We’ve been working on designs for our Kidoneders for nearly 15 years now and finally got it right. After at least five design edits, and even more seamstresses, we landed on a great fit. After much searching, we also discovered dobby fabric, which makes our kidoneders both beautiful and soft to the touch. We’re so excited that the stars have aligned!

Now we partly attribute the time constraints to our own status as mothers (and now grandmothers) rather than as clothing designers or even sewers. We’ve always known what we wanted, but it was turning the vision into reality that took such a long time. In the end, we’ve been caught in the “no one is making anything in the US anymore” phenomenon. And that’s ironic since we grew up in Allentown PA, a textile town. Not all that long ago, Allentown had been the home to more than 140 silk and textile factories, the hub for Mack Trucks, and was just next door to Bethlehem Steel. But the factories are all gone now.

The sewers are around, but factories have closed, and the sewing and snap machines have disappeared along with the work. After internet searches, telephone calls, craiglist ads, and investigative visits, we found someone we called sewer extraordinaire (at the time), the former owner of a now shuttered 100 something person textile factory, who sewed out of a portable storage shed in her backyard. We found another sewer renting space in a former textile factory building, who’s business and health suffered during COVID. We even visited factories in Viet Nam and checked out sites in Costa Rica, but quickly realized our small size prevented us from going down that path. In between we found a consultant in NYC and a small factory in the city’s garment district. We’re pleased to report that we’re now happily working with a sewer who rents space in the very same building in New York’s garment district.

The lesson: starting a small garment business can take a really long time. Passion for our KidOneders and ONEder ties and the fun in working together as sisters has kept us going.

We’re pleased to report that the stars have aligned: great designs, beautiful fabric, talented sewers, made in the USA.