Clothing retailers missing out on 3D revolution

Apparel brands and retailers are moving too slowly in deploying 3D technologies that can cut wastage, produce on-demand more effectively and lower production times, according to GlobalData.

Hannah Abdulla, Apparel Correspondent at GlobalData, says: "In recent years a myriad of tech companies have brought 3D tools to market aimed at helping brands get to a leaner development cycle. However, they just aren't being adopted quickly enough by the industry with many struggling with the idea such technologies can effectively replace human function."

Virtual fit models are aimed at reducing the number of sample iterations and some firms have even opened access to entire libraries of Avatars so brands can produce more accurate fits, ultimately helping to lower returns, a common industry irk. The likes of EFI Optitex, Lectra, Tukatech and Alvanon are among those leading the way in this space.

Abdulla concludes: "Brands are increasingly under pressure to produce garments that fit their end-consumers' personalities and lifestyles. 3D allows you to test potential samples and get real-time feedback from the wearers of those items. If it doesn't work, it's back to the drawing board, but without the guilt of the hours and resources wasted in producing a physical sample. The 3D revolution is here and if you aren't on this journey, you've already lost.”