Zee FIELD of San Diego on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Zee FIELD. Check out our conversation below.

Zee, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I think what’s most misunderstood about our business is that people often see manufacturing as purely transactional, low quality if made overseas.
You design something, it gets made, and that’s it.
But in reality, what we do at Profade Apparel is far more creative, personal, and collaborative than most imagine.
Behind every product are countless decisions: fabric making, technical design, fitting, packaging, cost of goods, and coordination between teams across different countries and time zones. It’s not just about production; it’s about storytelling, helping a brand express who they are through what they create.
Many assume that manufacturing is disconnected from creativity, but for us, it’s where creativity truly comes to life. Every day, we balance innovation, quality, and emotion, transforming a simple idea into something people can hold, wear, or love. That’s what makes this business so alive and misunderstood at the same time.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Zee Field, founder of Profade Apparel, a company I created in 2011 in the USA after already spending decades in the fashion product development and production.. With over 40 years of experience, my goal has always been to build a company that reflects integrity, creativity, and meaningful collaboration.
Today, Profade Apparel operates from San Diego, Hangzhou, Rotterdam, and Montréal, developing apparel, accessories, home goods, and toys for brands around the world. What makes us unique is our ability to bridge creativity with global craftsmanship working closely with specialized factories and talented teams across continents.
Alongside our private-label work, we also cultivate our own house brands, including LOULOU DAMOUR, a women’s lifestyle collection inspired by love, authenticity, and timeless femininity.
After four decades, what still inspires me most is seeing an idea come to life, transforming creativity into something real and lasting.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Cecile, my mother taught me the most about work, not through words, but through the way she lived her life. She taught me discipline, resilience, and the quiet strength that comes from doing things well even when no one is watching.
From her, I learned that work isn’t just about results… it’s about pride, respect, and purpose.
Later, the people I met in factories around the world reinforced those lessons; the pattern makers, seamstresses, and small family businesses who put so much heart into what they do. They showed me that real success is built on relationships, trust, and consistency.
Those early influences shaped how I built Profade Apparel, with gratitude for the people behind every stitch, and a belief that great work always begins with integrity and care.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
If only once! There were definitely moments when I almost gave up.
I started Profade Apparel with just $3,000, in a new country, with no safety net, just experience, determination, and belief in what I wanted to build. Those early years were incredibly hard. I had to prove myself to new clients and vendors, often working without sleep, constantly worried about cash flow, about the next day, next season, next year… and slowly building a team I could trust.
Even today, there are moments when it would be easy to give in, like recently, navigating the challenges of high tariffs and rising costs. But giving up has never been an option. I’ve learned that every obstacle forces you to grow stronger, smarter, and more resourceful.
So, this year, we expanded to the Netherlands and Canada, and that reminds me why persistence matters. When you face a problem, there’s only one path forward, find a solution, keep pushing, and never stop believing in what you’re building.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies our industry tells itself is that domestic production is always the better or more ethical choice.
It’s a comforting idea, but it oversimplifies a very complex reality. The truth is, no single country can do everything well. Manufacturing is about specialization, having the right equipment, expertise, and capacity to produce each product efficiently and at the right price point.
Over the past forty years, I’ve learned that true excellence comes from diversity in knowledge, materials, equipment, and craftsmanship. Countries like China, Vietnam, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Morocco, and Mongolia each bring something unique to the table; skills and technologies that simply don’t exist everywhere.
Instead of opposing local and overseas production, we should be building bridges between them. What matters most is transparency, quality, and respect for the people behind the process, not the zip code of the factory. The future of manufacturing depends on collaboration, not nationalism.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Beyond the work, I stay grounded by my love for animals and by Bennie (14 y.o.), my small but mighty companion who has traveled the world with me. He’s a reminder of joy, patience, and unconditional loyalty, qualities that, in many ways, mirror how I try to lead and live.
Most of our clients know him; he’s part of the Profade story. In this business, it’s easy to focus on sales, production and timelines, but Bennie always reminds me what truly matters: presence, kindness, and connection.

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