Technology Event Will Debut at L.A. Textile Show
The latest advancements in CAD/CAM products, textile design, illustration tools and supply-chain management software will be demonstrated during Technology By Design, a new offshoot of the Los Angeles International Textile Show. The show will take place Oct. 20–22 at the California Market Center in Los Angeles.
The event is being coordinated by the California Fashion Association in conjunction with the CMC, with support from Microsoft Corp., FedEx Corp., the Los Angeles Central City Association, Southern California Edison and the California Apparel News.
Eighteen companies will be on hand, including PAD System Technologies Inc., Investronica, Porini USA, ApparelMagic, AIMS, Tukatech Inc., Gerber Technology Inc. and Lectra.
FedEx apparel industry consultant John Wilkens will put on a seminar entitled “Bringing the Pieces Together: Technology Solutions for the Apparel Industry” at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 in suite C686 of the CMC. On Oct. 22, at 8:30 a.m., also in suite C686, Microsoft’s Dana Manciagli, general manager, sales, will present a seminar on “The Future of Technology: Web Conferencing for Real Time Collaboration.”
The textile show traditionally has included a technology element, but this is the first time it is a cohesive exhibition, said CFA executive director Ilse Metchek.
The CFA coordinated Technology By Design at the CMC two years ago and has since been looking for a more permanent home for the event, said Metchek.
“Technology is vital to the industry today, and it deserves a venue like this,” she said.
The products to be shown will vary from 3D laser scanners from Los Angeles–based Shapely Shadow Inc. to software from FedEx, which tracks inbound and outbound shipments without the use of tracking numbers, to online virtual showrooms from ApparelLink at www.apparellink.com.
“The speed in which you get your product to market is so important today,” said Ilona Foyer, chief executive officer of Shapely Shadow, which makes scanners that help companies produce dress forms.
Companies such as Tukatech and AIMS will be catering to smaller companies and start-ups that don’t have the resources to make big-ticket purchases. Representatives from Tukatech’s TukaCenter, which offers CAD training and rentals as well as marker making and other services, will attend the event. AIMS will be showing its general accounting software package as well as its AIMS On The Internet EDI and QuickBooks tools. The company will be giving new customers free memberships to Fashion Business Inc., a trade group that provides resources to small and new companies. ApparelMagic will demonstrate similar accounting software that integrates style costing, sales and production.
Gerber will feature its range of products, including Accumark pattern making, Fashion Studio textile design and WebPDM software. PAD, NedGraphics, Tukatech and Investronica will show the new versions of their patternmaking software. Porini USA, CGS and Tukatech/Justwin Technologies will highlight supply-chain management systems, and AGE Technologies Inc. will show CAD plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
For more information, call the CFA at (213) 688-6288. —Robert McAllister
