In short: we get two very different requests filed under "custom," and they are not the same conversation. Putting your logo on an existing Chic Bake Box is a branding job, no new tooling, applied to a size we already make. Building a mold in a cavity shape that does not exist in our standard catalog is an engineering job, run through Maé Innovation, our French manufacturing partner, with real tooling behind it. Both are available. Neither is instant, and neither has a fixed, published minimum, because both depend on the specifics of what you are asking for.
Two Different Kinds Of "Custom"
The word "custom" gets used loosely, so it is worth separating the two paths up front, because the process, timeline, and minimum order for each are genuinely different.
- Custom branding applies your logo to a Chic Bake Box we already produce, in a size and finish we already offer. No new mold, no new tooling, no engineering review. It is a production and print job.
- Custom molds means the shape, cavity size, or format you need does not exist in our standard Silmaé catalog. That requires CAD modelling, a physical prototype, and new tooling before a single production unit exists.
If you are not sure which one your request actually is, the short version is this: if you want your name on something we already sell, that is branding. If you need a shape we do not currently carry, that is a custom mold.
Custom Branding: Putting Your Logo On The Chic Bake Box
Branding is applied to the lid of the Chic Bake Box, in either the Tuxedo (black and white) or Natural finish, at our standard 4oz and 16oz sizes. Because the lid is designed as part of the presentation rather than an afterthought, your logo goes on the same surface that ends up in front of the customer or guest, not a separate sticker applied after the fact.
This path does not involve new tooling or mold design, which keeps the timeline shorter than a custom mold. It does still require a larger minimum than our standard, unbranded sizes, since a branded run is a separate production run on its own. We do not publish a fixed minimum here because it depends on your specific request, quantity, and finish. Reach out and we will give you a real number, not a generic figure.
Custom Molds: When Nothing In The Catalog Fits
Custom mold requests are sourced through Maé Innovation, the French manufacturer behind our standard Silmaé line, and they apply when you need a cavity shape, size, or format that simply does not exist in our current catalog. This is not a modification of something already made. It is new tooling and engineering work from the ground up.
Every custom mold is still produced in SIL035, the same platinum cured silicone used across our standard catalog, made in Touraine, France, under the same EU food contact regulations as any Silmaé piece already on our shelves. The shape is unique to your kitchen. The material standard is not lowered to get there. You can talk through what's possible on our Bespoke Sourcing page.
The Process, Step By Step
A custom mold moves through three stages before a production run exists, and each stage exists to catch problems before they become expensive ones.
- 3D Modelling. Maé's design team models your request in CAD. You review a full technical data sheet and 3D drawing before anything physical gets made, so dimensions and cavity count are confirmed on screen first.
- Prototype. A physical silicone prototype is produced for your validation. This is where you actually test shape, release, and fit, not just approve a rendering, before tooling for the full series begins.
- Production. Once you approve the prototype, tooling is built and your production series is run.
Custom branding skips the first two stages entirely, since no new shape is involved, which is the main reason it moves faster than a custom mold.
What To Have Ready Before You Reach Out
Whichever path applies to you, the more specific your request, the faster we can give you a real answer instead of a generic one.
- For custom molds: exact dimensions and cavity count, down to millimeters if you have them. Your intended use, baking temperature range, and any freezer-to-oven needs. Expected volume. Any reference material, a photo, sketch, or sample, communicates a shape faster than a description alone.
- For custom branding: your logo file, which finish and size of Chic Bake Box you want it applied to, and your expected order volume.
We will give you a real timeline and a real minimum once we understand your specific request, not a generic estimate.
Common Questions About Custom Branding And Custom Molds
Is custom branding the same process as a custom mold?
No. Branding applies your logo to a box size and finish we already produce. It does not involve new tooling, which is why it is a separate, faster conversation than a custom mold.
Can I see a prototype before committing to a full custom mold production run?
Yes. You approve a physical silicone prototype before tooling for the full series begins, not just a digital rendering.
What is the minimum order for either path?
It depends on the specifics of your request; branded orders and custom molds both require a larger minimum than our standard catalog sizes, since both involve a separate production run. Reach out with what you need and we will give you a real minimum.
Can custom branding and a custom mold be part of the same order?
Yes, though they are still two separate production processes internally. Let us know upfront if you need both so we can plan the timeline for each accurately.
Next Steps
If you want your logo on an existing Chic Bake Box, or you need a mold shape that does not exist in our standard catalog yet, our Bespoke Sourcing page walks through both paths in more detail. Reach out with your dimensions, intended use, and any reference material you have, and we will follow up with real specifics for your project.
