Startup
Comfyist Update: Camis arrive mid-July
Comfyist founder and designer, Amy Fallucca, is the embodiment of tenacity.
When she launched her luxury athleisure brand in April 2021, she knew bringing a first-ever design product to the market would be a challenge. But she didn’t anticipate seven rounds of prototyping complicated by a global pandemic, and the labor shortage, scarcity of materials and unprecedented shipping times that followed.
Still, Fallucca persevered.
Today, she is eagerly awaiting her first shipment of the luxury camis with sewn-in bra cups she has been working to bring to market for the last two years.
To get to this point, she had to surmount one final obstacle- manufacturing.
Fallucca opted to have her first shipment of camis manufactured in the United States. She notes that while it is more expensive to have the garments made in the country, it is an easier process, and will allow her to save a significant amount on shipping costs.
Fallucca ultimately chose a Brooklyn, New York-based garment manufacturer. The CEO will visit the factory next week to observe the camis being made.
She noted that she would like to continue to manufacture the garment in the Unites States but knows it may be cost prohibitive to do that. “It is most important to me that they are made in an ethical way, rather than the exact location they are made in,” she said.
The founder was not the only one anticipating the camis.
A focus group of Milwaukee women representing a variety of ages, clothing sizes, and body shapes have been on this journey with Fallucca. The women provided feedback on the initial design of the unique garment, and then served as fit models for a series of prototypes.
The group is excited about the market version of the product, telling Fallucca at the last fitting, ‘I don’t want to take it off.’ “These women have been incredible and so supportive. They have been on this journey with me,” she said.
Part of Fallucca’s marketing strategy is to get out in the community to develop a local buzz about the product. Comfyist will host a booth with the much-anticipated camis at Brady Street Festival on Saturday, July 29.
Fallucca, former resident of the lower Eastside, has been a fan of the popular festival for years. She thinks attendees will love the camis because her product matches what she calls the “rebellious vibe” of the neighborhood.
“Why are we wearing products with removable bra cups? No one likes them. I came up with a better way. This brand is about challenging the status quo and taking action to change something you don’t like – I think that idea will resonate with the neighborhood,” she said.
She is looking forward to introducing the brand to Milwaukeeans and learning more about what cami wearers want in the comfortable, relaxed environment of Brady Street. Fallucca is preparing for additional events which will be announced in the coming weeks.
“First, we’re taking Milwaukee by storm. Then- the world,” she said.
To learn more about Comfyist, click here.
