Hidden Gems: Meet Kim Thomas of Kim Thomas Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Thomas.

Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Way back in the early 2000’s I was living in NYC with my friend Jen, when we decided to make a fresh start in LA with a new idea for interchangeable footwear. We had heard that manufacturing was an option in LA, so we drove across the country and started working for LA footwear companies. While working multiple footwear jobs, I attended FIDM, where I learned how to make shoes and while there, met the footwear legend Fred Slatten. I spent countless hours with him in his West Hollywood condo, hearing his stories of domestic footwear production through the decades while simultaneously meeting all of the Los Angeles footwear factories and suppliers. After a fire closed the factory I was working at, I started freelance design work, and product development for international footwear companies which expanded my portfolio to include manufacturing in China, Portugal, Italy and Mexico.

For almost 20 years I worked for multiple LA brands, lending my expertise to both domestic and international footwear manufacturing and eventually running a female owned footwear factory, Clover and Cobbler, in the Valley. Since it’s closure, I began selling quality leathers for one of my suppliers (Danfield Leathers) and slowly adding the world of interior design to my skillset as well as working closely on a new shoe collection with LaLa Land. After 20 years of hustle, it feels like I am in a place right now where all of the work I have done in the past is coming together to really be impactful here in the Los Angeles domestic manufacturing scene. We are at a turning point where there is so much TALK about Made in USA, and I believe there is a real chance to actually see it through if big companies are forced to segment a portion of their production to LA. Local and domestic manufacturing has always been where my heart is, and seeing the technicians and cobblers make shoes right here is a gift.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course it has not been an easy road; But nothing of value is ever easily gained. Focusing on domestic production is extremely challenging because not only are there a VERY limited amount of factories and cobblers left here to make the actual shoes, but sourcing components can be equally, if not more, difficult. This forces creativity though and I learned very early on in my career that every factory has a specialty and that working within their boundaries is the key to creating a quality shoe or handbag.

I spread out my network to include factories overseas and this allowed me the freedom to place brands in the factories that they should be in. Overseas manufacturing also comes with challenges that are completely out of my, or the brands control, which is extremely frustrating: Tariff increases, shipping delays, QC issues and communication are all harder when you are not physically able to be in the factory working on the floor like in LA.

It became clear to me early on in my career that designing a product and bringing it into production requires patience and flexibility and without those characteristics, the challenges will give you an unmanageable amount of anxiety. Every single collection has a problem: A pattern doesn’t work, the fit is off, the dye lot of a material has changed, etc. How we react and problem solve is what makes the collection and the brand thrive. I am a true believer that the harder you work for something, the better the outcome so often I am the most grateful for projects that are the most difficult.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Kim Thomas Consulting?
I run a consulting agency that specializes in footwear development and production. Working with both small brands and large, well known brands, I am able to assist companies in an array of services ranging from full collection design starting with mood and color direction all the way through to production management and sales.

What sets me apart is that I have a thoughtful demeanor in regards to factories so I understand the floor and how to best mitigate issues beyond making the brand happy. Assembling the right team for everyone involved will lead to a successful future and generates business beyond the initial collection into season after season of quality shoes.

Local production is certainly my specialty but being a matchmaker to brands and factories has me constantly searching for new contacts that can be my eyes and ears on the ground overseas. Honesty, transparency and trust are why people often decide to work with me over other consultants and I pride myself on delivering samples and production that not only my clients are proud of, but that I am too.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Call or email me to set up a consultation to understand what the needs of your brand are. My abilities stretch across the footwear and handbag world so new opportunities that are beyond the norm of shoe designer are always welcomed and appreciated as they lead to growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kimthomasconsulting.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimthomasconsulting/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimdingman/