California Apparel News

Suddenly, Southern California’s apparel industry workers have a number of educational resources to glean from for the latest advancements in software technology.A number of free seminars and demonstrations pertaining to everything from design and pattern making to resource planning and supply-chain management are planned for the next few weeks.

PAD System Technologies, Tuka tech Inc., Garmenttek, Intentia Americas, Vantage Point Software and Gerber Technology are among the latest group of tech firms to join the California Mart’s first Fashion Technology By Design Expo, set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 1.

The expo, which will highlight software technologies associated with garment and textile design, data processing, marketing and supply-chain management, will take place in the Fashion Theater of the Cal Mart. The event is co-sponsored by the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency; the California Fashion Association (CFA); and Long Beach City College and is aimed at educating the industry about the latest technologies on the market.

Other companies scheduled to participate include AIMS, Digifab Systems, Fabriclink, Freudenberg, Justwin Technologies, Kopperman Software/Isis.net, MAG.LA, Methods Workshop, Paragon Software, readytoview.com, Saddle Stitch Group, SnapFashun, Systech Solutions and WorldApparel.com.

Tech executives including Gary May of Vantage Point will be giving demonstrations of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, which helps clients, while PAD and Tukatech will be showing the latest in design and pattern making software, and Garmenttek, the latest in its accounting and tracking systems as well as its style-imaging and color-analyzing programs.

“Apparel manufacturing is a $50 billion business in California, second only to agriculture. Systems like ours can manage everything from the order-processing stage to distribution, and we need to give these companies a chance to learn more about these systems,” said May.

For further information, contact the CFA at (213) 688-6288.

Gerber Technology’s Los Angeles office will conduct an open house on Friday, Aug. 24, featuring demonstrations and Q&A sessions about marking and grading systems and product data management software. Sessions will run from 1 to 5 p.m. at the company’s L.A. headquarters at 6135 E. Washington Blvd.

The company will highlight its Industrial AccuMark marking and grading system along with its Web-based Product Data Management (PDM) system. Each session runs about 30 to 40 minutes. RSVP by calling Judith de Leon at (800) 344-1448, ext. 101.

And of course the new Tukacenter at 1029 S. Broadway in Los Angeles’ Fashion District offers free pattern-design, marker-making and grading seminars from 5 to 6:30 p.m. every Thursday. Call (213) 746-3830 for more information. The center also offers design-station rentals.

MVM, TC2 Size Up New Fit Technologies

Consumers and retailers are seeing advancements in sizing technology ease the purchasing process for catalog shopping, shopping through home-shopping channels and online shopping as these continue to show growth. Among those making these advancements is My Virtual Model Inc. (MVM), which recently acquired New York-based EZsize and its “best fit” technology in a move that will enhance MVM’s own fit systems and give both companies’ accounts access to these systems.

Among the company’s accounts are FUBU, Kenneth Cole, Ann Taylor, American Eagle Outfitters and Saks Fifth Avenue. Montreal-based MVM will integrate EZsize’s “best fit” technology to give consumers a broader spectrum of fit and sizing technologies, which include sizing tools for accurate size counseling, as well as personalized style advice. The aim for retail accounts is to reduce merchandise returns and lift conversion rates while improving customer service.

The client rosters for both companies, which also include Blair, Lane Bryant, Lands’ End, Limited Too and Orvis, will be combined into one network.

“Fit and size concerns along with visualization concerns are the biggest impediments to growth in the online apparel industry, with incorrect fit and size being the major cause of high return rates for both catalog and online retailers,” said Louise Guay, chief executive officer of MVM.

Meanwhile, Cary, N.C.-based Textile/Clothing Technology Corp. (TC2) was selected to provide the body-scanning sizing technology for “Size UK,” a comprehensive study that will develop a sizing data base based on measurements of 10,000 men and women. The research, which will take place later this year in the United Kingdom, was funded by a group of clothing retailers, industrialists and academic institutions to help improve the way clothes fit.

TC2’s system utilizes white-light technology and non-moving scan modules to capture data points to extract accurate measurements. “Any additional knowledge we can gain and improvements we can make in this area will yield significant benefits for all shoppers,” said Margaret Branney, national sizing survey manager for GUS Home Shopping.

New Marketing Manager at Lectra

Ginny Perrine has joined Lectra as the company’s new North American Marketing Communications Manager. Perrine comes to the company from adam.com, a B2B health-information portal, where she directed advertising campaigns. She will be based at Lectra’s U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, where she will be responsible for external communications.