Meet the Makers

In Sunset Park’s Industry City, M Factory is part of a new generation of NYC manufacturers that are proving high-quality, small-batch production can thrive locally—even in industries dominated by overseas competition. Founded eight years ago as the sister company of long-established eyewear brand Modo, M Factory produces optical frames from start to finish, all under one roof in Brooklyn.

At the center of this operation is Darryle Hawes, the Director of Research and Development, “all-around machine guy,” and M Factory’s first employee. Now, M Factory produces prescription glasses, sunglasses, readers, and more recently, safety glasses with a team of 58 employees. Darryle explains how they do everything in-house, from cutting the acetate, tumbling, sanding, polishing, painting, to the final assembly. “Because we’re manufacturing in an area where glasses typically aren’t made, we don’t necessarily have a built-in infrastructure around us. So it forces us to be a little bit more creative and use a little bit more ingenuity when solving our problems,” says Darryle. “And I think that gives us an advantage—we can solve things faster than traditional manufacturers might.”

While Darryle built the foundation of M Factory’s processes, the business itself took shape under the leadership of Tara Montoneri. Tara launched M Factory after reconnecting with a college friend—now CEO of Modo—who floated the idea of starting a U.S.-based factory. “She was sort of asking if I would recommend anyone she could hire to do it, and then it just fell into my lap,” Tara recalls.

Tara brings decades of experience in producing consumer goods to M Factory, where she’s helped cultivate a team-first culture in a historically rigid industry. From the beginning, the company prioritized good jobs and long-term growth opportunities. “Even as a startup, we were able to hire really good talent and offer great benefits, which is kind of unique in a manufacturing setting,” she says.

George Castro, M Factory’s Director of HR and IT, sees that growth play out daily among the factory’s local workforce. “The majority of our staff is local, which is what we love,” says George. “Eighty-five percent of our team are Spanish-speaking. We have mostly women in all departments.” George points out that during especially busy times of the year, when they need to bring on additional staff, folks tend to want to stay for the better working conditions and benefits that M Factory offers. “A lot of them aren’t used to it—to being able to put in a request for PTO,” George says. “It’s a welcome change for a lot of people.”

With a strong internal culture in place, M Factory is also gaining traction on the external side—serving a wide range of customers, from small boutique brands to big box retailers to direct-to-consumer channels online. Their in-house production allows for close customization and collaboration. “We serve a broad range of clients,” Tara says.

Still, manufacturing in New York City comes with its challenges. “Obviously, rising rents are always a factor,” Tara notes. But she’s quick to point out the flip side about manufacturing in New York City: “You have to pay for what you get. You get access to talent. You get creativity. You get a network.”