Six Months in the Making: Vector 10’s 2025 Year in Review

They say the first six months of any venture are the hardest. For Vector 10, these past 180 days haven’t necessarily been easy, but they have been profoundly clarifying.

When we launched earlier this year, we didn’t have a 100-page manual on exactly where we would be by December. We are still learning, still iterating, and still discovering the full shape of our heading. As we enter 2026 and look back on 2025, we realize we’ve built something far more valuable than a rigid roadmap: We’ve built a foundation of conviction.

Here is how we have spent our first six months building the bridge between innovation and execution.

1. Building a Tier 1–3 Innovation Ecosystem

At Vector 10, we believe innovation is hollow if it isn’t anchored in manufacturing reality. This year, we’ve focused on growing a global network of quality, flexible manufacturers spanning Tier 1 to Tier 3 of the textile industry, as well as breakthrough innovators.

These aren’t just vendors; they are partners chosen for their willingness and ability to implement bold solutions. We’ve aligned with facilities that aren’t afraid to move the needle in:

• Sustainability & Performance: Implementing new methods that reduce footprint without sacrificing technical integrity.
• Accelerated Development: Embracing new workflows to beat traditional industry timelines.
• Ethical Integrity: Proving that principled operations, from vertical integration to providing dignity and skills to vulnerable populations and refugees, can thrive at scale.

We also formalized our partnership with Circ®. While many talk about circularity, Circ® is actually solving the hardest part: post-consumer textile waste. We joined them not just as consultants, but as venture partners, because their team carries the same “problem-solver” DNA that we value.

2. Bridging Materials and Markets: YMT & 9 Tide

We believe the “Final 10%” of commercialization requires a hands-on approach to how materials become products.

• Material-to-Garment Innovation: We’ve begun a strategic collaboration with the YMT Group to help them bring innovative materials to life within finished garments.
• Operational Excellence for Creators: Through a new collaboration with 9 Tide Collective, we are supporting a new generation of influencer-led brands. Vector 10’s role is to drive product commercialization including optimizing material operations and supply chain management, in short helping creators can bring their vision to life.

3. Gathering the “Final 10%” Brain Trust

Innovation usually fails in the handovers—the silos between a great idea and a finished product. To bridge that gap, we’ve assembled a Board of Advisors who have lived the “fight” of global execution:

• Peter Decorte: A pioneer in waterless dyeing with decades of experience in commercialization.
• Kim Wolf: A denim and supply chain veteran bringing digital transformation to the forefront.
• Jeff Hawes: A leader who has scaled innovation for global giants like Nike and Fanatics.

4. Proof of Concept: The LIFT System

In October, we saw our first major “win.” Through our LIFT (Low Impact Fast Track) framework, we helped launch the TN Fit private-label line for Tonia Nicole in just 8-9 months. In an industry where 12–18 months is the norm, this proved our model: speed and integrity can coexist when you remove friction and align the system.

Dreaming Big for 2026

If these first six months have taught us anything, it’s that alignment matters more than a fixed plan. We have found incredible alignment within our core team—a group of people committed to dreaming big while staying grounded in the operational “dirt” where real change happens.

The momentum is already carrying us into the new year. We are currently preparing to welcome several new clients in the active outerwear space, with official announcements coming in early 2026.

We don’t have all the answers yet, but we have the right people in the room to find them. We are bridging the gap. We are breaking through.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far.