Maker's Row and the Future of American Manufacturing

Ideating, pattern-making, finding materials, ordering samples, tooling and producing — these are the six once-mystical steps of manufacturing that are becoming easier to understand and take part in, thanks to New York-based startup Maker's Row.

Founded by Matthew Burnett and Tanya Menendez, Maker's Row is an online directory of America's top manufacturers. The site makes an industry traditionally based on old-school communications align with today's expectations of transparency.

After graduating from Pratt Institute with a focus in industrial design, Burnett began taking on watch design work with large brands, including Marc Jacobs and DKNY. Before long, though, he launched his own watch brand, Steel Cake, and was off on a entrepreneurial journey, which he says was a transformative experience that enabled him to create and see his own designs through to fruition.