Why Small-Batch Production Still Matters

[christianGV]

I’ve been working in fashion for a few years now, and one thing I keep noticing is how rare small-batch production has become — and how much it still matters.


When you work closely with small ateliers or family workshops, you start to see what disappears when production scales up: the quiet precision, the human rhythm, the sense of accountability that only comes when someone’s hands are truly involved.


I’ve also realized that “Made in Italy” — as beautiful as it sounds — doesn’t always mean what people think. Many “Italian-made” pieces today are still fully machine-made, often in industrial settings with minimal handwork. It’s not a guarantee of soul anymore.


Small-batch production, on the other hand, still allows for that dialogue between maker and material — each piece slightly different, touched, adjusted, judged by eye and hand. There’s honesty in that process, even imperfection, but it feels alive.


I sometimes wonder how people here see it:
Does small-batch production still matter in a time when precision and scalability dominate?
Or has it become something nostalgic — something we admire, but no longer expect?


Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[tricotineacetat]

I feel we should look at this aspect of the business with a healthy dose of pragmatism since there are these romantic myths surrounding the idea of what 'made by hand' is supposed to mean and what sort of quality gain it should yield, in comparison to an efficiency-optimized production chain on a larger scale.

Truth is, only couture tailoring really employs a larger degree of sewing/pressing steps performed without the use of a sewing machine. That sort of work is exponentially more costly but also not needed for the make of less complex products.

The other issue you mentioned regarding the decrease of atelier-type manufacturers is a whole other topic, one that largely defines whether or not an independent designer scene (aside from the established luxury goods conglomerates) can exist or not.