Monthly retainer
Designers, pattern makers, developers, production leads, QC, and the OS. Priced by how many styles are in active development, and by how much of the work you need us on.
Pricing
Scope-based retainers structured around your active style count.
You pay for the team working your line. You pay for the goods at the factory’s price plus our markup, both shown on the PO.
Exact monthly fee is quoted after a short qualification, usually a free Line Assessment, against your style list and whether design sits with us or with you.
The commercial model
How money works
Factory FOB
Every PO shows the factory’s price and our markup as separate lines. Nothing is hidden inside the unit price.
Pass-through costs
Materials and freight are billed at cost as they occur. Samples sometimes cost money. When a physical sample is billed, it is at cost. Lab tests follow the same rule.
The fee is the service. You see the factory’s price and our markup on every PO.
Why we built it this way
Most sourcing agencies bury their cut inside the unit price, so you never see it. As brand owners we know that isn’t right. We put our markup on the PO where you can see it, and keep first runs small until sell-through earns volume. Our markup is only on the final PO, so we do well when your product sells and you reorder.
Capacity bands
Starter
1 to 4 active styles
For pre-launch brands with a clear design direction that need expert hands to bring a first concept to life. Defined scope, shared resources, no overhead.
Early Stage
5 to 15 active styles
For founders testing whether a concept has legs. A dedicated development resource and factory coordination without committing to a full product team.
Flagship
15 to 28 active styles
The full UNCVRD system, running at speed. A dedicated product developer and technical designer own your seasonal calendar from brief to production-ready handoff.
Embedded
30+ active styles
UNCVRD as your product function. For established brands where complexity, scale, and speed demand embedded leadership, not an agency relationship.
Scoped individually. Every Embedded engagement starts with a conversation.
Let's talk →These bands describe capacity, how we staff and plan. They are not a public price list. Exact fee comes after Line Assessment.
Capacity definition
What counts as an active style
A style is a unique silhouette or construction, regardless of colorways or material variants. A bag in two colorways is one style. A bag and a jacket are two. This applies across all product categories.
When it counts
A style starts counting when it is kicked into development in the OS. It stays active through design, sampling, and first-production prep. It stops when it is archived, killed, or shelved. Pure replenishment of an already-approved style is confirmed on Assessment so the band stays honest.
Timeline
Brief to completed tech pack is variable. Scope, fabric, and fit loops set the pace. Once the tech pack is complete, samples usually take about 2 weeks. We do not promise 2 weeks from first brief.
MOQ
MOQ is driven almost entirely by material minimums. Typical first production planning for apparel is around 600 units per style and 200 per color. Factories are usually flexible with us because UNCVRD brings volume across clients. Bags and engineered knits can differ. Exact MOQ is confirmed in Line Assessment.
FAQ
Are you a sourcing agent?
No. Agents usually hide their cut inside the unit price. We’re a product creation team on retainer, and our PO markup is shown on every order. Our incentive is a clean line and small first commitments until sell-through earns volume.
Do you mark up factory orders?
Yes, and you see it. Every PO shows the factory’s price and our markup as separate lines. Our markup is only on the final PO, so we do well when your product sells and you reorder. Materials, freight and testing are billed at cost. Samples, when billed, are at cost too.
Why don’t you list exact monthly prices?
Design-in versus full design through production moves the number inside a capacity band. We show how money works, then quote the exact figure off your style list after Line Assessment.
What is Line Assessment?
A free written read on sourceability, MOQ fit, timeline, and the first small-batch test we would run. Exact retainer scope comes from that.
Who owns patterns and tech packs?
You. Pattern work happens on the UNCVRD team. Files can live in your Drive. DXFs on request.
Start with the right conversation.
Apply → intro call → free Line Assessment → scoped retainer against your style list.
Apply