Gloria demonstrated the issue.
The young designer listened.
Then asked several questions.
For nearly an hour, they examined the prototype together.
Gloria explained how certain materials behaved under tension.
Naomi discussed the intended shape and appearance.
They experimented with alternatives.
Eventually, they found an approach that preserved the design while improving durability.
Naomi smiled.
"That's perfect."
Gloria shook her head.
"Not perfect yet."
Naomi laughed.
"Of course."
Gloria smiled.
"Now you're learning."
As they walked toward the exit, Naomi glanced at a framed photograph near the factory entrance.
It showed Evan's mother working at a sewing machine years earlier.
The company had located the photograph in its historical archives after Gloria mentioned her contributions.
Beneath it was a small description recognizing independent garment workers and subcontractors who had helped support the company's early collections.
Naomi studied the photograph.
"That's Mr. Cole's mother?"
Gloria nodded.
"Yes."
"She worked here?"
"With us, through a subcontractor."
Naomi looked toward the production floor.
"Does he know how much she contributed?"
Gloria smiled.
"He does now."
The young designer remained quiet.
Then she said, "Funny how the people who make something valuable aren't always the ones people remember."
Gloria looked at her.
"Then maybe we should get better at remembering them."
Naomi nodded.
She thought about the collection she was developing.
And an idea began to form.
The idea became the centerpiece of Whitmore & Vale's next major collection.
Naomi proposed creating a limited range of garments and accessories inspired by the company's original craftsmanship.
But she wanted one important difference.
Instead of celebrating only the famous designers whose names appeared on advertising campaigns, the collection would acknowledge the specialized work performed by patternmakers, garment technicians, cutters, finishers, and quality-control professionals.
The proposal wasn't to print every employee's name across a handbag.
It was to document the creative and technical process honestly.
Short films would show how garments were made.
Product materials would explain the techniques involved.
Experienced craftspeople would receive visible professional recognition.
And younger employees would have opportunities to learn directly from those who had spent decades mastering difficult skills.
The marketing team initially resisted.
One executive argued that luxury customers wanted fantasies, not factory details.
Naomi disagreed.
"Customers who pay thousands of dollars for exceptional craftsmanship should understand what makes it exceptional."
The executive frowned.
"You're asking people to watch sewing demonstrations."
"I'm asking them to understand the skill behind the product."