Sewing as a child with her mother and grandmother in rural Minnesota, Mindy Martell later realized that clothing design and creation could be an actual career. After her studies and working for several clothing lines, she started a design house and one of the first woman-owned apparel factories in the US (Clothier Design Source), helping clients get thousands of products made since. Lately, she has created courses, written this book resource, and continues to mentor clients from product idea to reality—earning her title, “The Apparel Mentor.” Find out more at theapparelmentor.com.

With a modest beginning sewing as a child with her mother and grandmother in rural Minnesota, Mindy Martell later realized that clothing design and creation could be an actual career. After earning her Apparel Design & Manufacturing degree, she entered the industry—only to quickly discover how little practical knowledge and connections she had been given in school to hack it in the real world of manufacturing.

After working for several clothing lines, she decided to quit the corporate world in 2003 to create tools and programs for aspiring apparel entrepreneurs. She started a design house and one of the first woman-​owned apparel factories in the US (Clothier Design Source), and she has been helping clients get their ideas and products made ever since. She has created and helped others create thousands of different products.

Recently, Mindy has found the most rewarding part of her job to be mentoring new entrepreneurs and helping them navigate through the complicated apparel industry. She also created the Apparel Academy course and this resource book, earning her title, “The Apparel Mentor.” Find out more at theapparelmentor.com.