We don't like long distance relationships
MATE Factories
Mola, Inc.
Our largest cut and sew factory is located just 4.5 miles from our headquarters.
Why we work with them
With over 100 employees, Mola is one of the largest and most established cut and sew factories in LA. Their depth of experience and full-service offering equips them to handle all of MATE’s production needs from A to Z. We are close with Mola’s owner and management team, making them a breeze to partner with.
MATE materials they work with
Organic Jersey, Organic Terry, Fleece
Who’s in charge
Mr. Kim is a true OG of the cut and sew world. He has worked in the apparel industry for about 50 years and started his first factory in 1976. His son, Ron, has been helping at the factory since he was young. After graduating from college, Ron officially joined the company and helped grow Mola to its current size. Today, Mr. Kim still manages the sewing floor while Ron heads up all customer-facing roles.
What it’s like working there
We love that Mola truly feels like a family. Most of their employees have been working with Mr. Kim since the beginning, and those who explore other opportunities often end up coming back and are welcomed with open arms. Mola makes it a priority to treat everyone with respect. Every day, lunch is a company-wide affair—a time for everyone to come together and eat family-style.
Ghlee Apparel, Inc.
A women and immigrant-owned business run by a mother-daughter team.
Why we work with them
GHLEE’s quality, patternmaking, and commitment to MATE’s values are absolutely best in class. We love working with and supporting companies that are women-owned and led just like MATE.
MATE materials they work with
Organic Thermal, Tencel
Who’s in charge
Lisa has over 23 years of experience in the apparel industry. After immigrating to the U.S. from Korea, she began her career as a patternmaker, eventually working her way up to head patternmaker at one of LA’s largest factories. Driven by a desire to be her own boss and work with her family, Lisa started GHLEE nine years ago. Together with her daughter, Gina, Lisa has grown Ghlee from a one-room office to a 24-employee factory that produces garments for well-known brands.
What it’s like working there
GHLEE’s employees are a top priority for Lisa. Many have been working with GHLEE since it was founded nine years ago. As the company has grown and their location has changed over the years, Lisa has always been super intentional about keeping the factory in the same area so that her team can continue to live close to work.
GTLA Apparel, Inc.
A woman and minority-owned business that supports the local community.
Why we work with them
GTLA is a female-founded and owned company that produces exceptionally high-quality goods. The owner, Lupe, is a true partner for MATE—always going above and beyond to help us achieve our goals. In turn, we love supporting Lupe and her daughter.
MATE materials they work with
Linen
Who’s in charge
Lupe is Mexican American, a graduate of FIDM, and boasts nine years of experience in the apparel industry. She started GTLA with just one employee and has continued to grow the company year over year.
What it’s like working there
GTLA is committed to creating jobs for people within the local community. Their employees are all from South LA and celebrate being Latin American.
Thienes Apparel, Inc.
A woman-owned business that boasts 80 employees but still feels like family.
Why we work with them
It takes special muscle to get activewear right and Thienes is a rockstar when it comes to producing high-quality workout clothes. They have been in business since 1995 and have three locations in El Monte, California.
MATE materials they work with
Organic Stretch
Who’s in charge
Lily started her career in manufacturing shortly after graduating with a degree in Engineering. She took what she learned from her family’s experience in the apparel industry and opened the first Thienes location in 1995.
What it’s like working there
While Thienes boasts a large workforce of 80 employees, they maintain a tight-knit family environment. One of our favorite employees, Helen, has been working at Thienes for the past sixteen years and plans to retire there. We know they’re doing things right!
Bergen Logistics, Inc.
Our warehouse keeps orders running smoothly and sustainably.
Why we work with them
Bergen Logistics is an expert when it comes to order fulfillment, customer service, and, of course, they are committed to sustainability.
What they do
Order fulfillment and returns processing.
Who's in charge
Ron Roman founded Bergen Logistics in 1998 and is still the company’s CEO today. Inclusivity is an important part of the culture he has built at Bergen. You’ll often find Ron spotlighting his employees on LinkedIn and sharing information about anti-racism in the workplace.
What it’s like working there
Bergen employees love working for a company where there is room to grow and they feel supported by upper management. They enjoy several break times throughout the day and often get treated to catered lunches. We are totally on board with making it a priority to keep employees smiling!
There’s girl code and then there’s MATE Code—the strict protocols we put in place to ensure that the factories we work with are safe, comfortable, fair, and compliant with California labor laws.
Learn more here.Journey of a MATE tee
1. Port of India
The cotton fibers are spun into yarn in India and shipped by boat to Los Angeles
2. Port of Los Angeles
The cotton is then transported to our fabric knitter
3. Cut & Sew Facility
Here the garment is sewn before going to be dyed
4. Dye House
Here the tee is dyed with GOTS certified organic dyes
5. Cut & Sew Facility
The tee is sent back to the cut and sew facility where it gets finishing touches, labels and a final quality check
6. Distribution Warehouse
The final garment is then sent to our distribution warehouse where it awaits to be ordered by customers