Project: Pattern development and production for motorcycle garments
Client: JUPITER™️
Time frame: 2023-2024
IN EARLY 2023, via a referral from a mutual Hudson NY friend, Steven Sferlazza of JUPITER™️ came to us with a concept and a dream. His relatively new love of motorcycling, combined with a lifelong love of movies and cyberpunk, had inspired him to want to create a series of highly functional garments, with a cyberpunk look. He had no fashion-design background or production knowledge, and so together we spent the next 12 months developing his concept into finished, wearable pieces that fit the brief. These pieces were not only designed and made in our Catskill factory, but also naturally walnut-dyed by local dyer Hannah of Hanoux.
We spoke with Steve about how the process went—
Can you tell us a bit about your brand and what inspired this project?
The fashion label JUPITER was inspired partially by my motorcycling journey in 2022 and partially by broader socio-philosophical themes I have seen emerging since 2008.
Suddenly, the world was looking eerily similar to Cyberpunk fiction from the early 1980s on. Motorcycling, particularly in the sport categories, made me feel like a protagonist in the Cyberpunk films I grew up with like AKIRA (1988). Most protagonists in vintage Cyberpunk movies are motorcyclists, and there is a close relationship between the motorcycle and the Cyberpunk subculture.
Made X Hudson helped JUPITER with the three-piece The Naked Series for the label’s secondary RTW line born in 2023. The Naked Series was instrumental in taking this young label into complex garment development. This alternative line, JUPITER Naked, was envisioned as something more extreme that catered to the different sides of Cyberpunk than the Punk side.
Made X Hudson was integral in bringing both The Naked Series and JUPITER Naked to life.
What made you choose to work with Made X Hudson for production?
After JUPITER launched its first piece, which was made in Brooklyn, I wanted to include Hudson in the label’s story after falling in love with the area in 2020.
The label’s engagement with Made X Hudson started as a referral because I needed an atelier fluent in complex knit development. The Naked Series, and particularly the cotton-Kevlar The Naked Jumper, could not have been made without them.
What was the design or development process like — any highlights or challenges?
Made X Hudson made what could have been a stressful development process into something pleasant. A major headwind in working with me at that time was that I had no design experience and have no formal design education. JUPITER was simply a dream I wanted to share.
I was not yet versed in the typical timetables, costs and snags that often come with garment production. Made X Hudson not only accepted a challenge with me other ateliers may not have, but they also were patient and taught me lessons that carried over into my direction of this label.
For example, all three pieces of The Naked Series were developed remotely. This taught me not only how to produce but how to produce in a modern way. Today, JUPITER is available in seven countries and makes new work remotely in and out of them. I learned this skill from working with Made X Hudson.
How did the final product turn out, and how was it received by your customers or community?
The Naked Jumper, The Naked Shorts and The Naked Gloves all came out better than anticipated.
After The Naked Jumper finished, Made X Hudson worked with me to leverage much of that development and materials discovery process into the Shorts and Gloves. They entered the engagement with JUPITER with heart and with an understanding of what young labels struggle with.
One aspect I also appreciated as part of the process was that they were not afraid to give input. For example, my original design for The Naked Jumper had rounder lines for the Kevlar patches but Made x Hudson preferred angular lines. I chose the angular lines, which elevated the final product.
For a young label with few helping hands, ateliers are also project managers. It is important for that managerial hat to challenge the director or lead designer. Fashion principals often have ego, and not all ateliers will rock that boat. I believe this is a part of the laudatory commentary The Naked Series often receives from fashion connoisseurs, especially from those not originally envisioned as a demographic.
“If you have vision, you can do this.”
Any reflections or advice you'd share with other designers considering small-batch manufacturing?
I have two pieces of advice for emerging designers based on my experiences so far.
First, geared towards designers with no experience or formal training, if you have vision, you can do this. I always wanted to start a fashion label and never thought I would. Three years later, here I am with a 12-piece catalogue across fragrance, accessories and garments, available in seven countries. Vision attracts the right people to your idea. After vision, be fearless.
Second, geared more generally, producing work and creating the larger universe of a “label” requires infinite patience. The Naked Jumper took a year to finish. Many of the mainstream, high-fashion labels consumers love today took up to 100 years or more to exist in their current forms. Hermès took almost 200 years. Forget outcomes and love the process first.
Thank you, Steve! You can find out more about JUPITER on their website. And for more Made X Factory projects, click here.
