free shipping on orders over $250 for u.s. customers
Search

Made-to-Order FAQ

Q: What is MTO? How does it work?

A: MTO stands for made-to-order! When you see this label on a listing next to the design name, this means that the garment you are about to purchase is going to be made especially for YOU based on your measurements and specifications!

In every made-to-order listing, we will have a required form you must fill out with your size, height, colorway choice, chosen fabric, and space for any and all measurements you would like to give us before we cut your garment out. Hint: the more information you give us during the ordering process, the better fit we can offer you.

Q: Why offer made-to-order as opposed to ready-to-wear?

A: One of the biggest reasons we choose to offer made-to-order collections is to ensure size inclusivity! We know that most people (especially women) fall outside of the fashion industry’s standard. If it is hard to find bells that are long enough…or short enough, we have you covered. If your torso is a size medium, but your booty is a large…we hear you, and are here to provide the best possible fit for your beautiful body thus allowing you the chance to embody radiant confidence…you deserve it!

Another huge reason for offering MTO is environmental sustainability! The basis of made-to-order means that manufacturing will only begin once we receive your order, rather than bulk-producing garments based on size, inventory, and color guesses without any evidence that they will sell. This drastically helps to reduce waste and levels of the surplus stock ending up in landfills.

Q: How long do I have to wait for my garment?

A: Of course, custom made clothing does mean that our customers will have to wait longer for their clothing…our current turnaround time on MTO collections is 3-4 weeks. Often, we get out orders in about 2 weeks from the order date (and we don’t want to hold on to orders for more than a month), but production time is dependent on the amount of orders we have which varies week to week. We promise to remain transparent about our production capacity and to not take on more than we can handle in any given month.

Q: Will FTC still be offering ready-to-wear?

A: What you can expect to see from the Fusion Threads studio this year is 4 seasonal, made-to-order releases that will be available for the duration of each season. We will launch each collection at the beginning of winter, spring, summer, fall and then restock the listings as we restock our fabric and dye inventory and fulfill the first round of orders. Each collection will not only feature seasonal designs but also a seasonal color chart! These will remain consistent for a period of about 3 months before we move into the following season.

Each month, we will also drop specialty, one-of-a-kind, RTS (ready-to-ship) collections that will still feature our seasonal designs but often colors that fall outside of our seasonal color chart. These collections will be made up of modified seasonal designs, samples, OOAK colors, various fabrics, and will mostly be "standard sizing." The turnaround time for packing and dropping off your RTS order for shipping is 2-3 business days.

Q: Okay, I'm ready to place a made-to-order garment order! How do I start? 

A: Properly take your measurements. Confidence comes from wearing garments that fit properly, plus you are more likely to wear clothes that fit and make you feel good more often. The most common information/measurements we need to create your custom garments (and for your to find ready-to-ship items that will fit) are: bust, waist, hips, inseam, height, and arm length. In order to take your own measurements you'll need a cloth/flexible measuring tape (can be found inexpensively at your local sewing shop or craft stores). For the best results: ask a friend for help, take these measurements with only undergarments on, not over other clothes, and remember to keep the measuring tape snug but not tight against your skin. For your bust, waist, and hips measurements you'll need to keep the tap parallel to the ground. Take your time. Measure twice for us, so we can only cut once!

https://fusionthreadsco.com/pages/how-to-take-your-measurements

Bust: measured around the fullest part of your bust (chest); taken above the band of your bra (this would be your under bust measurement) 

Waist: measured around the slimmest part of your waist, usually under your rib cage and above your belly button.

Hips: measured around the widest part of your hips and booty, do not take this measurement at your hip bones.

Inseam: measured from your crotch to to where you'd like the legs of the pants to fall. This can vary depending on the style, for example joggers may hit at your ankle while bell bottoms or lounge pants will fall closer to the floor at your heel. This measurement is best taken with the help of a friend or taken from a pair of pants (similar in style to what you're ordering, especially with a length that you like). If you are ordering with the intention to wear with a specific pair of shoes, take this measurement while wearing them (you'll need a longer inseam if you plan to wear high heels with your pants). 

Height: best taken while standing with your heels and back of head against the wall. Keep your eyes forward. Measure from the ground to the top of your head. 

Arm Length: this can be taken two ways, we prefer the under-arm length taken from your armpit to your wrist. If you decide to take this measurement from your over-arm measurement from the shoulder to wrist, please let us know; if not we will assume you have given us your under-arm measurement. This can also be taken from a shirt you own. 

As always, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us before placing your order! Send an email to shopfusionthreads@gmail.com or message us directly on the website.