COLUMBUS, Ohio —Michele Bergamesca, of This One Dress, plays around with the placement of some pattern pieces, while trying to figure out what adjustments need to be made for their functional, knit, work-to-dinner dresses they sell.

  • The company helps working women create custom-made dresses that can double as a work and dinner party dress
  • The business partners struggled to find U.S. manufacturers that would only make one dress at a time versus a large quantity
  • Their efforts are helping manufacturers produce less clothing waste, while helping clothing stores to reduce overstock and buyers to purchase only what they need.

She and business partner Diane Bean create the custom garments for working women who just don't know what fits them well or who don't have the time to shop.

The two started This One Dress a little over a year ago, but ran into some challenges with finding a U.S. manufacturer that would change the way they produced clothes using new technology —that is, from mass production to made-to-order. 

"The cutting tables and the technology are not made to make one garment at a time in this country," said Bergamesca.

It took a while, but they eventually found a manufacturer in Alabama that would make one dress at a time, giving them the chance to help customers like Kathryn Stephens.

The working mom isn't a fan of shopping in the store or of some personal online shoppers. 

“You do the box, it shows up and you get these clothes. Well, every time I'm sending it back. But what's wonderful about this is, it's custom to me," said Stephens.

As students from the Columbus College of Art and Design help Bergamesca and Beane come up with the next dress that works for plus-size women, the two say what they're doing is helping manufacturers produce less clothing waste, while helping clothing stores to reduce overstock and buyers to purchase only what they need. 

While it may be years before pattern makers in factories as a whole shift over to 3D imaging that allows for quicker design time and custom order production, Bergamesca and Beane are confident that they are on the cutting edge of a new wave of clothing manufacturing. 

Right now, factories in other countries produce custom-made clothing items.

Bergamesca and Bean say it may be more costly for U.S. manufacturers to modify their machines to do the same, but in the end it'll be more sustainable and better for the environment.

The two business partners say they believe they are the only company in Ohio right now with a factory using the new technology.