Texprocess Americas Symposium to begin in May 2014

It’s a fact that any sewing production goes through the eye of a needle with sewing thread, a component of the sewing process that’s seldom taken seriously. Needle and sewing thread greatly impact stitch formation, seam appearance, and the finished product. The right selections can lower overhead and increase profitability without adding additional labor while at the same time reducing the carbon footprint and allowing a company to become a more sustainable manufacturer.

Enterprise Software: From PLM to ERP

Clothing companies are increasingly turning to Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software tools that allow them to manage vast amounts of complex data from design to distribution. Increased compatibility, cloud-based systems, and data mining are among the most significant trends. PLM manages the entire lifecycle of a product from conception, through design and manufacture, and on to service and delivery. ERP tracks business resources and supports basic internal business processes giving companies an integrated real-time view of their core business.

Smart Garment and E-Textile Technologies

While most common selling points for apparel used to be that that they would keep wearers warm (or cool) – and look good at the same time – rapid advancements in technology are creating a whole new industry of 'smart' garments, which can offer all sorts of intelligent, functional, fashionable, and comfortable properties to the wearer. Smart clothing and wearable technology involve the merging of electronics with textiles (e-textiles).

Fit, Sizing, and Virtual Try-On Technologies

Body scanning, fit, sizing, sampling, and 3D virtual try-on technologies continue to pave the way as fashion and apparel supply chains become more digital and require more customization. These technologies improve profitability through superior products that are designed using the latest market data, are tested in virtual space, and are brought to market very quickly. Color and styling selections become part of these technologies.

Messe Frankfurt