Most clothing brands mess up fabric before they mess up design. One of the biggest blind spots I see: GSM. If you don’t understand GSM, you’ll: Order tees that feel cheap Get hoodies that don’t hold shape Overpay for fabric you don’t actually need So I put together a simple GSM cheat sheet that covers: Ideal GSM ranges for tees, hoodies, sweats, jackets What GSM actually feels like in real life When higher GSM is worth it — and when it’s just marketing Common GSM mistakes new brands make with manufacturers It’s meant for brand owners, not factories. No fluff, just practical ranges you can use before placing an order. If you’re starting out or planning your next drop, this will save you time and expensive sampling mistakes. Here’s the cheat sheet: 👉 https://rastify.gumroad.com/l/apeaq Hope it helps someone avoid a bad production run 👍

Thanks Tony and Steve for taking the time to jump on the live call today and hope all that we discussed was helpful. If you need any links for what we discussed, especially on products, let me know and I'll drop them in here. Great to speak to you again! 🙌💥

When most people start a clothing brand, they focus on designs and logos — but manufacturing decisions are where most mistakes actually happen. Things like: Which stitching techniques should be used around the neck, shoulders, and hems Why some garments fail after a few washes What printing techniques actually work for different fabrics (and which ones brands think they need but don’t) What options manufacturers usually have in their printing and embroidery arsenal I’ve been in apparel manufacturing for 15+ years, and I’m still learning every day. I put together a free manufacturing guide covering the basics that I wish more brand owners knew before ordering samples or bulk production. If you’re starting out (or fixing production issues), this should save you time, money, and headaches. Free guide here: 👉 https://rastify.gumroad.com/l/ujorz Happy to answer any production or manufacturing questions in the comments as well — that’s what this community is for.

Hey SKOOL crew! 👋 Just before Christmas, we held a few casual coffee meetups on Zoom. Everyone who joined said they got a lot out of them—it was a great space to get advice, see what others are working on (or dreaming up), and share both wins and frustrations. I’m looking to start these sessions up again from next week. What day works best for everyone? I know we’ve got at least one Aussie in the group, so I’m thinking about running an earlier UK morning session—or maybe even two sessions to cover all time zones. Let me know your thoughts—your feedback will help me make sure everyone can join in! Thanks! Steve

Hey everyone! I’m Areeb. I run Rastify Gears, where we help clothing brands turn ideas into real products — from design and sampling to full-scale production. We mostly work with streetwear, sportswear, and leather apparel. We also operate an Etsy store, VirginiaLeatherShop, focused on leather jackets. I’ve been in manufacturing for 15+ years, and honestly, I’m still learning something new every year. I’m here to help however I can — especially if anyone has questions about production, materials, or working with factories. Excited to be part of this community!