Bards

05/31/2026

Love to see this!

05/06/2026

On Monday, we took a trip to our shirt factory in New Jersey to visit Mitch Gambert, a third-generation owner keeping a beautiful legacy alive.

We talked about what it really takes to run a family factory today. He’s watched "Made in America" go from being the everyday standard to an endangered species.

We talked about the challenges of overseas competition, but also a much quieter, deeper hurdle: finding and preserving a trained, skilled labor force.
But the absolute best part of our day? Sitting down with the garment workers. ❤️

We asked about their journeys, and the stories they shared blew us away. Some of these incredible artisans have been at their sewing machines for over 30 years.

Through different owners, different presidents, and countless economic ups and downs, they stayed. Day after day, using their hands and their hearts to make clothing right here in America.

🇺🇸 What "Made in USA" actually means:

When you buy a shirt made in America, you aren't just buying fashion. You are making a choice that ripples outward:

• Keeping it local: Your money stays in the community, funding local schools, roads, and municipal services.

• Supporting families: You’re helping put food on the table, funding birthday gifts, and providing stability for real people when times get tough.

• Preserving a craft: You're honoring decades of hard-earned skill that we cannot afford to lose.
Clothing is so much more than what we wear. It’s the lives of the people who make it.

We captured some incredibly moving moments from our visit, and we can't wait to share the footage with you soon. Stay tuned! 📽️✨

04/21/2026

Step inside American tailoring our factory in Rochester, NY and discover the story behind custom clothing made in America. This blog explores expert tailors, sewing, and craftsmanship, highlighting why slow fashion, American garment workers, and locally made clothing create lasting value beyond fast fashion.

I Made Your Clothing

03/17/2026

A beautiful bit of timing. ☘️

Today, on St. Patrick’s Day, this striking green pinstripe from Ariston arrived in the studio, destined to become a pair of custom ladies’ trousers.

What makes it even better is what it’s being paired with: an off-white bamboo jacket we’re currently crafting alongside it. The contrast between the soft natural tone of the bamboo and the rich, confident green of this cloth is going to be something special.

This is the part of custom clothing people rarely see, the quiet moment when fabrics arrive, possibilities open up, and a garment begins its story long before the first stitch is made.

Every piece starts like this. A fabric. An idea. And the promise of something built just for you.

Wear your story.

03/09/2026

Some days the brain is firing on all cylinders.
Other days the brain is… buffering.

That’s when the suit steps in and does a little heavy lifting.

12/30/2025

From the outside, it probably looks like I just make fun clothing.
And sure, there’s beauty in that. But any business owner knows the product is often the last thing you get to focus on.

Most of the work lives under the waterline.
Early mornings. Late nights. Customer acquisition. Client experience. Educating people. Navigating curveballs like tariffs. Choosing values over cheaper alternatives. Staying true to the work you want to put into the world, while still trying to live a life in the background.

Bards Clothing was founded on storytelling. On telling people’s stories through garments made here in America. This year, I took a film team up to my factory in Rochester, NY, and I cannot wait to share that project with you. I deepened my roots in the wedding industry through WIPA, moved locations, and expanded what’s possible when you commit fully to making custom clothing in the U.S. Weddings remain my largest clientele, but this year also brought clients from across Connecticut, and as far as South Carolina, Philadelphia, and San Diego. People who just want clothing to have. And that feels incredibly special.

I also reached a turning point. I admitted my web design knowledge had been tapped, and brought in help. Best decision I could’ve made. I worked with a bookkeeper (finally). Another milestone. Outsourcing the things I don’t know because the business has grown isn’t scary anymore—it’s something I’m proud of.

Ending the podcast, The Fabric of America, wasn’t easy. It still isn’t. But those conversations matter, and I’m finding my way back to the microphone, figuring out what that next chapter looks like.

So here’s the truth:
2026? You’re going to see a lot of my face.
And I’m deeply honored you’re here for the ride.

Wear your story.
Every stitch has a soul.

12/29/2025

2026 is here, and before we rush into new goals and resolutions, here’s a challenge worth slowing down for. 🥂

Go to your closet, read the labels, and notice how many pieces actually say Made in USA. 🇺🇸

If there are only a few, ask yourself why. 🤔
Is it because you haven’t been looking? Because where clothing is made was never part of the decision?
Because of price?

Whatever the reason, it’s worth pausing to consider how all of this clothing did end up in your wardrobe in the first place.
Do you ever care where it was made, or what it’s made of?
Do you ever wonder who made it, what it’s like to work in that factory, or whether the people behind it are paid fairly?

At Bards, we believe in custom garments crafted here in America-made slowly, thoughtfully, and with respect for the people who bring them to life, because clothing should mean something long after the purchase.

Wear your story.