AFINGO.com Relaunches, Including Must-Have MATCH Feature Connecting Designers and Manufacturers

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AFINGO.com, the online platform that is changing the way fashion does business, is relaunching its website to offer a host of new tools and features. On the heels of their lauded New York [https://www.afingo.com/articles/things-to-learn-from-the-afingo-fashion-forum-new-york ] and L.A. Fashion Forums [http://www.afingo.com/articles/afingo-fashion-forum-los-angeles ] the pioneering site for designers is expanding its reach to create the ultimate tool for any fashion designer looking to transform their business.  

AFINGO has a single, unique purpose: to help designers turn their ideas into profitable ventures by connecting them with the content, suppliers, and insider knowledge needed to start or expand a successful apparel or accessory business. It's the secret weapon every designer has been waiting for -- from the self-taught ingenue working out of her living room to the creative director at a multi-million-dollar label, all can find essential tools for business growth and efficiency. The key engine for users is the new AFINGO MATCH, a unique tool for business creation and development that will benefit designers at any stage.

MATCH is the first service to offer connections, matching fashion designers with manufacturers. It eliminates the time-consuming and expensive process of finding a high-quality contractor – a process that can place huge hurdles in the path of new designers and test the mettle of the most seasoned pros. AFINGO has scoured multiple countries, met people in their factories and offices, and gathered specific data so that users can be matched with the services that best fit their needs. With MATCH, users have instant access to a worldwide database of factories, all of which have been vetted and pre-screened to meet AFINGO's standards. As such, a wedding-dress designer can get a list of wedding dress manufacturers in her location within minutes. A designer looking for swimwear fabric from South America will find a reliable and high-quality supplier, all at the click of a mouse.

Even better, MATCH offers solutions for every step in the production process, with a database packed with patternmakers, technical designers, graders, fabric suppliers, and both cut-make-trim and full package factories. It creates direct communication between the contractor and the customer, cutting out months of meetings and searches that could result in a mistake that costs thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars. MATCH is the foremost tool for managing sourcing, so designers can successfully run their businesses easily, efficiently, and profitably.

In addition to MATCH, the relaunched site offers helpful content including a step-by-step guide to getting started, or growing an existing business. The site's new GET IT MADE feature fills in gaps in any designer's business knowledge, with in-depth editorial content focusing on four crucial stages:

• IDEA: Essentials to help inspire and focus creativity at the initial stages.
• BUSINESS: A 360-degree perspective on the business of fashion, from writing business plans to securing investors.
• PRODUCT: Everything designers need to define and refine their products, from price points to sizing.
• PRODUCTION: The nitty-gritty of producing and shipping inventory with improved efficiency.

Other new features include MY STUDIO, which provides a space for designers to create projects, manage styles, store relevant articles, and connect with contractors.  And, significantly, there's a feature for contractors: MY OFFICE offers workflow management tools and ways to chart the progress of individual customer projects, providing an efficient and valuable way to monitor which projects are the most profitable.  

About AFINGO:

AFINGO is the first online platform to help fashion designers turn their vision from sketchpad to production to sale by providing expert advice, as well as vetted development and production resources. AFINGO combines a fashion sensibility with a highly functional utility, becoming an invaluable tool for designers to Get It Made™. Through their unique combination of real-time events and ground-breaking online resources, AFINGO is lifting the curtain on fashion and opening up the channels to information, education, communication and connection. For more information visit www.afingo.com

SOURCE AFINGO