Cheryl LeBarr (& Co-Founders) - Made Apparel

The founders of Made Custom Apparel (L-R)
Cheryl LeBarr, Capri Philip, Dustin Butcher
Made Custom Apparel

We chatted with Cheryl LeBarr, one of the co-founders of MADE Custom Apparel, the customizable Outdoor gear brand launched in 2020. What started as an ‘I have an idea’ conversation between co-founders, has turned into a brand focused on making the best outdoor gear as unique as the individuals it’s made for. The three founders met for the first time in person in early 2022, after adapting to working remotely in different countries. 

What prompted you to start MADE Outdoors?

All three co-founders have experienced their own unique issues when buying Outdoor gear. From sleeves being too long, too short, the shoulder to hip ratio being off, there has always been something that each person had to accept as the norm. 

What was your vision for the business?

We’ve always had a vision for size inclusivity. That every body feels welcome in the outdoors. It’s your own perfect experience. 

Tell us about the products that you make.

We are launching FW22 with a line of hardshell products -  jackets, bib pants and regular hardshell pants. 

What sets you apart from your competitors?

We are the most inclusive outdoor brand. We offer custom products, built and fit specifically for your needs, not a market segment. We allow our customers to select which features they want in their products to have their own perfect outdoor experience. 

We have the ability to be agile, to tweak our product build as needed without impacting thousands of units of inventory. 

Our radically different supply chain means we only make what we need. Traditional apparel seasonal turnover and the desire for fresh new things means leftover materials and unsold goods make their way to the landfill every year. The general apparel industry is one of the world's largest polluters. We don't make gear that doesn't already have a home.

What was one of the biggest challenges you faced early on?

We started our business just as the Covid pandemic impacted the world, our supply chain like everyone else's was affected by this, which delayed our product launch by a month. 

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of everything, what would it be?

As a start up, each of us had to wear many hats to kick start the business. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to prioritize resources and systems. We have those systems in place now as a result of learning to adapt. 

What is one thing you would like everyone to know?

We’re open! Visit our website to start the process of getting your custom gear, made specifically for you. 

What does the future look like for MADE?

We have plans in work to expand our product offering in addition to our hardshell products. 

If you’re in the market for new gear, check out the MADE website and start creating your own unique gear. We are keeping our eyes on this BC brand and are looking forward to seeing amazing things from them including their future product expansion.