Company Snapshot
Manufacturer: Apparel Redefined
Location: Cook County, Illinois
Industry: Custom Apparel Manufacturing & Decoration
Products/Services: Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, print-on-demand manufacturing, apparel decoration, apparel innovation
MEP Partner: IMEC (Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center)
Digital Marketing Partner: B2Btail
Building More Than a Business
For more than 50 years, Apparel Redefined has been part of Cook County’s manufacturing community. Founded in 1970, the company has grown through multiple generations while remaining committed to quality, innovation, and local manufacturing.
Like many manufacturers, however, Apparel Redefined faced unprecedented challenges during and after COVID. Markets shifted, customer expectations changed, and digital transformation became essential for competing nationally rather than regionally.
President John LaRoy knew the company needed to evolve, but also recognized that no business owner has every answer. “Taking ourselves to the next level was going to take a different approach. I don’t know everything. I don’t have all the answers.”
That’s when IMEC became more than a resource, it became a long-term strategic partner.
A Trusted Manufacturing Partner
Through IMEC, Apparel Redefined gained access to expertise that would have been difficult and expensive to assemble independently.
Over multiple years, IMEC connected the company with specialists in:
- Digital marketing and lead generation
- Strategic planning
- Manufacturing operations
- Facility expansion
- Industry benchmarking
- Workforce development
- Business growth initiatives
According to John, the greatest value of IMEC wasn’t simply providing information, it accelerated the company’s learning curve. “Eventually you can figure something out. But how much time, how much money are you going to spend to get where you want to be? IMEC really helped close that gap.”
Helping the Company Evolve
Thanks to the Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented grant program, one of the IMEC introductions connected Apparel Redefined with B2Btail’s Digital Game Plan, resulting in a complete digital transformation.
Together, the team developed:
- A modern website
- SEO strategy
- Educational content
- Customer interview videos
- AI-powered content workflows
- Social media strategy
- YouTube and LinkedIn growth
- A stronger digital presence that supports business development
The improvements helped establish the trust modern buyers expect before contacting a manufacturer.
As John explained: “We had to have the website to establish the trust…there’s a lot of content out there to give that buyer confidence.”
The results included higher keyword rankings, stronger website authority, growing social engagement, and a repeatable marketing system that continues supporting future sales efforts.
Beyond Marketing
While digital marketing became one visible success story, support from IMEC extended well beyond branding.
As Apparel Redefined prepared for its next phase of growth, IMEC continued assisting with:
- Shop floor layout planning
- Manufacturing strategy
- Workforce development opportunities
- Training resources
- Industry reports
- Strategic planning conversations
- Expansion into new manufacturing capabilities
The company is currently launching new apparel manufacturing initiatives, developing proprietary DTG-ready garments, expanding its Shopify ecosystem, and constructing a new manufacturing facility in Cook County. IMEC has remained engaged throughout each stage.
Easy to Access, Easy to Use
John also emphasized how refreshing the IMEC experience with the Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented grant program was compared to many government-supported programs.
Rather than navigating layers of bureaucracy, Apparel Redefined found the process straightforward, responsive, and collaborative.
“It was an easy process. It was friendly. It was communicative. The entire process was helpful.”
Even after individual projects concluded, the relationship continued through regular check-ins, strategic discussions, industry reports, and ongoing support.
Strengthening Manufacturing in Cook County
For Apparel Redefined, remaining in Cook County was an intentional decision.
The company is investing in a new manufacturing facility while creating future jobs and continuing a manufacturing legacy that spans more than five decades.
John believes organizations like IMEC play an important role in making those investments possible. “There’s businesses leaving. IMEC is definitely doing its part to keep people here and keep people in Cook County. They’ve done an outstanding job of turning a negative into a positive.”
Looking Ahead
Today, Apparel Redefined is positioned for continued growth.
The company has expanded its digital presence, strengthened its operations, invested in new manufacturing capabilities, and is building a new facility that will support future job creation in Cook County.
John credits much of that progress to the network of expertise IMEC assembled over the years.
When asked whether he would recommend IMEC to other manufacturers, his answer was immediate:
“100%. There’s no way that I would not.”
