If you’ve ever shopped JuneBee Baby and wondered…
“Wait, what does Made to Order actually mean?”
You are definitely not the only one. I use two main terms in the shop: Made to Order and Ready to Ship. And they are very different.
Ready to Ship means your knit is in stock. It has already been made and is ready to ship right away.
Made to Order means your knit is made after you place your order.
Simple enough, right?
But there is a bigger reason why I choose to focus mostly on Made to Order. And it has a lot to do with how I feel about clothing in general. Bear with me for a minute. I want to share why this way of making clothes matters so much to me.
So, What Does Made to Order Really Mean?
When you place a Made to Order order with my artisan shop, your knit is not sitting in a warehouse waiting for someone to buy it. Your order comes in first. Then your knit is made for you in the size and color you choose.
Most Made to Order pieces take around 4 to 6 weeks before they are ready to ship.
Yes, it is a slow process. But honestly, that is the whole point.
Made to Order and Preorder Are Not the Same
This one gets confusing. Made to Order and preorder can sound almost identical, but they are not.
A preorder usually means a brand has already planned to produce a certain style or collection. Customers place their orders before that batch is finished or arrives. Think of it as reserving one before it is officially available.
Made to Order works differently. Your order is what starts the process. And because your knit has not been made yet, there is often room to make it more personal.
Depending on the style, I can usually help with details like measurements, sleeve length, color, neckline, collar, length, or even changing a cardigan into a pullover.
Why Do I Focus So Much on Made to Order?
For me, it really comes down to two things.
Less overproduction means less waste.
I believe in buying less and choosing well. Making a piece only after someone chooses it means there is less need to produce clothing just to fill shelves.
And customization means a better fit.
Instead of asking your child to fit whatever happens to already exist, there is often room to make the knit work better for your child.
The clothes are made to fit your child, with room to grow. That is one of the biggest reasons Made to Order makes so much sense to me.
Slow Fashion Is Not Just About Going Slowly
I think “slow fashion” can sometimes sound a little vague. To me, it is actually pretty simple.
It means asking a few questions before making more. Do we need to produce this yet? Will someone actually use it? Can it last?
Can it grow with a child? Can it be passed along later?
That is why I think so much about details like adjustable straps, drawstring waists, foldable cuffs and relaxed fits.
Kids grow fast. Their clothes should be able to keep up for longer.
And because these are real clothes for real families, they also need to be practical. That is why our cotton and bamboo knits are machine washable too.
What Does Ready to Ship Mean?
Ready to Ship means exactly what it sounds like. The knit is already made, in stock and ready to ship right away.
Sometimes you simply do not have 4 to 6 weeks. Maybe there is a birthday coming up.
A baby shower. Family photos. A holiday.
Or maybe you just found something you want now.
I get it. That is exactly why I keep a Ready to Ship collection too.
So if you are in a hurry and need something as soon as possible, start there.
Made to Order vs. Ready to Ship: Which One Is Right for You?
Here is the easiest way to think about it.
Choose Made to Order if you have time to wait and want more choice in size, color and possible customization.
Choose Ready to Ship if you need something sooner and want to shop from pieces that are already in stock.
Both are handmade JuneBee Baby knits. The difference is simply when they are made.
Not Sure What to Pick?
This happens all the time with gifts. You know you want to give something from JuneBee Baby. But then the questions start.
What size? Which color? Would she prefer a bonnet, cardigan, pullover or something else?
Would she rather choose for herself?
That is where a JuneBee Baby Gift Card makes things easy. She can use it toward something Ready to Ship or choose a Made to Order piece herself.
No guessing. No worrying about size. No trying to secretly figure out her favorite color.
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