By Eric Steffen
2025 Changed the Trajectory
2025 was a very good year.
It started with a viral video. That moment introduced FITTED to a wave of new clients and created momentum I couldn’t have planned for. It turned out to be a real inflection point.
I made my first hire in 2024 and my second on January 1st, 2025. Thank goodness I did. For most of the year, we needed every ounce of manpower just to keep up with customer orders and a handful of retail partners. I wasn’t sure if the momentum from the first few months would last—but it did.
Capacity as Constraint
One thing became clear in 2025: capacity limits growth.
We didn’t have the bandwidth to introduce many new products while fulfilling demand. When you’re committed to doing things right, craft takes time—and production becomes the bottleneck. That insight is shaping how I’m approaching the next phase of the business.
In this regard, our internship program that we started in 2025 as a result of our increased exposure has been incredibly beneficial in order to find people who are talented and passionate about denim. I've asked two of those interns to work with us as employees, and I am privileged to have gotten to know them through the internship program.
Looking Forward
In 2026, the focus is on increasing production capacity and finally giving marketing the attention it deserves. Marketing has always felt like something just over the horizon, but if FITTED is going to be a proper brand, we need to communicate our identity and values more clearly and consistently.
The goal is to create a positive feedback loop between small production drops coming out of our Brooklyn workshop and thoughtful, intentional marketing.
On the product side, we’ll be expanding beyond denim while going deeper on design. Chinos, shorts, fatigue pants, and more jackets are all on the way—built with the same attention to detail that defines our jeans.
From Craft to Brand
It genuinely feels like FITTED is becoming something new. We’re transitioning from a micro business defined purely by craftsmanship to a fashion brand defined by craftsmanship, design and innovation. I’m trading my maker hat for a designer/architect one—and that shift feels right.
I’m proud of the team we’ve built, our continued commitment to quality, and our ability to integrate custom and bespoke work alongside ready-to-wear. That combination remains what differentiates us most.
When you come to FITTED, I want you to walk away feeling like you’ve been sold on something real. I believe we’re still doing that—and in 2026, we’ll be doing it even better.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
Onwards,
Eric