When a new line or season is planned, manufacturers and
designers in the fashion design industry have many parameters to
consider. The elements that comprise the fashion design company
expenses are many, and the product line planning stage can never
be too meticulous.
Following is a list of a few modules and add-ons to CAD/CAM
software solutions intended at keeping manufacturing on track,
while saving on inputs such as raw materials and work hours
(manpower):
- Prototyping
- PDS Pattern Design System and
3D Draping for getting the right fit the first time - faster.
Asset management - no more storing of paper patterns - instant
retrieval for modification, amendments etc.
- Merchandising
1. 3D Draping utility for faster approvals of fit from buyers,
communicate in 3D.
2. 3D Designer - Carry your whole sampling room and the entire
fabric swatch library for virtual presentations.
3. Marker Making Software - Automatic marker making solution for
fast consumption calculations for costing purposes. Allows you
to Plan your fabric purchases effectively - Order just the right
quantity needed, neither less nor more.
4. Part patching Marker making - automatic marker making
solutions for patterned, striped or check fabrics where part
matching has to be done.
5. Modulate - Create your patterns once and use them forever -
Just change the measurements and all the related patterns change
automatically.
- Production
- Save fabrics during bulk cutting
by making the tightest possible marker, with the least fabric
wasted.
- Converters
- They are available for converting
native files from other CAD/ CAM systems to OptiTex™ format.
OptiTex™ is a fully open CAD/ CAM solution, we can read files
from almost all the major CAD/ CAM vendors and can work in a
truly collaborative manner irrespective of which CAD system the
vendor/ supplier is using.
For further planning and production line efficiency, the
following software solutions may be considered:
3D Simulation - 3D Simulation offers the user a suite of
tools that will simulate all pre-production activities including
stitching, fitting, visualization, texture and color variation.
This can also be used as a communication tool between retailer,
subcontractor, designer, pattern maker, manufacturer, costing
and marketing departments. It allows the visualization of any
pattern modifications instantly in 3D, based on accurate CAD
patterns and real fabric characteristics.
Runway Designer - Whenever a manufacturer goes for a
meeting with the buyer, it is customary to see them lugging
around huge suitcases full of garment samples and fabric
swatches. The same samples can now be easily carried around
virtually with this user friendly and intuitive tool.
Runway Designer has an inbuilt library where different sizes of
mannequins and their associated garments and scanned fabrics and
prints can be stored. Presentation of the virtual fashion
collection is just a click away. Communicating and presenting
design ideas was never simpler. All the characteristics of the
fabric will be taken care of, while simulating the garment.
In conclusion :
Saving on manpower or materials and shortening the
Time-To-Market can make all the difference between a profitable
company and one which is not, and a company in the fashion
design industry cannot afford planning or manufacturing
mistakes.
Using any or all of the above software solutions and modules can
assist with production line efficiency and profitability in the
fashion design industry.
About the author:
Mr. Saar Machtinger, Director Business Development,
OptiTex™ Fashion design
software, which specializes in the development of
innovative, easy-to-operate, 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional
CAD/CAM Fashion Design software.
http://www.optitex.com
