In a growing apparel industry the technology is fast becoming an integral part of production process. More than capacity, the industry today is seeking solutions that cannot only optimize hardware efficiency but also the entire business process. OptiTex, an Israel-based company has taken the leadership in providing 2D and 3D CAD/CAM software solutions to the fashion industry and cut the time line in the entire process by faster synergy. The mantra to face competition for the company is to make a better product instead of reducing prices as quality and performance speak for itself.
The CAD industry has developed dramatically over the past 4 years from 2D to 3D. The technology has helped to cut the timeline of production heavily, leaving ample time and scope for other aspects of the business-like marketing and advertising,” said Julia Shaw, the Country Support Manager of OptiTex, at the OptiTex seminar in New Delhi recently. The seminar, attended by representatives of various business houses, technical experts from institutions and consultancy services was in lieu of celebration of 20 years of OptiTex.
With more than 21,000 installations worldwide, and presence in the garment industry with fashion innovators like Hugo Boss, Land’s End, Kohl’s, ITC, Orient Clothing, Tommy Hilfiger to name just a few, OptiTex is a frontrunner of innovation in software solutions for the fashion industry. Besides the fashion industry the software has application in Industrial fabrics, automotive and aeronautical industry, upholstery sector and educational institutes. Continuous innovation has kept OptiTex a leader in the field.
“The innovation in CAD/CAM technologies and other software support systems over the past decades, have contributed immensely in the productivity of hardware technology, eventually taking the industry far ahead,” said Vijay Bhatnagar. Divisional Manager Product Development and Technical Services, ITC. “ITC has been using OptiTex CAD services for a long time and it has definitely helped a lot in expediting our production process,” added Sudhanshu.
The latest innovation from OptiTex – the 3D runway fashion software, is aimed to drastically cut down product development time with a better quality output. The accurate modelling system has been developed with a detailed analysis of fabric behaviour, proof fitting and graphic. It also provides an excellent tool for sales and merchandising, with easy-to-use virtual storyboards. Since the technology is new and relatively untried, there exist doubts among the users over the feasibility, accuracy and utility of the software as a product development tool. “The new technology means you stitch the pattern, drape it around a select model, check for its fitting and look, make whatever changes are required all virtually, and then send it directly to the buyer for approval,” detailed Shaw.
The runway tools allow interaction among persons concerned with production, through a worldwide network. The interaction through the exchange of virtual sampling helps designers and patternmakers to comprehend each other’s requirement instantly and without any exchange of words. “This is like sending a man without any comment and also answering everything,” said Julia Shaw. The application of the software has far-reaching implications for the future with customization the next big trend.
Even players in the Indian industry are clued into the potential of customization. “Though I have been in the business for just a few months but the response I have received is terrific, convincing me that customized clothing is the need of the future. The technology by OptiTex is not anything less than magic,” said B.G. Krishnan, MD of eShakti. The company with its worldwide customer-base operates through Internet. For now the focus of the company is in women’s clothing. “The customer has to enter her size and customized style, based on which we design the garment. Consistency and speed are the two basic requirements here,” he said. “We have our own anthropometric data for the different geographical regions of the world. So the garment fitting is never an issue for our customer. In India, we have opened a store in Chennai recently and if things go well, we are planning it for other metros also,” he added confidently.
Besides the 3D runway software, the 2D CAD solution from OptiTex™ popular as it is easy to use. The sophisticated tools can be personalized according to the needs of the customer. OptiTex™ Open Architecture System comes amply equipped with a multitude of import/export formats, which enables users to interface with a wide range of software and hardware. Customers enjoy the benefits of selecting hardware that fits their company’s needs in terms of performance and price.
