moving forward with or without that additional assistance.
To learn more about Welcher's ventures, you can visit her site
here or their Start Garden application
here.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor
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